Lack of Ambassadors Fueling “Christian Genocide” Allegations, Lawmaker Tells House
Billy Famous Adesuwa, the member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode federal constituency in the House of Representatives, has strongly suggested that President Bola Tinubu’s failure to appoint and deploy ambassadors is a major factor contributing to the international allegations of “Christian genocide” in Nigeria.
Speaking during a House deliberation on the floor regarding the allegation, which has gained interest from the U.S. Congress, Adesuwa stressed that the matter is one of global politics that Nigeria cannot afford to ignore. He emphasized that the current absence of a U.S. Ambassador and a United Nation (UN) Permanent Representative for Nigeria places the country at a “substantial disadvantage” in addressing such serious claims internationally.
Adesuwa argued that without proper diplomatic channels, Nigeria’s response efforts may be ineffective abroad. He stated: “If we don’t have the proper channel that they recognize, I’m sorry, that investigation, that report may amount to nothing.” He therefore called on the House to use this moment to reach out to the President, urging him to promptly appoint Ambassadors to the U.S. and the UN.
He noted that these appointed representatives are the “people they want to discuss with when it comes to Nigeria issues.”
The lawmaker proposed that a holistic solution requires both the executive and the legislature to act decisively. While the executive must resolve the matter through diplomatic means, the legislature must utilize its existing platforms, such as the Nigerian-U.S. Parliamentary Friendship Group and the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Adesuwa urged these parliamentary bodies to “wake up” and begin interfacing with their counterparts in the U.S. Congress and the Senate.
He concluded by framing the fight against these allegations as a critical stand for the entire continent, warning that if Nigeria fails to fight it, the country will be “just the first in so many other countries in Africa.”
