The post, titled “Trump didn’t ‘hit’ us – our leaders did,” claimed that Okonjo-Iweala accused Nigerian leaders of paying lip service to the fight against insecurity and urged President Tinubu to “stop the damage control speeches” and “secure the people.”
Reacting via her verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, the WTO chief dismissed the statement as fake and malicious, saying it did not originate from her.
“Beware, this story going around on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook is false! We are taking action! The person who did this could not even spell my name,” she wrote.
Okonjo-Iweala condemned the impersonation, warning those behind it to stop using her name to spread falsehoods.
“Whichever coward did this should write the message in their own name and not hide behind mine or anyone else’s! Scammers and 419ers, stop!” she added.
Her clarification came amid growing online reactions to comments credited to former U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleged that Christians were being persecuted in Nigeria.
Trump, on his Truth Social platform, had warned that the U.S. might “go in guns blazing” if the alleged killings continued, a statement that drew criticism from Nigerians and the federal government alike.
In response, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom, stating that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees equality and liberty for people of all faiths. He described foreign portrayals of Nigeria as religiously intolerant as “false and inconsistent with our national unity.”
Tinubu further pledged to strengthen cooperation with global partners to promote peace and protect religious communities across the country.
