Writing By Bashir M; Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
The Senate has adopted a motion sponsored by Senator Muhammad Ali Ndume and several co-sponsors on the urgent need to address misconceptions surrounding the alleged “Christian Genocide” narrative in Nigeria and within the international community.
After deliberation, the Senate approved the motion and resolved to hold a closed-door session next week to thoroughly discuss the issue and chart a strategic engagement with the international community.
The motion followed growing concerns expressed by some members of the United States Congress over the safety of Christians and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria’s northern and Middle Belt regions.
Some U.S. lawmakers have reportedly urged the U.S. State Department to re-designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for alleged religious freedom violations a status Nigeria briefly held in 2020 before being removed the following year.
However, after presenting the motion, the Senate President Godswill Akpabio who spoke believed that to correct such misconception need more stakeholders engagement to outlined a common position without criminalising any section of the society in the country, saying crisis in Nigeria is not driven by religious sentiment.
“We will go into executive session on Tuesday, sit down and discuss the strategy of engagement and our response so that it will be multifaceted and other areas will have been consulted such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidency and others so that we know ways to address the proposed bills in the United States, Canada or any other place and particularly we know how to address the views of the international community and switch the feelings of Nigerians. Because Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious society.”
However, after presenting the motion, Senate President Godswill Akpabio noted that correcting such misconceptions requires broader stakeholder engagement to establish a unified national position without criminalizing any section of society.
He emphasized that the crises in Nigeria are not driven by religious sentiments.
According to him, “We will go into an executive session on Tuesday to discuss our strategy of engagement and response, ensuring it is multifaceted. Relevant stakeholders such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Presidency, and others will be consulted so that we can effectively address the proposed bills in the United States, Canada, or elsewhere. We must also know how to engage the international community and reflect the true feelings of Nigerians, because Nigeria is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious society.”
In his comment on the motion which made the Senate to rethink on considering the prayers of the motion, Senator Jimo Ibrahim said because of the sensitive nature of the information the senate need to engage and understand terrorist strategies and their practices so as to develop an effective counter-terrorism measures which requires a potential closed session
” It’s not a sympathy matter.
The moment the United States Senate knows that we are doing this engagement, then they cannot pass anything over there”
Earlier, the sponsor of the motion Senator Muhammad Ali Ndume said Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious federation whose unity and stability depend on mutual respect, tolerance, and accurate representation of its nationals.
He expressed Concern about the increasing circulation, both domestically and internationally, of the narrative alleging an ongoing “Christian genocide” in Nigeria-amplified by some advocacy groups, foreign media, and religious networks;
Also concerned that such narratives, though often arising from genuine concern, risk oversimplifying Nigeria’s security challenges, deepening sectarian suspicion, and creating negative perceptions of the country in the international community;
Notes that Nigeria continues to face terrorism, insurgency, banditry, communal violence, and criminal attacks, which have tragically claimed the lives of both Christians and Muslims in virtually all the states such as Plateau, Katsina Borno Kaduna and other states of the Federation.
Also notes that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees freedom of religion, equal protection under the law, and obliges the State to protect the lives and property of all citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity;
He, therefore, recognizes the importance of transparent communication, interfaith solidarity, and fact-based reporting in countering extremist propaganda and preventing sectarian division.
Cov/Bashir M
