Senator Ali Ndume has urged the federal government to enlist senior diplomats to defend Nigeria’s global image after former U.S. President Donald Trump designated the country a “country of particular concern,” alleging genocide against Christians.
Ali Ndume, senator representing Borno South, has called on the federal government to engage seasoned diplomats to defend Nigeria’s image following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s designation of the country as a “country of particular concern.”
Trump, in a post shared on his Truth Social account and the White House’s X handle on Friday, claimed that Christians were being massacred in Nigeria, describing the situation as genocide.
“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote. “I am hereby making Nigeria a ‘country of particular concern.’”
In a statement on Saturday, Ndume urged the Tinubu administration to immediately engage experienced diplomats to correct the narrative.
“Before things get out of hand, Nigeria should engage seasoned diplomats like Chief Emeka Anyaoku, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, Babagana Kingibe, Professor Sulu Gambari, and Amina Mohammed in the United Nations,” he said.
Ndume also advised Nigeria to work closely with the U.S. embassy to present facts showing that terrorism affects both Christians and Muslims.
“We can change the narrative by ensuring that we aren’t tagged ‘country of particular concern,’ but ‘country of special concern,’” he added.
He criticised the government and senate for ignoring earlier warnings from U.S. lawmaker Riley Moore, stressing that Nigeria must act swiftly to prevent diplomatic and economic fallout.