A United States lawmaker, Chris Smith, has accused Nigerian leaders of operating a “culture of denial.’
Smith’s statement comes while reacting to the $9 million on lobbying contract made by Bola Tinubu in Washington, which was aimed at downplaying and concealing ongoing genocide and mass atrocities in parts of Nigeria.
While the lawmaker commended Nigeria for taking “small steps” to improve religious freedom, he criticised the recent lobbying deals aimed at influencing the US government.
Citing Genocide Watch, Chris Smith, house foreign affairs Africa subcommittee chairman, described Nigeria as “a killing field of defenceless Christians.”
He recalled that in December, Nigeria hired DCI Group, a lobbying firm, in a $9 million contract to assist in communicating its efforts to protect Christians to the US government.
The same month, Matthew Tonlagha, vice-chairman of Tantita Security Services, hired Valcour Global Public Strategy, a Washington-based lobbying firm, for the “purpose of strengthening the bilateral relationship” between the US and Nigeria.
Smith said the deals proved that “a culture of denial by Nigerian officials persists”.“I am deeply concerned that Nigeria has hired the K-Street lobbying firm DCI to the tune of $9 million (that’s $750,000 a month) and a Nigerian billionaire has entered into a $120,000-a-month contract with Valcour to influence Congress and the Executive Branch,” he said.
“They hire these firms; they come up with their very well-written talking points to say nothing to see here, and unfortunately, how these firms are just so good at advocating for their client for religious freedom,” he added. #Denial#Smith
Video link: https://x.com/i/status/2020279669925478669
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