Dare Babalola
Chairman of the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Africa, Chris Smith, has urged President Bola Tinubu to respect Nigeria’s designation as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the United States President Donald Trump, emphasising the need for action to address religious freedom issues in the country.
Smith made this statement on Sunday night in an interview on ‘Inside Sources’ with Laolu Akande, a programme on Channels Television.
Smith further called on President Tinubu to take action against terrorists destroying lives and property in the country stressing that Nigerians deserve better from the present administration.
“My view is that he has to act; I’m not going to say the good, the bad and the ugly [about Tinubu]. The CPC designation was done in good faith.
“And do it not for us; do it for your own people. They deserved better than looking the other way as all of this happens.
“The foreign minister made a statement on a major television show about how a few people have actually been killed. Please, just tell the truth and combat the evil,” he added.
Congressman Smith noted that despite Nigerian officials viewing the CPC designation as a punishment, it was made in good faith to address serious concerns.
Different speakers, while testifying before the US House Subcommittee on Africa reviewing Nigeria’s redesignation as a country of particular concern (CPC) last Thursday, expressed divergent views on the killings in Nigeria.
It followed President Donald Trump’s claim of Christian genocide in Nigeria, threatening to send the US military to Nigeria “guns-a-blazing”.
But the Federal Government, while denying the claim, said it was taking steps to address the security challenges in the country.
