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Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, has warned Nigerians against making imprudent statements that could damage the country’s international image, warning that “there are consequences for our actions.”
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Akinyemi criticized recent attempts to brand Nigeria with charges of genocide, and described such actions as “unjustified, unjust and dangerous to our national reputation.”
His remarks follow the United States’ recent designation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) for alleged violations of religious freedom and proposed sanctions against certain Nigerian officials accused of involvement in attacks on Christians.
Akinyemi said he was disturbed by attempts to link Nigeria with countries facing accusations of genocide, such as Israel, and stressed that although the country had recorded worrying incidents of violence in the Middle Belt, these did not constitute genocide.
“As a Nigerian, I am depressed and upset that accusations of genocide have been leveled against my country,” he said. “When you compare what is happening in Nigeria with what Netanyahu has done in the Middle East, linking Nigeria and putting us in the same basket as Israel is an unjustifiable act.”
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He stressed that Nigerians must be careful in how they portray their country abroad, as negative narratives can have long-term consequences.
“We Nigerians must understand that there are consequences to our actions. When we damage our own country unjustly, we degrade our image, and every Nigerian will be affected by what is said or not said,” he warned.
The former minister also faulted what he described as the Nigerian authorities’ delayed response to the issue, and urged the government to elevate the issue beyond partisan or legislative debate and treat it as a matter of national urgency.
“I don’t know why we waited for this issue to get this far into the US Congress before it became an issue of public concern,” Akinyemi said. “Before you know it, they will cancel passports, cancel visas, and when Nigeria seeks a seat on the Security Council, this issue will come up and the label of genocide will be attached to our name.”
He called on the National Security Advisor and State Department to engage directly with US counterparts to clarify Nigeria’s position and prevent further diplomatic fallout.
“Now that the NSA is burdened with internal and domestic security matters, perhaps he should discuss the issue with his counterpart in the United States and explain the problem clearly,” he added.
