Hashim Olawepo, a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, has blamed the current diplomatic row between Nigeria and the U.S. over alleged Christian genocide on President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressive Congress-led government’s ‘janjaweed’ foreign policy.

In a statement on his X handle on Tuesday, Mr Olawepo said, “The responsibility for the current diplomatic crises over ‘Christian genocide’ lies with the inept and corrupt government of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu rather than President Trump, who is equally under massive pressure from his base.”

Lamenting the huge number of Nigerians killed by terrorists, Mr Olawepo said, “To begin to push the narrative that killings in Nigeria are not limited to Christians is a fundamentally faulty logic.”

“Which categories of Nigerians need to die in the hands of terrorists in staggering numbers that we see with evidence of complicity of failure to act to protect citizens?” he asked.

According to Mr Olawepo, the Tinubu Administration has, since its inception, prioritised personal, political, and pecuniary economic interests over Nigeria’s national interests and security.

“It is bewildering that as we speak, Nigeria has no ambassadors in the most important countries, while bilateral commissions established between Nigeria and key nations and neighbours, to institutionally discuss and narrow concerns on security and trade issues have broken down for a decade.”

Mr Olawepo blamed the APC-led government for “paralysing institutional mechanisms of conducting diplomacy,” adding, “The APC has relied on a motley crowd of semi-illiterate hangers-on and international outlaws pushing shady interests incoherently and dangerously to conduct a ‘Janjanweed’ foreign policy truly disgraceful and embarrassing.”

The PDP chieftain also alleged grave human rights violations by APC supporters, which he said Mr Tinubu’s government had ignored.

“There are existing records of APC members threatening mass killings against a targeted group of voters who are suspected of not going to vote for Tinubu in 2027, and these threats are targeted against a specific ethnic group who are predominantly practitioners of one faith. These acts are international crimes under the Rome Statute,” Mr Olawepo said.

Mr Tinubu has come under criticism for failing to tackle internal insecurity, allowing Mr Trump to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern while threatening sanctions and military invasion of Nigeria.

However, Mr Tinubu has denied the alleged Christian genocide, offering to work with the U.S. government to combat insecurity.