3 weeks ago
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The Senate yesterday dismissed allegations of a “Christian genocide” successful Nigeria, describing the claims made by US Senator Ted Cruz and tv big Bill Maher arsenic false, divisive, and susceptible of undermining nationalist unity.
Lawmakers, portion debating a question titled “Urgent Need to Correct Misconceptions Regarding the Purported ‘Christian Genocide’ Narrative successful Nigeria and International Communities,” resolved to enactment intimately with the national authorities connected much effectual counter-terrorism strategies to code insecurity.
The motion, sponsored by Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (Borno South) and co-sponsored by Senators Sani Musa (Niger East), Magatakarda Wamakko (Sokoto North), Ibrahim Bomai (Yobe South), and Ahmed Aliyu Wadada (Nasarawa West), among others, sought to antagonistic what senators described arsenic unsafe misinformation circulating successful planetary media.
Seconding the motion, Senator Magatakarda Wamakko denounced the genocide communicative arsenic “outright misinformation aimed astatine destroying our nation.”
“This misinformation cannot proceed similar this. We indispensable instrumentality decisive steps to code this issue,” helium said.
Also speaking, Senator Sumaila Kawu (Kano South) warned that specified unfounded allegations could strain Nigeria’s planetary relations and substance sectarian tension.
Kawu said, “It is precise communal cognition to america that cipher is supporting immoderate enactment of coercion successful Nigeria. The authorities is doing its champion to marque definite we are surviving successful a conducive atmosphere. Some of the leaders of the Christian Association of Nigeria successful my ain authorities are members of the information assembly and accepted institutions.
“If they walk the measure successful the US, it volition beryllium unsafe to us, some Christians and Muslims successful Nigeria. I americium earnestly disquieted that the US Congress oregon a ranking US legislator volition travel up with a precise uninformed position. As a parliament, we indispensable articulation hands with our authorities to pass the US authorities and the US parliament that the presumption they are taking is not successful tandem with what is going on.”
In his contribution, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim (Ondo South) called for a deeper nationalist rethink connected coercion and security, urging the Senate to assistance redefine the country’s counter-terrorism framework.
“We indispensable travel to presumption to recognize the strategies, tactics, and practices of the terrorists. We indispensable present prosecute the authorities connected counter-terrorism measures.
“We indispensable prosecute knowledge. We indispensable spell into enforcement league to specify and redefine our counter-terrorism measures,” Ibrahim stated.
The contention was triggered aft US Senator Ted Cruz, successful a podcast with tv big Bill Maher, claimed that Christians were being “systematically targeted and killed” successful Nigeria — a concern helium described arsenic genocide.
Maher and governmental commentator Van Jones echoed akin claims, accusing the Nigerian authorities of failing to support Christian communities.
The national authorities swiftly rejected the assertions, insisting that the nation’s information situation stems from terrorism, banditry, and criminality — not spiritual persecution.
The Senate’s yesterday solution signals a coordinated effort to prosecute the enforcement limb successful designing stronger counter-terrorism strategies and diplomatic responses to close what lawmakers described arsenic a distorted overseas communicative astir Nigeria.
Further deliberation connected the question has been adjourned to adjacent Tuesday.
English (US) ·