Bayo Onanuga
By Abayomi Grace
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has responded strongly to US Senator Ted Cruz’s allegations of Nigerian officials ignoring or facilitating the mass murder of Christians by Islamist jihadists.
Onanuga described these claims as “malicious, contrived lies” and emphasized that Nigeria doesn’t have a religious war. He pointed out that Boko Haram terrorists in the North East target everyone, including farmers and soldiers, while bandits in the North West kill worshippers in mosques, showing no specific targeting of Christians.
According to Onanuga, Nigeria enjoys religious harmony, contradicting Senator Cruz’s claims. The senator had threatened to target Nigerian officials with sanctions under the proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act if they didn’t address the alleged persecution of Christians. Onanuga’s rebuke aligns with President Tinubu’s stance that allegations of religious genocide in Nigeria are unfounded, highlighting the country’s cultural and religious diversity.
President Tinubu has stated that Nigerians have learned to appreciate their diversity after 65 years of independence, and no religion is under threat in the country. Onanuga’s response aims to correct perceived misinformation about Nigeria’s religious landscape. The government’s position emphasizes that terrorists and bandits are the main perpetrators of violence, without any particular religious targeting.
The US senator’s allegations and proposed sanctions have sparked a diplomatic tension between the two countries, with the Nigerian government resisting foreign narratives it deems unfair or extremist. The proposed Nigeria Religious Freedom.
Accountability Act aims to hold Nigerian leaders accountable for religious persecution and violence, but critics argue it may overlook other sources of violence, such as Fulani militias .
