MUSWEN says President Tinubu’s reforms are helping Nigeria regain global credibility, faults the U.S. for double standards and misleading narratives about the country’s security situation

By Sadiq Abdulfatah

The Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN) has dismissed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent claim alleging genocide in Nigeria, describing it as baseless, misleading, and an attempt to discredit the country.

The group said President Bola Tinubu’s administration is making steady progress in restoring Nigeria’s global image through reforms in security and governance, after years of instability and corruption scandals.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos to herald MUSWEN’s 10th General Assembly, themed “Nigeria’s Economy: Any Hope for the Masses?”, the organisation’s President, Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, described Trump’s comment as “abnormal” and ill-timed.

Oladejo said the recent designation of Nigeria by the U.S. government as a “Country of Particular Concern” came as a surprise, insisting that it does not reflect the true situation in the country.

He faulted the move as “unfortunate and misplaced,” accusing the U.S. of double standards in global diplomacy, particularly in its handling of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and other international issues.

Citing Article II of the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and Article 6 of the Rome Statute, Oladejo argued that Nigeria does not meet any legal or humanitarian criteria to be labelled a country of particular concern.

He said the timing of Trump’s remarks “calls for serious concern,” alleging that they were driven by political and economic motives rather than genuine humanitarian interest.

According to him, there is no evidence of genocide against any particular faith in Nigeria, as both Muslims and Christians have suffered from the violent attacks of bandits and insurgents ravaging parts of the country.

Oladejo further stated that Muslims are among the worst affected by insecurity, especially in states such as Niger, Kaduna, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Kwara.

Speaking on MUSWEN’s forthcoming General Assembly scheduled to hold in Osun State, he said the event—expected to be attended by President Bola Tinubu and other dignitaries—will also serve as a platform to raise a N2 billion development fund for economic empowerment, scholarships, digital skills training, and healthcare projects across the six southwestern states.

Source: The Nation