The Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has reacted to the renewed diplomatic tension between Nigeria and the United States following claims of Christian persecution in the country.
The controversy deepened on Friday after US President Donald Trump announced that Nigeria had been redesignated as a “Country of Particular Concern (CPC)”, alleging government inaction over the killing of Christians.
Trump, in a post on Truth Social, accused the Nigerian government of “turning a blind eye” to religious violence and directed the US Department of War to “prepare for possible action.”
“If the Nigerian government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria and may very well go into that now disgraced country, ‘guns-a-blazing,’ to completely wipe out the Islamic terrorists committing these atrocities,” Trump declared.
In a follow-up post on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter), US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, confirmed the directive, saying:
“The Department of War is preparing for action. Either the Nigerian government protects Christians, or we will kill the Islamic terrorists committing these horrible atrocities.”
Responding to the allegations, President Bola Tinubu dismissed the claims as “baseless and politically motivated,” insisting that Nigeria remains a multi-faith democracy where both Christians and Muslims enjoy constitutional protection.
“Religious persecution has no place in Nigeria. The Constitution guarantees the protection of all citizens, regardless of faith,” Tinubu said through a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He maintained that the violence in Nigeria was not religiously driven, stressing that both Christians and Muslims have suffered from acts of terrorism and criminality.
Meanwhile, Bayo Onanuga in a Sunday post on 𝕏, said President Tinubu had already anticipated the “orchestrated campaign” from abroad, referring to Trump’s comments as part of a coordinated effort to pressure Nigeria.
“President Bola Tinubu was well ahead of the orchestrated game unfolding in America,” Onanuga wrote. “He told the new service chiefs on Thursday that Nigerians want results, not excuses.”
Onanuga shared excerpts from Tinubu’s address to military commanders, delivered shortly before Trump’s announcement, where the President warned against the rise of new armed groups in different regions of the country.
Tinubu said,
“Security threats are constantly evolving and mutating. Of grave concern to our administration is the recent emergence of new armed groups in the North-Central, North-West, and parts of the South. We must not allow these new threats to fester. Let us smash the new snakes right in the head.”
He urged the armed forces to be proactive and decisive while assuring them of full government support to restore peace across the nation.
“I charge you, as heads of our armed forces, to carry out your duties with patriotic zeal. Nigerians expect results, not excuses. Be innovative, pre-emptive, and courageous. Let’s stay ahead of those who seek to threaten our peace,” Tinubu stated.
He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to backing the military:
“I wish you success as you take up the challenge. I promise to provide all the support you need to get the job done.”
