Tinubu’s Aide Accuses Senator Cruz of Pushing IPOB ‘Christian Genocide’ Narrative
A media aide to President Bola Tinubu, Temitope Ajayi, has accused U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of promoting what he described as a “false Christian genocide narrative” in Nigeria allegedly sponsored by lobbyists working on behalf of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Ajayi made the allegation in a detailed social media post and accompanying commentary, in which he claimed that certain U.S.-based lobbying firms were being used to launder IPOB’s agenda through political allies in Washington. According to him, the goal of the campaign is to portray Nigeria as a failed state engaged in religious persecution, thereby drawing international sympathy and intervention.
Citing a recent report by Africa Intelligence, Ajayi said the lobbying efforts were orchestrated through American firms contracted by Biafran separatist sympathizers, with some reportedly spending significant sums to influence lawmakers and shape U.S. policy on Nigeria. The publication had earlier revealed that “lobbying by Biafran independence activists was behind Senator Ted Cruz’s accusations of genocide against Christians in Nigeria.”
Ajayi accused Cruz of amplifying this narrative without verifying its sources or motives. “This same propaganda was first circulated in 2020 and failed to gain traction,” he wrote. “It has now resurfaced, dressed in religious rhetoric, but the underlying motive remains the same — to delegitimize the Nigerian state and weaken its fight against terrorism.”
Senator Cruz has been vocal in calling for stronger U.S. action against Nigeria over alleged killings of Christians, urging the State Department to re-designate the country as a violator of religious freedom. However, Nigerian officials maintain that the violence in parts of the country stems from terrorism, banditry, and communal clashes — not religious persecution.
Ajayi insisted that the renewed “Christian genocide” narrative is part of a coordinated disinformation campaign aimed at destabilizing Nigeria and justifying foreign interference. He called on Nigerians at home and abroad to be vigilant, warning that “no nation survives when its enemies use lies as weapons and religion as camouflage.”
The Presidency has yet to issue an official statement beyond Ajayi’s remarks, but officials familiar with the matter say the government views the development as part of a broader attempt to undermine Nigeria’s image internationally.
Meanwhile, diplomatic analysts note that the controversy adds to growing tension in U.S.–Nigeria relations following recent statements by former President Donald Trump about possible U.S. military action to “protect Christians” in Nigeria — a position Nigerian authorities have dismissed as misinformed and dangerous.
As of press time, neither Senator Cruz’s office nor IPOB representatives had publicly responded to Ajayi’s allegations. However, the issue continues to stir debate on social media, with supporters of the Tinubu administration urging the government to confront what they call a “foreign-backed propaganda war” against Nigeria’s unity.
