Former Kaduna Central Senator, Shehu Sani, has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent claims that Christians in Nigeria face an “existential threat,” describing the remark as misleading and potentially divisive.
Trump’s statement came after the United States placed Nigeria on its list of “Countries of Particular Concern (CPC)”, a designation reserved for nations accused of tolerating or permitting severe violations of religious freedom.
Reacting in a post shared on Saturday, November 1, 2025, Sani said Trump’s comments were based on a distorted understanding of Nigeria’s complex security situation. According to him, the violence in the country is driven largely by terrorism, banditry, and communal conflicts that have affected both Muslims and Christians, not by deliberate religious persecution.
“Muslims have actually suffered more and recorded more casualties because of the areas those evil terrorists operate,” Sani explained, stressing that many of the communities worst hit by attacks in Northern Nigeria are predominantly Muslim.
The former lawmaker accused the U.S. of relying on “selective and politically motivated narratives” when assessing Nigeria’s internal affairs. He urged the international community to support Nigeria in addressing its core security and governance challenges, rather than framing the crisis along religious lines.
Sani also reacted to a proposed U.S. Senate bill by Senator Ted Cruz, which seeks to sanction Nigerian officials involved in enforcing Sharia or blasphemy laws. He condemned the bill as a violation of Nigeria’s sovereignty and cultural values.
“If the Muslims in Nigeria decided to run their lives with Sharia and blasphemy laws, it’s none of the business of the U.S.,” Sani said. “If they can’t sanction individuals who implement Sharia and blasphemy laws in Kuwait, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, why should it be differently applied here?”
He argued that the U.S. must respect Nigeria’s right to determine its legal and religious systems without external interference.
The former senator concluded by urging Washington to focus on constructive engagement—offering intelligence, security aid, and economic support—rather than punitive measures that could fuel resentment and misunderstanding between both nations.
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