Femi Adesina blames Nigerians over inclusion of Nigeria on religious violators’ list

Presidential spokesman has blamed Nigerians over the inclusion of Nigeria on the religious violators’ list by the Donald Trump administration late last year.

The Joe Biden administration had last week Wednesday reversed that inclusion by delisting Nigeria from the list of religious freedom violators.

The decision kicked against by rights and religious groups in the country has been applauded by the presidency, including Mr Adesina who described it as a very good development.

Mr Adesina while featuring on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday said US had to delist Nigeria from the list because it realised that the initial placement was not based on facts.

He said the fact-less remarks of Nigerians abroad about their country caused the western country to include Nigeria as one of the states violating religious freedom.

“The secretary said putting Nigeria on the watchlist was not based on facts, and you know that Nigerians themselves going to America to feed them with incorrect positions about what is happening in Nigeria,” the presidential spokesman said. “And that was why Nigeria was put on that watchlist.”

“But when America discovered that it was not based on facts, Nigeria was removed. It is a very good development for us,” he added.

Already, Adesina’s colleague, Garba Shehu, pointed at the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) as being behind the inclusion with the Christian Association Of Nigeria (CAN) and Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) kicking against the removal of Nigeria from the list.