Oba of Lagos rebukes Trump over unverified claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria

Oba of Lagos rebukes Trump over unverified claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria

The Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty Rilwan Akiolu I, has criticized recent remarks by United States President Donald Trump alleging persecution of Christians in Nigeria, describing the claims as based on flawed intelligence and potentially harmful to diplomatic relations.

Speaking during a media parley held at his Iga-Idugaran Palace on Lagos Island to commemorate his 82nd birthday and 22 years on the throne, Oba Akiolu cautioned against the careless handling of sensitive religious matters. A retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, the monarch warned that such statements could inflame tensions and destabilize the nation’s fragile unity.

“The report used by the U.S. president was not properly verified and does not represent the reality in Nigeria,” Akiolu stated. “Christians and Muslims are one in Nigeria. He should take time to gather correct intelligence information. What they are telling him now is false.”

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Trump had announced via his X account last Friday that Nigeria had been redesignated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), threatening to suspend U.S. aid over alleged religious persecution. The declaration has since sparked widespread reactions both locally and internationally.

Oba Akiolu expressed concern over the diplomatic fallout such declarations could cause, emphasizing that misinformed commentary from global leaders risks damaging Nigeria’s international reputation.

Echoing the monarch’s sentiments, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, dismissed the CPC designation as part of a broader geopolitical maneuver. He asserted that President Tinubu was “well ahead of the orchestrated game unfolding in America.”

Public affairs analyst Jude Ojo also weighed in, referencing a recent statement by Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto. Kukah had refuted claims of a targeted Christian genocide, asserting that violence in Nigeria affects citizens across religious lines.

Speaking on Trust Television, Ojo emphasized that Kukah’s extensive experience with security issues in northern Nigeria lends credibility to his assessment. “Exaggerated claims of religious persecution only worsen tensions and hinder effective solutions to the country’s insecurity challenges,” Ojo said.

He urged international observers to adopt balanced perspectives that promote unity rather than deepen divisions.

Oba of Lagos rebukes Trump over unverified claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria