The Presidency has forcefully countered circulating information concerning President Bola Tinubu’s itinerary. Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, dismissed a report claiming the President was slated to travel to the United States on Tuesday.
The false report stated that Tinubu was going to meet with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance.
In an online post made Monday, Ajayi labeled the story as misleading and untrue. He argued that the inaccurate news had simply “fueled unnecessary speculation and uninformed commentaries.”
Diplomatic Protocol Clarified
Ajayi took the opportunity to explain the proper procedure for diplomatic visits. He pointed out the expected protocol if President Tinubu were to visit the White House.
“If President Tinubu is going to the White House, he won’t be going to see a Vice President,” Ajayi clarified.
The need for this public correction emerged after earlier reports suggested Tinubu was traveling to Washington for “top-level diplomatic engagements.”
These supposed meetings were planned amidst intense global scrutiny over alleged Christian persecution in Nigeria. They also followed a recent, severe public statement from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Escalation: Trump’s Military Threat
The diplomatic crisis intensified when President Trump publicly warned of potential military intervention. In a Saturday post, Trump threatened that the United States might “go in guns blazing” if the Nigerian government failed to protect Christians from alleged attacks.
Trump explicitly threatened to cut off all financial aid: “If the Nigerian Government continues to allow the killing of Christians, the USA will immediately stop all aid and assistance to Nigeria.”
He concluded by issuing a military preparation order: “I am hereby instructing our Department of War to prepare for possible action.”
Tinubu Counters Genocide Narrative
Responding to the rising controversy, President Tinubu firmly rejected the narrative of a “Christian genocide” over the weekend. He reiterated that Nigeria is a democracy deeply devoted to religious freedom and equality for all citizens.
President Tinubu made his government’s position unequivocally clear in an official public statement:
- Constitutional Guarantee: He emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution protects the freedom of religion.
- Active Engagement: His administration has maintained “an open and active engagement with Christian and Muslim leaders alike” since 2023.
- Security Focus: He confirmed the government “continues to address security challenges which affect citizens across faiths and regions.”
Tinubu specifically disputed external narratives labeling Nigeria as religiously intolerant. He described these claims as inaccurate. He pledged continued collaboration with the U.S. and international partners to deepen mutual understanding and protect all faith communities.
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