Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has denied authoring a viral social media post that allegedly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s handling of insecurity in Nigeria.
The widely circulated post, titled “Trump didn’t ‘hit’ us – our leaders did,” falsely claimed that Okonjo-Iweala accused Nigerian leaders of prioritising political rhetoric over concrete action against banditry and terrorism. It also quoted her as urging President Tinubu to “stop the damage control speeches” and focus on securing the nation.
Taking to her verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, the WTO chief dismissed the message as fake and malicious, stressing that it did not originate from her.
“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,” Okonjo-Iweala wrote.
She condemned the impersonation and urged the culprits to own their words rather than hiding behind her name.
“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.
Her response came amid growing global attention following comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleged that Christians were being persecuted in Nigeria and warned that America might “go in guns blazing” if the alleged killings persisted.
Trump’s remark triggered widespread criticism, prompting President Tinubu and the Nigerian government to reaffirm the nation’s commitment to democracy, peace, and religious freedom.
In a post on his X handle, President Tinubu rejected any narrative portraying Nigeria as religiously intolerant, describing it as inconsistent with the country’s diversity and unity.
“Religious tolerance has been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” Tinubu stated.
He further pledged to strengthen collaboration with the United States and global partners to promote understanding and protect communities of all faiths.
Meanwhile, Trump doubled down on his earlier comments, reiterating his readiness to act if the alleged persecution continues, and reportedly directed U.S. lawmakers, including Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, to investigate the situation and report back to him.
— Hobnob News
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