Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, has attributed the recent claims of “Christian genocide” in Nigeria to the country’s position on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking during an interview with France24 in Paris, Bwala said the allegations began circulating after Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s address at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where he reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for a two-state solution.
In his UNGA speech, Shettima said, “We do not believe that the sanctity of human life should be trapped in the corridors of endless debate. That is why we say, without stuttering and without doubt, that a two-state solution remains the most dignified path to lasting peace for the people of Palestine.”
Following that declaration, several Western figures began promoting claims that Christians were being systematically persecuted in Nigeria. Among them was U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who proposed a bill to protect persecuted Nigerian Christians.
Additionally, Riley Moore, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, urged the U.S. Secretary of State to take diplomatic action against Nigeria. Talk show host Bill Maher also alleged that terror groups were exterminating Christians in the country. The Nigerian government, however, has firmly denied these allegations.
Bwala dismissed the genocide claims as a cooked-up narrative by the West because they see that Nigeria is making gains with the economy.
The spokesman said that the reports being used to justify the accusations, particularly from the group Intersociety, are riddled with inconsistencies.
He maintained that while Nigeria faces security challenges, they are not targeted at any particular religion, stressing that those promoting the narrative of religious persecution are attempting to incite division.
Bwala said, “We strongly object to the notion that there is systematic genocide in Nigeria.”
“We admit there is insecurity, which we are dealing with. The reason this false narrative emerged is because, at the UNGA, Nigeria condemned the inhumane treatment in Gaza and supported a two-state solution. Twenty-four hours later, this comedian, Bill Maher, started this campaign of Christian genocide.”
When asked directly if the genocide claims were a consequence of Nigeria’s stance on Gaza, he replied, “Exactly.”
