Daniel Bwala: Christian genocide claim triggered by Nigeria’s stance on Israel-Palestine conflict

Daniel Bwala, special adviser to the president on policy communication, says claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria are being peddled because of Nigeria’s stance on a two-state solution to the perennial Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Speaking in an interview on France24 TV in Paris, Bwala said Nigeria’s statement delivered by Vice-President Kashim Shettima at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) led certain Western actors to peddle the Christian genocide claim.

In his address during the UNGA 80th session in New York, Shettima condemned the attack on innocent civilians while calling for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“We do not believe that the sanctity of human life should be trapped in the corridors of endless debate,” Shettima had said.

“That is why we say, without stuttering and without doubt, that a two-state solution remains the most dignified path to lasting peace for the people of Palestine.”

Recently, claims of Christian genocide in Nigeria have been peddled on conventional and social media, especially by some personalities in the United States.

Owing to the development, Ted Cruz, a US senator, proposed a bill that seeks to protect “persecuted” Christians in Nigeria.

Riley Moore, a member of the US house of representatives, had asked Marco Rubio, secretary of state, to immediately take decisive diplomatic action against the Nigerian government over the “systematic persecution and slaughter of Christians” in the country.

Bill Maher, a US comedian and talk show host, also alleged that Christians are being systematically exterminated in Nigeria by terror groups.

The federal government has repeatedly denied the claim.

‘WE REJECT NOTION OF CHRISTIAN GENOCIDE IN NIGERIA’

Bwala described the Christian genocide claim as a “cooked-up narrative by the West because they see that we are making gains with the economy”.

The presidential aide said the US political personalities peddling the rumour are relying on a report by Intersociety, adding that the report is full of “contradictions”.

He said the President Bola Tinubu-led administration is making gains in the areas of insecurity, adding that those differentiating victims of insecurity based on religion want to create religious war.

“We strongly object to the notion that there is systematic genocide in Nigeria,” Bwala said.

“We admit it to the fact that there is insecurity in Nigeria, which we are dealing with.

“The reason is because… I will give you a context. At the UNGA, the Nigerian president was represented by the vice-president, and in the speech, Nigeria took a position of a two-state solution (Israeli-Palestinian conflict).

“We condemned the inhumane treatment in Gaza. Twenty-four hours later, this comedian, Bill Maher, started this campaign of Christian genocide.”

Asked if the Christian genocide claim is a result of Nigeria’s position on Gaza, he responded: “Exactly”.