A case of politics taken too far – Nyesom Wike dismisses Nigerian Christian genocide claims by Trump

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has strongly rejected claims alleging a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, characterizing the accusation as politically motivated and “a case of politics taken too far.”

Speaking on Channels television program on Monday night, November 3, Wike accused opposition elements of pushing the narrative to discredit President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He suggested this tactic is an attempt to recycle political maneuvers previously employed against former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015. This comes after Trump threatened to intervene with the US military if the killing of Christians in northern Nigeria isn’t stopped by the Tinubu administration.

“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,” he asserted.

He further argued that it is “illogical” to claim that the government would tolerate religious persecution given the number of Christians holding key positions in the nation’s security structure, including the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the DSS, and the Chief of Defence Staff.

“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 added.

The Minister maintained that President Tinubu, whose wife is also a pastor, would never condone religious violence. He insisted that the Tinubu administration has invested more resources in fighting terrorism than any previous government.

Wike pointed to the timing of the claims, accusing opposition forces of exploiting the current security challenges to incite religious division 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 claimed.

Wike emphasized that terrorism and banditry are indiscriminate, claiming lives across all faiths and ethnic groups.

He noted, “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 concluded by urging Nigerians and the international community to avoid being swayed by politically driven reports. He stated that while he supports any country genuinely willing to help Nigeria fight terrorism, no one should use the internal challenges for political gain.

“This government is not helpless; it’s working and will continue to work to solve the problem,” Wike affirmed.