Sunday Dare slams Ted Cruz, Bill Maher over Christian genocide claims

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, has faulted recent claims by United States Senator Ted Cruz, television host Bill Maher, and political commentator Van Jones alleging that Nigeria is witnessing a “Christian genocide.”

In a lengthy post via his X handle on Monday titled “Debunking the Genocide Frenzy by Senator Ted Cruz, Bill Maher, Van Jones et al,” Dare described the allegations as false, misleading, and capable of inciting division.

He said the foreign commentators were “orchestrating wild allegations about unproven ongoing genocide” in Nigeria and urged Nigerians and the international community to reject attempts to “robe the country with a garment that is not hers.”

Dare maintained that Nigeria remains a multi-religious nation founded on tolerance, coexistence, and mutual respect among all faiths — values he said are embodied by the President.

Quoting the President, Dare said Nigeria is “a proud, sovereign nation built on the faith and resilience of its people,” adding that “no faith is under siege and no community is excluded.”

He also cited Tinubu’s words on unity and religious freedom, saying, “We must never allow outsiders to tell us who we are or sow division among us… Our diversity is not our weakness, but our strength.”

Dare further referenced Tinubu’s personal life as an example of religious tolerance, noting that the President, a Muslim, is married to a Christian pastor.

Hate is not an option for us. Love is what we preach, and we should love one another,” Dare quoted Tinubu as saying.

The presidential aide said the “Christian genocide” narrative being promoted abroad grossly misrepresents Nigeria’s security challenges. According to him, the country is battling terrorism and banditry by non-state actors driven by “chaos, profit, and destabilisation,” not religion.

These extremists target civilians indiscriminately — churches, mosques, markets, schools, and villages — killing Nigerians of every faith and ethnicity,” Dare said.

He warned that portraying the crisis as a religious war plays into the hands of terrorists and undermines the sacrifices of both Christians and Muslims who have united against extremism.

Dare urged Cruz, Maher, and others to “engage with the facts before amplifying falsehoods that embolden extremists and malign an entire nation.”

“Nigeria deserves solidarity in its fight against terror, not careless rhetoric that fuels misunderstanding.

“The truth remains simple. Nigeria is not witnessing a Christian genocide; it is confronting terrorism that targets everyone. And whoever alleges must prove,” he concluded.

Recall that Cruz, during a recent podcast appearance with American talk show host Bill Maher, alleged that Christians were being systematically targeted and killed in Nigeria, describing the situation as a “genocide.”

Maher and political commentator Van Jones echoed similar sentiments, accusing the Nigerian government of failing to protect Christian communities.

Their comments have since sparked strong reactions from the Federal government,which insisted that the violence in the country stems from terrorism and criminality, not religion.

Cupped from punch.