Barely hours after President Donald Trump redesignated Nigeria with the US’ Country of Particular Concern (CPC) status and placed her on the global superpower’s watchlist over alleged Christian genocide perpetrated by Islamic extremists, the Federal Government (FG) has responded,saying Trump was way off the mark.
FG’s response coincided with a post on X where Aloy Ejimakor, lawyer to detained leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, stated that the Trump hammer is an example of what happens when a government allegedly tear-gasses peaceful protesters but romances terrorists.
FG’s reply to Trump came not from Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, or his Information and National Orientation counterpart, Mohammed Idris Malagi, but from a lower official, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
It runs thus: “The Federal Government of Nigeria notes the recent remarks by U.S. President Donald J. Trump alleging large-scale killings of Christians in Nigeria and calling for the country’s designation as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
“While Nigeria appreciates global concern for human rights and religious freedom, these claims do not reflect the situation on the ground. Nigerians of all faiths have long lived, worked and worshipped together peacefully.
“Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria remains committed to fighting terrorism, strengthening interfaith harmony and protecting the lives and rights of all its people.
“Nigeria will continue to engage constructively with the Government of the United States to deepen mutual understanding of regional dynamics and the country’s ongoing peace and security efforts.
“Signed:
Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, anipr
Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja.”
On his part, Kanu’s Special Counsel, Ejimakor,remarked that US designation of Nigeria as CPC was inevitable.
To him, this was because the government allegedly teargassed peaceful protesters but romanced terrorists publicly.
In the post, he failed to provide evidence, however.
Posting a video of himself on his X page as he received oxygen, Ejimakor stated: “The aftermaths of taking 2 direct teargas hits for expressing my legal right to peaceable assembly.
“When a nation tear-gasses peaceful protesters but romances terrorists in full glare of the public, being slammed as a Country of Particular Concern becomes inevitable. #FreeMNK.”
Recall that the lawyer and others were arrested by the police in Abuja during the free Nnamdi Kanu protest last month.
Organized by muck raking newspaper publisher and activist, Omoyele Sowore, the protest was intended to be staged at State House, before a court order halted the bid even as the judiciary ordered the protesters to hold the protest in designated areas within the nation’s capital.
Following their arrest, Sowore; Ejimakor; Kanu’s brother, Prince Emmanuel; and others were put before a Kuje Magistrate Court which remanded them in Kuje Correctional Facility at first, then finally granted them bail.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Trump.
