Senate sets up panel on Christian genocide claim
The Senate on Tuesday constituted a 12-member ad-hoc committee to advance measures on how to tackle growing international concerns regarding allegations of state-supported persecution of Christians in Nigeria. This followed a motion sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) during plenary. The committee members are Senators Victor Umeh, Yemi Adaramodu, Aniekan Bassey, Niyi Adegbonmire, […]
Senate
The Senate on Tuesday constituted a 12-member ad-hoc committee to advance measures on how to tackle growing international concerns regarding allegations of state-supported persecution of Christians in Nigeria.
This followed a motion sponsored by Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) during plenary.
The committee members are Senators Victor Umeh, Yemi Adaramodu, Aniekan Bassey, Niyi Adegbonmire, Abdul Ningi, Titus Zam, Tony Nwoye, Tahir Munguno, and Asuquo Ekpenyong, and others.
The decision of the Senate followed discussions led by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz and other members of the U.S. Congress for Nigeria to be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious persecution.
The Red Chamber mandated the ad hoc committee to produce a comprehensive position paper, to be presented to both the Executive and the Senate on the issue.
The position paper is intended to inform Nigerian lawmakers on the issue and guide their participation in ongoing international engagements.
The Senate also resolved to engage directly with the U.S. Congress to address and counter what it described as an inaccurate portrayal of Nigeria’s security situation as an anti-Christian genocide.