‘They can’t even spell my name’, Okonjo-Iweala disowns anti-Tinubu online post

Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has distanced herself from a viral social media post falsely credited to her, which allegedly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s approach to insecurity in Nigeria.

The post, titled “Trump didn’t ‘hit’ us – our leaders did,” circulated widely on WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, purportedly quoting Okonjo-Iweala as accusing Nigerian leaders of favouring rhetoric over decisive action against banditry and insurgency. It also claimed she had urged President Tinubu to “stop the damage control speeches” and focus on securing citizens.

In a statement posted on her verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Okonjo-Iweala denounced the post as “fake and malicious,” stressing that she had no connection to it. She warned the public to disregard the message and revealed that legal action was being pursued against those responsible for the impersonation.

“Beware, this story going around on WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook is false! We are taking action! The person who did this could not even spell my name,” she wrote.

The WTO chief condemned the use of her identity to spread misinformation, urging those behind the fake statement to take responsibility for their words. “Whichever coward did this should write the message in their own name and not hide behind mine or anyone else’s! Scammers and 419ers, stop!” she added.

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Her clarification came amid growing debate over recent comments by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who alleged that Christians were being targeted in Nigeria.

Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump warned that the United States might “go in guns blazing” if such alleged attacks continued. His statement drew criticism both within and outside Nigeria, prompting the Tinubu administration to issue a formal response reaffirming the country’s commitment to democracy, peace, and religious freedom.

In his response via X, President Tinubu dismissed claims of religious persecution, insisting that Nigeria’s constitution guarantees freedom of worship and that his government actively engages with religious leaders to promote harmony and security.

He described attempts to portray Nigeria as intolerant as misleading and inconsistent with the nation’s diversity and unity. “Religious tolerance has been a core tenet of our collective identity and shall always remain so,” he wrote, pledging continued cooperation with the United States and other international partners to protect communities of all faiths.

Despite the controversy, Trump restated his position on Wednesday evening, saying the U.S. “cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening” and promising that his administration would be “ready, willing and able to protect our great Christian population around the world.” He also called on members of Congress, including Congressman Riley Moore and House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, to investigate the issue and report back to him.

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