President Bola Tinubu has rejected the designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by United States President Donald Trump over alleged persecution of Christians, insisting that the characterisation does not align with the nation’s reality or constitutional values.
It is important to note that the US had named Nigeria among countries accused of failing to prevent or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom.
But the Federal Government has repeatedly dismissed the allegation since it first surfaced within some American policymaking circles.
Reacting in a statement on his verified X account, @officialABAT, on Saturday, President Tinubu maintained that Nigeria remains a pluralistic democracy committed to protecting the rights of all religious groups.
The President said, “Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty. Since 2023, our administration has maintained an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike and continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions.”
According to Tinubu, the US designation misrepresents decades-long efforts by successive administrations, religious institutions, and community leaders to uphold peaceful coexistence among the country’s diverse faith communities.
He said, “The characterisation of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality, nor does it take into consideration the consistent and sincere efforts of the government to safeguard freedom of religion and beliefs for all Nigerians.”
Tinubu reaffirmed that religious harmony has been an enduring principle of the country’s nationhood, adding that the Nigerian state neither promotes nor condones religious persecution.
The President further said, “Religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so. Nigeria opposes religious persecution and does not encourage it”.
Underscoring that constitutional protections cover citizens of all faiths, Tinubu said his administration remains committed to engaging international partners, including the US, to strengthen mutual understanding and advance the protection of religious rights globally.
“Our administration is committed to working with the United States government and the international community to deepen understanding and cooperation on protection of communities of all faiths,” the President concluded.
It is instructive to note that the latest designation marks the second time Nigeria has been placed on the CPC list in recent years, reviving a debate that Abuja has often described as politically driven and inconsistent with ground realities in Africa’s most populous nation, where Christians and Muslims have long coexisted despite sporadic security challenges.
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