The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has strongly refuted allegations suggesting the existence of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, labeling such claims as false, politically motivated, and an extreme form of political manipulation. Speaking during a live interview on Channels Television in Abuja on Monday, Wike accused opposition politicians of deliberately pushing this narrative to tarnish the image of President Bola Tinubu’s administration and to revive the same divisive strategies they allegedly deployed against former President Goodluck Jonathan during the 2015 general elections.
Wike, who described himself as a devoted Christian and the son of a pastor, stated that it was both offensive and misleading to suggest that a government in which he serves could be complicit in any form of religious persecution. “I am a Christian, and I serve in this government. My father is a pastor. My entire family is Christian. So, to say that the government I serve in is promoting genocide against Christians is an insult to my faith and to common sense. This is politics taken too far,” he declared.
The minister further argued that many of the top figures in Nigeria’s security hierarchy are Christians, including the Inspector-General of Police, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Chief of Defence Staff. According to him, it would be illogical to assume that such a government, with strong Christian representation at its highest levels, would tolerate or encourage the persecution of any religious group. “How can any right-thinking person say that we, as Christians in this government, will watch people being killed simply because of their faith? No sane person, whether Christian or Muslim, is happy when any life is lost,” Wike said.
He emphasized that President Tinubu, whose wife is a pastor, would never turn a blind eye to religious violence. “The President I know cannot ignore such atrocities. He believes in fairness and unity, not division,” Wike asserted. Responding to a question on whether perceived complacency by the government could be interpreted as complicity, Wike maintained that the Tinubu administration has committed more financial and operational resources to combating terrorism and insecurity than any previous government in recent history.
According to him, those spreading the genocide narrative are exploiting the country’s security challenges to sow discord and fuel religious tension ahead of the 2027 elections. “This is a recycled political script from 2015. The opposition knows no party today is strong enough to unseat Tinubu, so they are resorting to creating tension through lies and religious propaganda,” he said.
Wike insisted that terrorism and banditry in Nigeria have affected people across all religions and ethnicities, and not Christians alone. He cited examples of past tragedies, including attacks in Benue and the abduction of the Chibok girls, which occurred before Tinubu assumed office. “When Benue was under siege or when the Chibok girls were kidnapped, Tinubu was not President. So, it is unfair to associate the current security situation with his leadership,” he explained.
The FCT Minister urged Nigerians and the international community to disregard sensationalized or politically driven reports that could misrepresent the country’s situation. He reiterated his support for genuine international assistance in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism but warned against the use of religion or propaganda to destabilize the nation. “I welcome any sincere effort by friendly nations to help us end insecurity, but no one should use our internal issues as a political tool. This government is not helpless; it is working tirelessly to restore peace and protect every citizen,” Wike concluded.