Daniel Bwala, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, has drawn a connection between recent allegations of Christian genocide in Nigeria and the country’s diplomatic stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at the United Nations.
Speaking during an interview with France24 TV in Paris, Bwala argued that the timing of the genocide narrative was suspicious, coming shortly after Nigeria’s official statement at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
“Exactly. Twenty-four hours after Nigeria condemned the inhumane treatment in Gaza and advocated for a two-state solution, this comedian, Bill Maher, started this campaign of Christian genocide,” Bwala said.
The presidential adviser characterised the allegations as manufactured propaganda, stating they represent “a cooked-up narrative by the West because they see that we are making gains with the economy.” He pointed to a report by Intersociety as the primary source of these claims, which he said contains numerous contradictions.
Whilst acknowledging Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges, Bwala stressed that the government is actively addressing these issues across all affected communities.
“We admit there is insecurity in Nigeria, which we are dealing with,” he stated. “Those differentiating victims of insecurity based on religion want to create religious war. We strongly object to the notion that there is systematic genocide in Nigeria.”
Bwala highlighted that the genocide narrative has gained traction amongst certain American politicians, including Senator Ted Cruz and Representative Riley Moore, who have called for diplomatic action against Nigeria. He suggested these positions deliberately ignore the broader context of Nigeria’s foreign policy and the government’s security initiatives.
The adviser explained that Nigeria’s position on Gaza, as presented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima at UNGA, advocated for a peaceful resolution through a two-state solution, with the country speaking as a neutral party championing human rights and dignity for all.
“From our perspective, the Christian genocide narrative is less about facts on the ground and more about political posturing in response to Nigeria’s independent foreign policy,” Bwala concluded.
