By Remi Johnson
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory ,FCT, Dr Nyesom Wike, has dismissed allegations of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, describing them as baseless, politically motivated, and “a case of politics taken too far.”
Speaking during a Channels Television programme monitored in Abuja on Monday, Wike accused opposition figures of orchestrating the narrative to discredit President Bola Tinubu’s administration, recycling the same political tactics used against former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
“I am a Nigerian and a full-blooded Christian. My father is a pastor, and my family are all Christians. I serve in this government. It is an indictment on me and my faith for anyone to allege that a government where I serve supports genocide against Christians. This is politics taken too far,” he said.
Wike argued that it was “illogical” to claim that an administration with several key Christian figures in top security positions could be complicit in religious persecution. He listed the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the DSS, and the Chief of Defence Staff among those serving Christians.
“Tell me, how can any right-thinking person say that we, as Christians in this government, will sit back and watch our people being killed? Nobody here is happy that any life, Christian, Muslim, or non-believer, is lost,” he added.
The minister emphasized that President Tinubu, whose wife is a pastor, would never tolerate religious violence. “The President I know cannot shut his eyes to such atrocities,” he said.
Responding to questions on whether complacency could amount to complicity, Wike maintained that the Tinubu administration has invested more resources in combating terrorism than any previous government.
He accused opposition forces of exploiting Nigeria’s security challenges to stir up religious tension ahead of the 2027 elections.
“This is exactly the same script they used in 2015 against Jonathan. The opposition knows no party is currently strong enough to challenge President Tinubu, so they are desperate to create tension. This genocide claim is just a political weapon,” he stated.
Wike further explained that terrorism and banditry have affected Nigerians across faiths and ethnicities. “Terrorists are killing Christians, Muslims, and even non-believers. When Benue was under attack or when the Chibok girls were kidnapped, Tinubu was not President. So, it’s wrong to link today’s killings to this administration,” Wike said.
He urged Nigerians and the international community not to be swayed by politically driven reports. “I support any country genuinely willing to help Nigeria fight terrorism, but no one should use our internal challenges for politics. This government is not helpless; it’s working and will continue to work to solve the problem,” Wike said.