Wike dismisses Trump’s Christian genocide claim, calls it ‘politics taken too far’
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, describing it as a politically motivated falsehood and “a case of politics taken too far.”
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television on Monday night, November 3, Wike accused opposition figures of using the allegation to discredit President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He likened the move to the political strategies employed against former President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 elections.
Trump had recently threatened to deploy U.S. military intervention if the alleged killing of Christians in northern Nigeria was not stopped by the Tinubu administration.
Reacting to the claim, Wike said, “I am a Nigerian and a full-blooded Christian. My father is a pastor, and my family are all Christians. I serve in this government. It is an indictment on me and my faith for anyone to allege that a government where I serve supports genocide against Christians. This is politics taken too far.”
The minister also argued that the allegation was illogical, noting that several key figures in the nation’s security architecture, including the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the DSS, and the Chief of Defence Staff, are Christians.
“Tell me, how can any right-thinking person say that we, as Christians in this government, will sit back and watch our people being killed? Nobody here is happy that any life—Christian, Muslim, or non-believer—is lost,” he said.
Wike further noted that President Tinubu, whose wife is a pastor, would never condone religious violence, adding that the current administration has invested more resources in combating terrorism than any previous government.
He accused opposition groups of exploiting Nigeria’s security challenges to stir religious tensions ahead of the 2027 elections. “This is exactly the same script they used in 2015 against Jonathan. The opposition knows no party is currently strong enough to challenge President Tinubu, so they are desperate to create tension. This genocide claim is just a political weapon,” he asserted.
The minister maintained that terrorism and banditry in Nigeria are indiscriminate, affecting people of all faiths and backgrounds. “Terrorists are killing Christians, Muslims, and even non-believers. When Benue was under attack or when the Chibok girls were kidnapped, Tinubu was not President. So, it’s wrong to link today’s killings to this administration,” he explained.
Wike urged Nigerians and the international community not to be misled by politically driven reports, emphasizing that while the government welcomes genuine international support against terrorism, it would not allow Nigeria’s challenges to be used for political gain.
“This government is not helpless; it’s working and will continue to work to solve the problem,” he concluded.
