Collaborate With Trump To End Killings Of Christians, PFN President, Bishop Wale Oke Urges Tinubu
•By KAZEEM OYENIYI
IBADAN – THE President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Bishop Francis Wale Oke, has urged President Bola Tinubu to collaborate with former United States President Donald Trump in addressing the persistent killings of Christians across Nigeria.
Bishop Oke, who spoke with journalists in Ibadan, Oyo State, described the continuous attacks on Christian communities as “an undeniable case of Christian genocide” and called for urgent government action to halt the violence.
According to him, the persecution of Christians in Nigeria is no longer a matter for debate, citing several incidents, including the killing of Deborah Samuel in Sokoto, the abduction of Leah Sharibu, the Chibok schoolgirls’ ordeal, and repeated attacks in Benue, Taraba, Southern Kaduna, Owo, Niger, and Plateau states.
“There is Christian genocide in Nigeria; there’s no other name to call it,” Bishop Oke declared. “No Christian group is attacking Muslims. The patience of the Church is being stretched.”
The cleric explained that the perpetrators of these attacks were extremist groups such as Boko Haram, ISWAP, and their splinter factions—groups that, he said, falsely claim to represent Islam. He was quick to clarify that the broader Muslim community should not be blamed for the actions of these violent elements.
Bishop Oke expressed appreciation to former U.S. President Donald Trump for previously raising global awareness about the plight of Christians in Nigeria. He, however, emphasized that any intervention should come through partnership and diplomacy rather than external interference.
He said, “President Tinubu should seek cooperation with President Trump rather than oppose him.
“The President must move decisively to eliminate radical groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP so that Nigerians can live in peace.”
The PFN leader stressed that the Nigerian government has a constitutional duty to protect all citizens regardless of faith or background. He acknowledged that the Tinubu administration inherited the nation’s complex security challenges but urged decisive and non-political action to end the crisis.
“Government should rise to the occasion and not politicize the matter. President Tinubu and the federal government must work with global partners like Trump to tackle this cancer,” Oke added.
During Trump’s administration, the U.S. had designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, citing what it described as “Christian genocide” — a move that Nigerian authorities at the time strongly rejected.
Oke’s comments come amid renewed local and international concern over escalating insecurity in parts of northern and central Nigeria, where several Christian communities have suffered repeated deadly attacks.