President Tinubu Ahead Of Anti-Nigeria Campaign In US — Onanuga
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ABUJA – PRESIDENTIAL Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, says President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is fully aware of what he described as an orchestrated campaign in the United States to tarnish Nigeria’s image using allegations of Christian persecution.
On his X platform , Onanuga stated that those pushing the narrative are driven by political motives ahead of the 2027 elections and foreign interests seeking influence in U.S. domestic politics.
Onanuga’s lengthy statement comes amid reports that former U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to meet Tinubu over claims of religious genocide in Nigeria, a development that has generated intense reactions from religious and political blocs both in Nigeria and the U.S.
According to Onanuga, the move is part of a coordinated attempt to misrepresent Nigeria’s security challenges.
“President Tinubu is well ahead of the orchestrated game unfolding in the U.S. and those behind it,” he said.
“There are desperate individuals and organisations feeding the American system with fabricated stories to damage the image of Nigeria and undermine the President’s credibility.”
The presidential aide dismissed accusations that Christians are being targeted by government policy, insisting that security concerns affect all groups.
“There is no policy in place that marginalizes Christians,” he said.
“Some people are simply promoting lies to gain international sympathy and political capital.”
He stressed that violent attacks in the Middle Belt and Northwest are driven by banditry and terrorism, not religious ideology.
Onanuga accused political opponents of collaborating with lobbyists abroad to call for sanctions against Nigeria.
“They know they cannot defeat the President through democratic means at home, so they are trying to create chaos through foreign influence,” he alleged.
He also claimed that some of the groups sponsoring foreign campaigns were responsible for disinformation during the 2023 general election.
Onanuga noted that the Tinubu administration has intensified diplomatic engagements to correct what he called “false impressions” in Washington.
“Nigeria will not fold its arms while lies are being circulated abroad,” he said.
“We are addressing this intelligently, and the President is ready to interface with any U.S. stakeholders, including Trump, to present the truth.”
The U.S. recently returned Nigeria to a watchlist of countries accused of failing to protect religious freedom, a move Nigeria has strongly rejected.
While some U.S. evangelical groups insist Christians are deliberately targeted, Nigeria insists the crisis is broader and affects Muslims and traditional worshippers too.
Diplomatic analysts believe the issue has become entangled in U.S. election politics, where evangelical support remains a major factor.
Onanuga maintained that Tinubu “will protect Nigeria’s sovereignty and image” and would not allow religious narratives to be used as a tool for foreign political battles.
Daniel Bwala, another presidential aide, has also revealed that plans are underway for a possible meeting between President Tinubu and former U.S. President Donald Trump, either in Abuja or Washington, to address the concerns.
He echoed Onanuga’s stance, accusing political detractors of collaborating with foreign interests to undermine the administration’s efforts to secure lasting peace and religious harmony in Nigeria.