Olayiwola Matthew
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio has dismissed US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks on Nigeria, describing them as based on an “outdated report” that does not reflect the nation’s present realities.
On Friday, Trump had labelled Nigeria a “country of particular concern”, alleging that the government has turned a blind eye to attacks on Christians.
Speaking during Tuesday’s plenary, Akpabio said the Senate is yet to formally discuss the matter but will do so in collaboration with the executive arm of government.
“We have not discussed the issue of President Trump yet in chambers. We shall do so with the executive because we believe it is a matter of foreign policy and diplomatic relations,” he said.
“I have refrained from taking any motion on that yet until we know the direction of government and what government intends to do.”
Akpabio explained that Trump’s statement was influenced by a 2010 report from a US congressional fact-finding team that visited limited areas in Nigeria.
“The position that President Trump is taking is not based on the current realities,” he said.
“The position is based on a purported 2010 report — 15 years ago — that they said some people came on fact-finding from the US Congress and they went to only Plateau and Benue; they did not go to Zamfara and other areas.”
He emphasized that Nigeria’s security issues should not be reduced to religious conflicts, as victims come from all faiths and backgrounds.
“If you go to a predominantly Muslim community, terrorists and bandits cause you to kill people — the majority of those who die there will be Muslims,” he said.
“When you enter a predominantly Christian community like Benue and Plateau and then you cause mayhem, the majority of those who will die there will be Christians.”
Akpabio stressed that Nigeria’s challenges must be viewed holistically, noting that citizens across religions desire peace and stability.
“Nigeria’s problem needs to be weighed from all sides, and all we are looking for is peace,” he said.
“There is no Nigerian that doesn’t want to sleep with his two eyes closed, and there is no Nigerian that does not live with a Muslim or Christian in his house. Nigeria is multi-religious, multi-ethnic, and we live with one another.”
He cautioned against efforts to misrepresent Nigeria as a nation divided by religion.
“When people take issues out of Nigeria and misrepresent them to create the impression that Christians and Muslims are fighting, it is totally untrue,” Akpabio added.
Earlier this month, the Senate constituted a 12-member ad hoc committee to develop a policy paper addressing international concerns over alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.