President Bola Tinubu has strongly denied allegations of religious persecution in Nigeria, calling them “false and unfounded” and a “lie from the pit of hell”.
While speaking at the launch of Governor Hope Uzodimma’s book, “A Decade of Impactful Progressive Governance in Nigeria”, in Owerri, Imo State, Tinubu stressed that Nigeria is a nation where religious tolerance thrives, with Christians and Muslims living and working together peacefully.
Tinubu’s remarks were in response to claims made by American comedian and talk show host Bill Maher, who alleged that Christians are being systematically killed in Nigeria.
Maher claimed that up to 500,000 Christians had been killed and described the situation as genocide.
These allegations were widely circulated by international influencers, including Radio Genoa, an anti-Islamic personality on X.
Tinubu assured Nigerians that they will soon experience prosperity under his administration, stating that the economy has “just turned a corner”.
He urged citizens to remain patient and patriotic, emphasizing that his administration is committed to good governance and the welfare of Nigerians.
“Nigeria’s economy just turned a corner, and you will receive prosperity; those talking negatively about this country should stop saying so. Just be patient, as all Nigerians will feel the prosperity in due time; don’t be corrupt,” he said.
The Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, has also debunked Maher’s claims, describing them as a “gross misrepresentation of reality”.
The government’s position is that Nigeria’s security challenges should not be portrayed as a targeted campaign against a single religious group.