ABUJA, Nigeria (FN) — Nigeria’s Senate President Godswill Akpabio has distanced himself from a widely circulated social media post that appeared to ridicule U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims of Christian persecution in Nigeria.
The post, attributed to Akpabio and shared by a platform called Rant HQ, quoted him as saying, “The killing is taking place in Nigeria not in USA, Trump should focus on US. Nigerians are not complaining about the killings, we are fully satisfied with the condition of Nigeria.”
In a statement issued Sunday night, Akpabio’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, described the post as “a total falsehood, a product of mischief, and a desperate attempt to incite misunderstanding between Nigeria and the United States.”
Eyiboh warned against the spread of fake news and urged the public to disregard the fabricated statement. He emphasized that Akpabio had made no such remarks and that the Senate President remains committed to fostering diplomatic relations and addressing Nigeria’s security challenges responsibly.
The viral post emerged amid heightened tensions following Trump’s controversial comments accusing the Nigerian government of allowing the “killing of Christians” and suggesting possible U.S. military intervention.
Akpabio’s rebuttal adds to a growing chorus of Nigerian leaders calling for calm and diplomatic engagement rather than inflammatory rhetoric. Religious leaders and civil society groups have also urged both governments to avoid politicizing Nigeria’s complex security crisis.
The Senate President’s office reiterated its commitment to countering misinformation and maintaining Nigeria’s sovereignty and dignity in international discourse.
