The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has distanced herself from a viral social media post that falsely accused President Bola Tinubu of failing to tackle Nigeria’s security challenges.
The viral message, titled “Trump didn’t ‘hit’ us, our leaders did,” circulated widely across WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, claiming that Okonjo-Iweala criticised Nigerian leaders for issuing “damage control speeches” instead of taking decisive action against insurgency and banditry.
However, in a statement released via her verified X (formerly Twitter) handle on Saturday, the former Minister of Finance described the message as fake and malicious, stressing that she had never made such remarks.
“Beware! This story going around on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook is false! We are taking action! The person who did this could not even spell my name,” she wrote.
The WTO chief condemned the impersonation and vowed to pursue legal action against those responsible.
“Whichever coward did this should write the message in their own name and not hide behind mine or anyone else’s. Scammers and 419ers, stop!” she added.
Okonjo-Iweala’s clarification comes amid heightened online discourse following recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleged that Christians were being persecuted in Nigeria.
Trump, writing on his Truth Social platform earlier this week, warned that the United States might “go in guns blazing” if the alleged killings of Christians in Nigeria continued.
The remark stirred controversy and drew reactions from both local and international observers.
In response, President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom and democratic values.
Posting via his official X account, Tinubu said the Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to practice their faith without fear or discrimination.
“Our nation’s strength lies in its diversity. Religious tolerance has been a core tenet of our identity and shall always remain so,” the President stated.
Tinubu dismissed any portrayal of Nigeria as a religiously intolerant country, describing such claims as “inaccurate and inconsistent with the unity that defines our people.”
He also pledged to continue working with the United States and other international partners to promote peace and protect communities of all faiths.
Despite Nigeria’s response, Trump doubled down on his earlier stance on Wednesday evening, saying the U.S “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening.”
He reiterated that his administration would be “ready, willing, and able to protect our great Christian population around the world.”
The former U.S. President also directed Congressman Riley Moore, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, and others to investigate the situation in Nigeria and report their findings to him.
