Okonjo-Iweala disowns fake post criticising Tinubu, vows legal action against impersonators

Okonjo-Iweala disowns fake post criticising Tinubu, vows legal action against impersonators

Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has disowned a viral social media post falsely attributed to her, in which she was quoted as criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s handling of insecurity in Nigeria.

The post, titled “Trump didn’t ‘hit’ us — our leaders did,” alleged that Okonjo-Iweala blamed Nigerian leaders for prioritizing rhetoric over decisive action against banditry and insurgency. It also falsely claimed that she urged President Tinubu to “stop the damage control speeches” and “secure the people.”

Reacting on Saturday via her verified X (formerly Twitter) handle, the WTO chief described the statement as fake and said legal action was underway against those behind the impersonation.

“Beware, this story going around on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook is false! We are taking action! The person who did this could not even spell my name,” she wrote.

Okonjo-Iweala condemned the impersonation, calling on the culprits to take responsibility rather than hide behind her identity.

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“Whichever coward did this should write the message in their own name and not hide behind mine or anyone else’s! Scammers and 419ers, stop!” she added.

Her reaction came amid growing controversy over remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleged that Christians were being persecuted in Nigeria.

Trump, in a post on his Truth Social platform, warned that the United States might “go in guns blazing” if the reported killings of Christians continued. The comment drew sharp criticism and prompted official reactions from the Nigerian government.

Responding, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to democracy and religious freedom, emphasizing that his administration actively engages with leaders of all faiths to promote peace and national unity.

He dismissed foreign portrayals of Nigeria as a religiously intolerant nation, describing such claims as false and contrary to the country’s long-standing culture of diversity and coexistence.

“Religious tolerance has been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” Tinubu said in a post on his X handle.

He also pledged to continue working with the United States and other international partners to strengthen mutual understanding and protect all religious communities.

However, Trump doubled down on his stance during a follow-up post on Wednesday night, insisting that the U.S. “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening.” He urged U.S. lawmakers, including House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole and Congressman Riley Moore, to investigate the situation and report back to him.

Okonjo-Iweala disowns fake post criticising Tinubu, vows legal action against impersonators