Okonjo-Iweala Denounces Fake Post Criticising Tinubu, Warns Impersonators of Legal Action

The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has firmly disowned a viral social media post falsely attributed to her, which criticized President Bola Tinubu’s approach to insecurity in Nigeria.

The misleading post, titled “Trump didn’t ‘hit’ us – our leaders did,” claimed that Okonjo-Iweala accused Nigerian leaders of focusing on empty speeches instead of tackling insecurity head-on. It also falsely alleged that she urged President Tinubu to “stop the damage control speeches” and focus on securing Nigerians.

Taking to her verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, the WTO chief dismissed the claims as fake and malicious, emphasizing that the statement did not come from her.

“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.

Okonjo-Iweala condemned the impersonation and warned those behind it to stop hiding under her name to push false narratives. “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 clarification came amid rising global attention following comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently claimed that Christians were being targeted in Nigeria.

Trump’s remarks, posted on his Truth Social platform, suggested that the United States might “go in guns blazing” if such alleged attacks continued. The statement drew both outrage and concern, prompting the Nigerian government to respond.

In his reaction, President Bola Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to democracy, unity and religious freedom. Writing via his X handle, Tinubu maintained that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and that his administration continues to engage leaders of all faiths to promote peace and security.

He rejected foreign portrayals of Nigeria as a nation divided by religion, describing them as false and inconsistent with the country’s values. “Religious tolerance has been a core part of our collective identity and will always remain so,” he stated.

Trump, however, doubled down on his position, insisting that the U.S. “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening” and directing key congressional figures to investigate the issue further.

Dr. Okonjo-Iweala’s swift response serves as a reminder of the dangers of misinformation in the digital space and the need for Nigerians to verify information before sharing it.