WTO chief warns impostors, vows legal action as false statement circulates on social media…
The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has disowned a viral social media post falsely attributed to her, which criticised President Bola Tinubu’s approach to tackling insecurity in Nigeria.
The fabricated post titled “Trump didn’t ‘hit’ us – our leaders did” claimed that Okonjo-Iweala accused Nigerian leaders of giving empty speeches instead of taking action against banditry and insurgency. It also alleged that she urged President Tinubu to “stop the damage control speeches” and “secure the people.”
Reacting on her verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Okonjo-Iweala dismissed the statement as fake and malicious, warning Nigerians to disregard it and stop sharing the content.
“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.
The WTO chief condemned the impersonation and called out those responsible for hiding behind her name to spread misinformation.
“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 statement came amid renewed controversy over recent remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleged that Christians were being persecuted in Nigeria and warned that the United States might “go in guns blazing” if the killings continued.
The comment sparked global reactions and prompted the Nigerian government to issue a formal response reaffirming its commitment to democracy, religious freedom, and national unity.
In a post on his verified X handle, President Tinubu emphasised that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, adding that his administration actively engages with religious and community leaders to promote peace and security.
Tinubu rejected what he called “inaccurate foreign portrayals” of Nigeria as a religiously intolerant country, describing them as inconsistent with the nation’s diversity and unity.
“Religious tolerance has been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” the President said.
He also pledged continued collaboration with the United States and global partners to promote understanding and safeguard all faith communities.
Meanwhile, Trump doubled down on his position during a Wednesday evening post on his Truth Social platform, saying his administration “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening” and instructing U.S. lawmakers, including Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, to investigate the situation.
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