Former Diplomat Criticizes Nigeria’s Response to Christian Persecution

Former Nigerian diplomat and international political analyst Joe Keshi has criticized the federal government’s handling of the ongoing crisis surrounding Christian persecution in Nigeria. In an interview with ARISE News on October 25, 2023, Keshi asserted that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has demonstrated a significant “lack of empathy” and ineffective communication with its citizens.

Keshi highlighted that the government’s response, particularly from its spokespersons, has exacerbated public distrust and negatively impacted Nigeria’s international reputation. “In a crisis period like this, the first constituency the president should speak to is the Nigerian people,” he stated. “The president has not spoken to us, and his spokespersons just come out and say whatever they like.”

The former ambassador specifically criticized comments made by Minister of Information Mohammed Idris and Minister of Solid Minerals Development Dele Alake. Keshi accused Alake of undermining a well-articulated government briefing with a divisive remark. “How could a minister say those driving the narrative of Christian killings are people who lost the 2023 elections? Statements like that show a total lack of empathy for life in this country,” he said.

Additionally, Keshi condemned statements made by presidential spokesman Daniel Bwala, who attempted to downplay reports of Christian persecution. He described Bwala’s comments as “reckless” and “damaging to Nigeria’s diplomacy.” Keshi expressed concern over Bwala’s comparison of crime rates, noting, “If Bwala is the face of Nigerian diplomacy today, then we are in a worse crisis than we think.” He questioned the validity of Bwala’s claim that crime rates in the United States are higher than in Nigeria, emphasizing the lack of credible crime data in Nigeria.

Keshi argued that government officials’ claims that both Christians and Muslims are being killed inadvertently acknowledged the failure to protect citizens. “Even saying that alone destroys your argument. Muslims are being killed because successive governments have failed to protect them,” he remarked. “That statement shows how little empathy there is for life in this country.”

He pointed out that Nigeria’s failure to collect and disseminate reliable data fuels conflicting narratives and undermines international credibility. “We must speak with data,” Keshi stressed. “You cannot say only 100 people were killed when there’s video evidence showing far more. We need to put all this together.”

In light of the ongoing crisis, Keshi urged President Tinubu to directly address the nation, clarify the government’s plans, and mobilize a “national conscience” to address the killings. “In times like this, the president must speak to the people, lay everything on the table, and say, ‘This is the situation and this is what I’m doing.’ That’s what leadership means,” he stated.

Keshi emphasized that effective foreign policy begins at home, asserting that the government cannot engage credibly with international partners like the United States without first addressing internal failures. He recalled managing a similar crisis in 2009 as a diplomat in Washington, where he successfully defused tensions by directly engaging with concerned US officials and providing accurate information.

“I didn’t deny that Christians were being attacked,” he said. “But I made the case that it’s a complex issue and explained what the government was doing. What annoyed them then was that no Nigerian official was ready to talk to them or tell them the truth.”

Keshi warned that Nigerians who sought to raise their grievances abroad felt unheard at home. “Those who took this issue abroad did so because nobody was listening to them. Even the dead have not received justice,” he remarked. “If you don’t want the devil in your house, lock your doors. But if you fail to act, don’t complain when outsiders intervene.”

The veteran diplomat called on the president to impose stricter deadlines on service chiefs to tackle insecurity and demonstrate measurable results. “The president should say clearly, ‘Your continuation in this job depends on ending this crisis within six months,’” he advised. “Mohammadu Buhari spent eight years issuing last warnings. We can’t keep doing that.”

Keshi concluded his remarks with a call for unity and decisive action, rather than defensiveness or denial. “Forget excuses. Forget threats. Let’s do something dramatic between now and early next year to end the killings,” he said. “Foreign policy begins with leadership at home.”