In the wake of the United States’ decision to redesignate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) over alleged persecution of Christians, Senator Ali Ndume has squarely blamed both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the National Assembly for failing to act decisively before the damning classification.
Ndume, the former Senate Chief Whip and current lawmaker representing Borno South, said Nigeria’s reputation has been badly damaged on the international stage — not because of facts, but because of the federal government’s failure to defend its image when it mattered most.
According to him, the Tinubu administration and the Senate had more than enough warning signs before the U.S. decision but chose silence over diplomacy. “The Federal Government and the Senate failed to proactively engage the U.S. government on the alleged persecution of Christians. They allowed propaganda to fester until it became official,” Ndume lamented.
He recalled that he had earlier sponsored a motion on what he termed “the so-called Christian genocide in Nigeria,” through which the Senate passed resolutions urging the government to provide accurate data showing that Muslims and Christians alike have been victims of the same insecurity ravaging the country. “Muslims have been killed too. The genocide isn’t against Christians, but against Nigerians generally,” Ndume said, faulting what he described as a one-sided international narrative driven by ignorance and bias.
The United States government, under former President Donald Trump, on Thursday re-added Nigeria to the CPC list — a ranking that implies “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.” The move opens the door for possible sanctions, aid withdrawal, and diplomatic restrictions unless Nigeria demonstrates progress in protecting citizens’ rights.
International media, including the Associated Press and Reuters, reported that the Trump administration cited “radical Islamist attacks” and “widespread impunity” for crimes against Christians in Nigeria. However, analysts argue that the violence in the country is more complex — involving terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts that cut across religious and ethnic lines.
The Nigerian government has since rejected the U.S. classification, describing it as “unfair, inaccurate, and based on outdated perceptions.” A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs insisted that religious freedom remains enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and that thousands of Muslims have also suffered from the same insurgent attacks blamed on extremist groups.
Ndume, however, believes that official denial is not enough. “You can’t shout at the Americans from Abuja,” he said. “You must engage them with data, diplomacy, and dialogue. Nigeria must tell its story with facts, or others will tell it with fiction.”
Political observers say Ndume’s statement exposes a widening crack between the legislature and the executive, especially as the CPC designation threatens to complicate Nigeria’s relations with Washington and international donors.
Critics have also accused President Tinubu’s government of neglecting foreign perception while focusing on local political power plays. “The same administration that spends millions on image laundering at home could not spare the same energy to defend the nation abroad,” one analyst said.
The latest U.S. designation has reignited debates about Nigeria’s worsening insecurity, deepening poverty, and rising intolerance — all symptoms, Ndume argues, of leadership failure and bureaucratic complacency. “We had the chance to prevent this embarrassment,” he concluded, “but those in power were too busy playing politics to defend their own country.”