The Presidency on Tuesday uncovered a?coordinated agenda? among a group of United States lawmakers and lobbyists to manipulate U.S. President Donald Trump into sanctioning Nigeria by falsely branding it a country that persecutes religious minorities.

Presidential spokesperson, Dr. Daniel Bwala, who made the claim on Arise News? Prime Time programme, said the campaign was built on ?disinformation and religious manipulation? designed to destabilise the country and tarnish its international image.

According to him: ?There is a coordinated agenda against Nigeria. Those pushing this narrative are not in the executive branch of the U.S. government; they are a pack-backed group of senators hoping to rile up President Trump to designate Nigeria as a CPC. Knowing Trump?s character, if he believed them, he would have done it three weeks ago?.

Bwala alleged that those driving the campaign were deliberately misrepresenting isolated cases of communal violence and terrorism to paint Nigeria as a country engaged in systematic religious persecution.

?Religion has always been the instrument. They are doing this to stir division, weaken Nigeria?s image, and create panic internationally,? the presidential media aide stated.

Bwala maintained that the current agitation in Washington was politically motivated and not reflective of Nigeria?s realities.

He said government would not engage in lobbying but would counter the misinformation with verifiable facts.

?What used to happen in Nigeria is that whenever this kind of false allegation comes, Nigerians will be looking to lobby in the U.S. No, you match up the Western disinformation,? he stated.

The Presidency has consistently dismissed allegations of state-sponsored persecution, arguing that insecurity in the country stems from terrorism, banditry, and criminality rather than religious discrimination.

Bwala?s remarks came amid renewed international commentary on Nigeria?s security situation, particularly in the North-Central region, where recent attacks by armed groups have led to scores of deaths and displacements.

The ?Country of Particular Concern? (CPC) designation?created under the U.S. International Religious Freedom Act of 1998?empowers Washington to impose sanctions on nations accused of ?systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations? of religious freedom.

Nigeria was first placed on the CPC list in 2020 during Trump?s presidency, following lobbying by Christian advocacy groups citing terrorist attacks by Boko Haram and ISWAP, and intercommunal clashes in the Middle Belt.

The designation was later lifted in 2021 by President Joe Biden, who cited improved government response to religious and ethnic violence?a move that angered U.S. lawmakers such as Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz, who have continued to demand its reinstatement. (Arise News)

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