Tinubu’s Aide Olusegun Dada Slams U.S. Congressman Riley Moore Over Claims Of Christian Persecution In Nigeria

President Bola Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, has fired back at U.S. Congressman Riley Moore over comments alleging the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.

Taking to X on Tuesday, Dada known online as Daddy D.O called the U.S. lawmaker “ignorant,” comparing his remarks to those of Senator Ted Cruz, who made similar claims in September.

“Firstly, let me say, Congressman Riley, you are ignorant if not more ignorant than Ted Cruz about Nigeria,” Dada wrote.

He emphasised that Nigeria remains “a proud, sovereign nation built on the faith and resilience of its people,” insisting that “no faith is under siege, no community is excluded.”

“Our churches, mosques, and traditional shrines stand side by side not as rivals, but as symbols of the unity that binds us,” he added.

Dada’s comments followed a string of posts by Riley Moore on Monday, where the U.S. lawmaker described Nigeria as “the deadliest country in the world for Christians.” Moore had urged U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to designate Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern” over alleged religious persecution.

Citing statistics, Moore claimed that since the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009, more than 50,000 Christians have been killed, five million displaced, and 19,000 churches attacked. He further alleged that Nigerian officials were complicit in the violence and referenced anti-blasphemy laws being enforced in some states.

Dada dismissed these claims as exaggerated and misleading, accusing both Moore and Cruz of misunderstanding Nigeria’s religious and cultural diversity.

He added, “I hope Tucker Carlson can ask Ted Cruz this line of questions again, but this time about Nigeria. Ted Cruz wanted the states to go to war with Iran, but he didn’t even know the population or the cultural makeup of Iran same total ignorance about Nigeria.”