Former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, has accused the United States, its Western allies, and some Nigerians of plotting to incite a religious war in the country.
In a statement titled “The Fiction of Christian Genocide and the Conspiracy Against Nigeria” posted on X on Sunday, Fani-Kayode alleged that recent comments by American and Canadian figures about “Christian genocide” in Nigeria were part of a broader agenda to destabilize the nation.
He said he was alarmed by remarks from American television hosts Bill Maher and Van Jones, who accused Nigeria of engaging in the persecution of Christians.
Fani-Kayode also cited US Senator Ted Cruz’s plan to introduce a bill to “protect Christians in Nigeria,” and a resolution by the Canadian Parliament describing Nigeria as one of the most dangerous countries for Christians.
According to Fani-Kayode, these developments were suspicious, questioning why Western nations that “hardly care about others” had suddenly shown concern for Nigerian Christians.
“The truth is that the Americans, their allies, and their local collaborators are carefully and craftily preparing the ground for a religious war in our country, and they want us to tear ourselves apart,” he said.
While acknowledging that Christians had been targeted by Islamist terrorists like Boko Haram and ISWAP, Fani-Kayode maintained that Muslims had also suffered equally.
He alleged that the same Western powers now criticizing Nigeria were responsible for arming and supporting the terrorist groups that had plagued the country for over a decade.
The former Minister further claimed that the renewed Western focus on Nigeria was aimed at diverting global attention from the war in Gaza and punishing Nigeria for condemning Israel’s actions at the United Nations.
“Standing up for humanity is our only crime,” Fani-Kayode said, commending Nigeria’s stance at the UN for supporting a two-state solution and condemning civilian casualties in Gaza.
