‘Tinubu Has No Sympathy For Islamist Jihadist Groups’

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Public affairs analyst Majeed Dahiru has dismissed allegations suggesting that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu harbours religious bias or sympathy toward extremist groups, insisting that such claims are unfounded and inconsistent with the President’s record.

Speaking on Politics Today, a Channels Television programme on Wednesday, Dahiru defended Tinubu’s approach to governance and security, describing him as “a national leader without sectarian leanings.”

“President Tinubu has not by any sense of imagination been accused of religious bigotry or having sympathy with Islamist jihadist terror groups. Absolutely not,” Dahiru stated.

He noted that while Nigerians are free to criticise the President on economic or administrative grounds, accusations of religious extremism “hold no water.”

“You can criticise him for every other thing, but nobody can actually criticise him for this because he does not qualify for such criticism,” he added.

‘Tinubu Has Mobilised Security Forces Against All Threats’

According to Dahiru, Tinubu has demonstrated a balanced commitment to tackling insecurity across Nigeria’s regions, without favouring or discriminating against any religious group.

“I am the President of this country. I am the Commander-in-Chief. There is no way I will preside over a country and sit idly and allow, encourage the killings of Christians,” he said, paraphrasing the President’s approach to security management.

The analyst argued that while Christian communities in parts of northern Nigeria have faced violent attacks, the government has achieved notable gains in counterinsurgency operations and the fight against terrorism.

He added that Tinubu’s administration has continued to equip the military and strengthen joint operations to curb extremist violence nationwide.

Trump’s ‘Christian Genocide’ Remarks

Dahiru’s comments came in response to a recent statement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleged that Christianity faces an “existential threat” in Nigeria due to what he described as a “mass slaughter” of Christians by radical Islamist groups.

“Christianity is facing an existential threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed. Radical Islamists are responsible for this mass slaughter,” Trump wrote, urging U.S. lawmakers to investigate the situation.

He called on Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole to launch an inquiry, warning that the United States “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening.”

The U.S. President also claimed that Nigeria has been designated a “country of particular concern” and pressed for international intervention.

FG Rejects Genocide Allegation

The Federal Government of Nigeria has strongly refuted Trump’s assertions, maintaining that while insecurity persists in certain regions, there is no organised or state-sanctioned extermination of Christians in the country.

Officials argue that extremist violence in Nigeria affects both Muslims and Christians, and that the government’s security policies are non-discriminatory.

Dahiru’s defence aligns with the government’s stance, underscoring Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to depoliticise religion, strengthen national unity, and maintain religious balance in public appointments.