Sunday Dare, the Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication to President Bola Tinubu, has firmly rejected assertions made by US Senator Ted Cruz, TV host Bill Maher, and political analyst Van Jones claiming that Nigeria is undergoing a “Christian genocide.”
In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, titled “Dispelling the Genocide Myth Propagated by Senator Ted Cruz, Bill Maher, Van Jones and Others,” Dare labeled these accusations as baseless, deceptive, and potentially divisive.
He criticized the foreign figures for spreading “unsubstantiated claims about a supposed ongoing genocide,” urging both Nigerians and the global community to dismiss efforts to unfairly tarnish the nation’s image.
Dare emphasized that Nigeria is a diverse country grounded in religious pluralism, harmony, and mutual respect among different faiths-principles strongly upheld by President Tinubu.
Referencing the President, Dare reiterated that Nigeria is “a sovereign nation proud of its people’s faith and resilience,” stressing that “no religion is under attack, and no group is marginalized.”
He highlighted Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to fostering unity and protecting religious freedoms, warning that “external actors should not fuel discord within Nigeria.”
To illustrate the President’s personal embodiment of religious tolerance, Dare pointed out that Tinubu, a Muslim, is married to a Christian pastor.
“Hatred is not an option for us. We advocate love and mutual respect,” he quoted the President as affirming.
Dare argued that the narrative of a “Christian genocide” distorts the reality of Nigeria’s security issues, clarifying that the country faces terrorism and banditry motivated by chaos and greed rather than religious animosity.
“These violent groups attack indiscriminately-targeting churches, mosques, markets, schools, and communities-claiming victims from all faiths and ethnic backgrounds,” he explained, cautioning that portraying the conflict as religiously driven only empowers terrorists and weakens national solidarity.
He called on Cruz, Maher, and others to base their statements on verified information instead of spreading falsehoods that damage Nigeria’s reputation and encourage extremist agendas.
“The reality is straightforward,” Dare concluded. “Nigeria is not experiencing a Christian genocide; it is battling terrorism that affects everyone. Those making claims must provide evidence.”
Senator Cruz, during a recent podcast with Bill Maher, alleged that Christians in Nigeria are being deliberately targeted and killed, a perspective shared by Maher and Van Jones.
The Federal Government has strongly responded to these remarks, maintaining that the violence in Nigeria is rooted in terrorism and criminal activities, not religious persecution.