Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has strongly dismissed claims of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, labeling the widely circulated allegation as “politics taken too far” and an effort designed purely to discredit the current administration. Speaking on a Channels Television programme on Monday, Wike accused opposition elements of actively pushing this dangerous narrative to destabilize the government of President Bola Tinubu, suggesting the strategy is a repeat of the political tactics deployed against former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
Wike, a self-described “full-blooded Christian” whose father is a pastor, emphatically rejected the accusation: “It is an indictment on me and my faith for anyone to allege that a government where I serve supports genocide against Christians.” He argued that the claim is illogical, pointing out that several critical figures in the country’s security architecture—including the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the DSS, and the Chief of Defence Staff—are all Christians. “How can any right-thinking person say that we, as Christians in this government, will sit back and watch our people being killed? Nobody here is happy that any life—Christian, Muslim, or non-believer—is lost,” he challenged.
The Minister maintained that President Tinubu, whose wife is also a pastor, would never condone religious violence, insisting: “The President I know cannot shut his eyes to such atrocities.” Responding to questions about whether complacency could amount to complicity, Wike firmly stated that the Tinubu administration has committed more resources to fighting terrorism than any previous government. He accused opposition forces of deliberately exploiting the existing security challenges to incite religious division ahead of the 2027 elections.
“This is exactly the same script they used in 2015 against Jonathan,” Wike claimed. “The opposition knows no party is currently strong enough to challenge President Tinubu, so they are desperate to create tension. This genocide claim is just a political weapon.” He stressed that terrorism and banditry are indiscriminate, claiming lives across all faiths and ethnic groups. He reminded critics that insecurity, referencing attacks in Benue and the Chibok girls kidnapping, predated the current administration.
Wike urged both Nigerians and the international community not to be misled by reports that are politically driven. While supporting any country “genuinely willing to help Nigeria fight terrorism,” he warned that no one should use Nigeria’s internal challenges for political gain. “This government is not helpless; it’s working and will continue to work to solve the problem,” he concluded.
