By Abiola Olawale
The Nigerian Presidency has accused influential United States lawmakers of allegedly fabricating and amplifying claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria as retaliation for the country’s criticism of Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
This is as Daniel Bwala, special adviser to the president on policy communication, dismissed the allegations as “Western propaganda” designed to undermine Nigeria’s global standing and internal security efforts.
Speaking in an interview on France24 TV in Paris, Bwala claimed that Nigeria’s statement delivered by Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) led certain Western actors to peddle the Christian genocide claim.
Bwala described the Christian genocide claim as a “cooked-up narrative by the West because they see that we are making gains with the economy”.
Bwala asserted: “We strongly object to the notion that there is systematic genocide in Nigeria.
“We admit it to the fact that there is insecurity in Nigeria, which we are dealing with.
“The reason is because… I will give you a context. At the UNGA, the Nigerian president was represented by the vice-president, and in the speech, Nigeria took a position of a two-state solution (Israeli-Palestinian conflict).
“We condemned the inhumane treatment in Gaza. Twenty-four hours later, this comedian, Bill Maher, started this campaign of Christian genocide.”
Asked if the Christian genocide claim is a result of Nigeria’s position on Gaza, he responded: “Exactly”.
The New Diplomat reports that in his address during the UNGA 80th session in New York, Shettima condemned the attack on innocent civilians while calling for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The vice president stated: “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.”
Recall also that allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria have been making headlines.
The development came after Ted Cruz, a US senator, proposed a bill that seeks to protect “persecuted” Christians in Nigeria.
Riley Moore, a member of the US House of Representatives, had also asked Marco Rubio, Secretary of State, to immediately take decisive diplomatic action against the Nigerian government over the “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in the country.
Bill Maher, a US comedian and talk show host, also alleged that Christians are being systematically exterminated in Nigeria by terror groups.
However, the Nigerian government had repeatedly dismissed the allegations.
