Yusuf Tuggar, minister of foreign affairs, has demanded a
full, unedited airing of his interview with Piers Morgan, ace British
broadcaster and host of ‘Piers Morgan Uncensored’.
On Wednesday, Tuggar said he appeared on the show to present
“a factual and contextual perspective on the misleading narratives and
allegations of religious persecution in Nigeria”.
“My explanations, supported by verifiable data, may not have
conformed to certain preconceived views,” he added.
Tuggar said his call for a full airing of the interview is
in keeping with integrity and transparency benchmarks.
“Nigeria’s truth must not be distorted to fit external
biases,” the minister said.
The interview has yet to be released on Morgan’s YouTube channel.
Tuggar has been one of several Nigerian government officials
pushing back on claims of Christian persecution in Africa’s most populous
nation.
During a meeting with Johann Wadephul, his German
counterpart, in Berlin last week, the minister said it is “impossible” for the
Nigerian government to persecute any citizen on the basis of religion.
He added that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of
religion and firmly upholds the rule of law, making any form of state-backed
persecution unthinkable.
The alleged religious violence concerns gained momentum in
March when the United States Congress heard proposals from lawmakers seeking
the imposition of sanctions on Nigeria as a country of particular concern
(CPC).
In April, Nigeria’s ministry of foreign affairs commissioned
a report labelling allegations of a
Christian genocide in the country as a dangerous, single, linear narrative.
The report maintained that authorities in Nigeria have
remained committed to upholding secular principles and promoting freedom of
religion and interfaith dialogue in the country.
“Rather than perpetuating a narrative that reinforces
divisions and fuels further violence, analysts need to adopt a more nuanced and
balanced understanding that recognizes Nigeria’s ethno-religious dynamics and
the many efforts underway to promote peace, tolerance and coexistence,” the
report said.
Despite the efforts, US President Donald Trump re-designated
Nigeria a “country of particular concern” on October 31, accusing the
government of failing to curb attacks against Christians.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
