Fani-Kayode Faults Western ‘Christian Genocide’ Narrative, Warns Against Divisive Foreign Agenda

F Former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, has dismissed recent claims by some Western figures alleging that Christians are facing genocide in Nigeria, describing such assertions as part of a “dangerous conspiracy” aimed at destabilising the country.

In a lengthy statement shared on his official social media handle, the former minister criticised comments by American television personalities Bill Maher and Van Jones, as well as U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, who accused Nigeria of indulging in “Christian genocide” and vowed to sponsor a bill in the U.S. Senate to “protect Christians in Nigeria.”

Fani-Kayode also referenced a recent resolution by the Canadian Parliament which labelled Nigeria as one of the most dangerous places for Christians. He questioned the sudden global attention on Nigeria’s religious tensions, suggesting that Western powers were using the narrative to pursue hidden political motives.

“The Americans, their allies, and their local collaborators are carefully preparing the ground for a religious war in our country,” he alleged. “They want us to tear ourselves apart.”

While acknowledging that Islamist terrorists such as Boko Haram and ISWAP have targeted and killed thousands of Christians over the past decade, Fani-Kayode maintained that Muslims have suffered similar attacks. He accused Western nations of hypocrisy, recalling that they once refused to designate Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation and denied Nigeria access to arms to fight insurgency.

According to him, the renewed rhetoric about “Christian genocide” is intended to divert global attention from the ongoing conflict in Gaza and to punish Nigeria for taking a firm stand at the United Nations against Israeli military actions.

Fani-Kayode argued that the violence in Nigeria affects both Christians and Muslims, stressing that portraying it as one-sided could inflame sectarian divisions.

“Yes, Christian lives matter, but do Muslim ones not matter too?” he asked. “If there was a Christian genocide in Nigeria, I would be the first to speak against it, but the truth is that this is a genocide against all Nigerians.”
He urged Nigerians to resist foreign attempts to sow religious discord, unite against terrorism, and reject narratives that could lead to chaos.

“We must join hands as Nigerians and re-emphasise our unity,” he said. “We cannot win the war against terror by turning on ourselves.”

The former minister concluded by calling for peace and divine guidance, praying that God would “bless, defend, and protect the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”