President Bola Tinubu has forcefully rejected allegations of religious genocide in Nigeria, declaring that no faith is under siege in the country. The President made the statement on Tuesday during a high-profile event in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Speaking at the unveiling of a book, “A Decade of Leadership in Nigeria,” authored by Governor Hope Uzodimma, President Tinubu labeled the claims as “unfounded and misleading,” urging citizens to focus on harmony and shared prosperity.
“Let me also say this clearly, Nigeria is a proud, sovereign nation built on the faith and resilience of its people. Here, no faith is under siege, no community is excluded,” Tinubu told a crowd at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu Convention Centre.
“Our churches, mosques, and traditional shrines stand side by side – not as rivals, but as symbols of the unity that binds us,” he added.
The President warned against allowing external forces to sow division, stating, “We must never allow outsiders to tell us who we are… No one loves this country more than Nigerians themselves, and no one will define us except us.”
APC’s Decade in Power: “The Worst is Over”
The event also served as a platform for the President to tout the achievements of the All Progressives Congress (APC) since it assumed power at the federal level in 2015.
“Nigeria is no longer where it was ten years ago. We promised a change, and I can confidently tell you the worst is over,” President Tinubu declared.
He acknowledged that the party’s tenure had its challenges and mistakes but insisted it steered the nation away from collapse. Taking a swipe at the previous administration, he said, “to those who today parade themselves as prophets of solutions… those who wasted sixteen years had their chance.”
South-East “at the Centre of National Rebirth”
In a direct appeal to the South-East region, President Tinubu assured that no part of Nigeria would be abandoned under his “Renewed Hope” agenda.
“I know there were times when this region felt left out. But under Renewed Hope, no part of Nigeria will be abandoned. The South-East is not on the margins; you are at the centre of our national rebirth,” he said.
The highlight of the event was the commissioning of key projects by the President, including the Owerri-Mbaise-Umahia road, the Assumpta Twin flyover, and the convention centre where the event was held.
The ceremony attracted a host of political heavyweights, including the APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, former chairmen Adams Oshiomhole and Umar Ganduje, several state governors, and leadership of the National Assembly.
Governor Uzodimma, who also chairs the Progressive Governors’ Forum, credited the President’s “courage and bold policies” for stabilizing the economy and enabling infrastructure development at the state level.