By Ireti Asemota.
Temitope Ajayi, President Bola Tinubu’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, has denied a report that the President will travel to the US on Tuesday to meet with US Vice President J.D. Vance. In a post on Monday through his official X handle, Ajayi called the report inaccurate and deceptive, claiming it had stoked needless rumors and “uninformed commentaries.
“ Tinubu would meet with President Donald Trump, not the Vice President, if he were to visit the White House, Ajayi continued. “As reported by Sahara Reporters, President Tinubu is scheduled to visit U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance in the United States on Tuesday,” he wrote. The story is untrue. I’ve noticed that since yesterday, some ignorant commentary has been based on Sahara’s fake news. President Tinubu will not see a vice president if he visits the White House.
The Nigerian Presidency has dismissed reports suggesting that President Bola Tinubu was preparing to travel to Washington for “high-level diplomatic meetings,” following heightened international attention on alleged attacks against Christians in Nigeria.
The clarification comes after former US President Donald Trump, in a post on his Truth account, warned that the United States might “go in guns blazing” if Nigeria failed to halt the alleged killings of Christians. Trump stated that the US could suspend aid and take military action against what he described as Islamic terrorists committing atrocities.
In response, President Tinubu officially denied the existence of a “Christian genocide” in Nigeria, reaffirming that the country remains a democracy committed to religious freedom and equality.
Through his official X account, Tinubu emphasized that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, and his administration continues to engage with religious leaders of all faiths to promote peace and tackle insecurity.
“Nigeria stands firmly as a democracy governed by constitutional guarantees of religious liberty,” he stated. “Since 2023, our administration has actively engaged both Christian and Muslim leaders to address security challenges affecting citizens across all regions.”
The President criticized external narratives portraying Nigeria as intolerant, describing them as inaccurate and unreflective of the nation’s diverse religious landscape. “The characterization of Nigeria as religiously intolerant does not reflect our national reality or the government’s consistent efforts to protect freedom of religion for all Nigerians,” Tinubu said.
He reaffirmed that religious tolerance is central to Nigeria’s identity: “Religious freedom and tolerance have always been core tenets of our collective identity. Nigeria opposes religious persecution in any form.”
Tinubu also pledged ongoing collaboration with the United States and other international partners to safeguard communities of all faiths. “Our administration is committed to working with the US government and the global community to enhance understanding and protection for all citizens, regardless of faith,” he affirmed.
