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Tension as Omokri Confronts U.S. Host Over Nigeria’s Religious Violence Claims
According to Nivo News, former presidential aide Reno Omokri has dismissed claims made by American political talk show host Bill Maher that Christians are being systematically targeted and killed in Nigeria.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Maher, host of the long-running U.S. show Real Time with Bill Maher, had cited a viral video in which a man alleged that more than 500,000 Christians were killed in Nigeria last year. The video, widely circulated by international influencers including anti-Islam commentators, was presented by Maher as evidence of a so-called genocide against Christians.
Omokri, in a statement, strongly refuted the claim, describing it as unfounded and misleading. He stressed that global data contradicts such assertions, pointing to the Institute for Economics and Peace, which publishes the Global Terrorism Index. According to its 2024 report, 8,352 people died globally from terrorism and insecurity in 2023, while the United Nations recorded 36,000 civilian deaths from armed conflicts worldwide within the same period—figures far from Maher’s 100,000 to 500,000 claim for Nigeria alone.
He accused Maher of spreading falsehood despite never visiting Nigeria, while clarifying that although insecurity persists in parts of the country, including banditry and insurgency in the Northwest and Northeast, the situation is far from the exaggerated narrative of genocide. Omokri noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration has made progress in prosecuting and neutralizing perpetrators of violence, citing convictions and arrests linked to high-profile church attacks and notorious bandit leaders.
The former aide also highlighted that both Christians and Muslims have been victims of insecurity, with more Muslims killed in violence across the Northwest, the core of Islamic leadership in Nigeria. Citing data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED), he stated that between 2010 and 2023, 13,485 deaths were recorded in that region, mostly among Muslims.
Omokri explained that terrorist groups initially sought to provoke a religious war, but efforts by Christian leaders, such as Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, helped prevent retaliation and escalation. He maintained that talk of genocide in Nigeria is propaganda aimed at misleading the international community.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has revealed that his push for an opposition coalition was initially rejected by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the disclosure during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday, where he reflected on events following the PDP’s defeat in the 2023 presidential election. According to him, he warned party leaders after the election that the PDP could struggle politically without forming alliances with other opposition forces. “To be honest, I was one of the major initiators of this coalition. After the PDP lost the last election, I told the party clearly that I did not see a future for the PDP without a coalition,” he said. Atiku said his advice was rejected at the time, despite his conviction that Nigeria’s political history had shown the importance of alliances. “They disagreed with me then. I have studied Nigeria’s political transition over the years and saw how previous alliances worked, so it was not difficult for me to foresee this,” he stated. The former vice president added that his support for coalition politics was also influenced by his desire to encourage the emergence of younger leaders he believes are vital to Nigeria’s future. “I saw some of these younger politicians as the future leaders of this country, and I felt it was my duty to point that out,” he said. However, Atiku claimed the resistance he encountered within the party was driven more by personal feelings than by disagreement over the substance of his proposal. “They disagreed with me simply because they did not want to see my face, not because of what I was suggesting,” he said. Atiku added that recent political developments have now vindicated his position on the need for a broad opposition alliance ahead of future elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the African Democratic Congress (ADC) will first pursue a consensus arrangement before considering a primary election for its 2027 presidential ticket.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made this known during an interview on Arise Television on Wednesday while discussing the party’s leadership and strategy ahead of the next general election.
He said he is open to backing a consensus candidate if that becomes the party’s collective decision, stressing that such support should not be interpreted as stepping aside.
“It is not about stepping aside, but whether I am willing to support, and yes, I will,” Atiku said.
According to him, the ADC’s first priority is to build internal unity and reach an agreement among stakeholders before considering a competitive primary process.
“Our first option will be to work out a consensus. If that doesn’t happen, then of course we will explore other options. And yes, I will support whoever eventually emerges,” he stated.
Atiku also expressed confidence in the political experience within the party, saying he believes a consensus is achievable and may make a full-scale primary contest unnecessary.
“That remains our preferred path. We will go for primaries if consensus fails, but I honestly do not expect it to get to that stage because we are dealing with mature and experienced politicians,” he added.
His comments come amid growing political consultations and coalition talks as parties begin to position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the opposition coalition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has significantly strengthened his chances of winning the 2027 presidential election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Atiku made the remarks during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time programme on Wednesday. Speaking on what makes his latest presidential bid different from previous attempts, Atiku said the ADC coalition brings together key political figures from across major parties, including the APC, PDP and Labour Party. He described the alliance as a broader and more strategic political arrangement ahead of the 2027 general elections. According to him, the coalition has created a stronger platform that improves his prospects. “Now, we have a broader coalition — a combination of APC, PDP and LP — which gives me a better chance of becoming president in 2027,” he said. Atiku also noted that the coalition reflects both experience and generational inclusion, which he said shows a clear succession plan. “You see people of my generation, and you see younger people coming behind us, so you can clearly see a succession pattern,” he added. Meanwhile, Atiku described former President Goodluck Jonathan as a decent but inexperienced leader. According to him, Jonathan’s lack of experience contributed to shortcomings in governance and played a role in his defeat in the 2015 presidential election. “I know Goodluck Jonathan very well. He is a decent young man, but he was also inexperienced, and that contributed to his failure in managing the affairs of the country,” Atiku said. He made the remarks while stressing the need for experienced and capable leadership in Nigeria.
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