Okonjo-Iweala Debunks Social Media Post Condemning Tinubu

Okonjo-Iweala Debunks Viral Social Media Post Allegedly Criticizing President Tinubu

On November 8, 2025, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), publicly refuted a viral social media post that had been falsely attributed to her.

The post, which circulated widely across platforms such as WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, purported to show Okonjo-Iweala criticizing President Bola Tinubu’s approach to handling insecurity in Nigeria. It bore the provocative title “Trump didn’t ‘hit’ us – our leaders did,” and claimed that Nigerian leaders were more focused on rhetoric than on taking decisive action against banditry and insurgency.

It further alleged that Okonjo-Iweala had urged President Tinubu to abandon “damage control speeches” and instead “secure the people.”

In a swift and unequivocal response via her verified X (formerly Twitter) account, Okonjo-Iweala denounced the post as “fake and malicious,” asserting that it did not originate from her. She emphasized the fraudulent nature of the message, even pointing out that the impersonator had failed to spell her name correctly.

Her statement read: “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 further condemned the impersonation, calling out the perpetrators as “scammers and 419ers,” and demanded that they stop hiding behind her identity to spread misinformation. “Whichever coward did this should write the message in their own name and not hide behind mine or anyone else’s!” she declared.

Okonjo-Iweala’s rebuttal comes at a time of heightened international attention on Nigeria’s internal affairs, following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump had claimed that Christians were being targeted in Nigeria and warned on his Truth Social platform that the United States might “go in guns blazing” if such alleged killings continued.

In response, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to religious freedom, citing constitutional guarantees and his administration’s engagement with leaders of all faiths to promote peace and security. He rejected the portrayal of Nigeria as a religiously intolerant nation, describing it as inaccurate and inconsistent with the country’s diverse and unified identity.

Tinubu reiterated that religious tolerance is a core tenet of Nigeria’s collective identity and pledged continued collaboration with the United States and other global partners to safeguard communities of all faiths.

This incident underscores the growing challenge of misinformation in the digital age, particularly when it involves high-profile figures and sensitive political issues.

Okonjo-Iweala’s prompt and firm denial not only protected her reputation but also highlighted the importance of verifying sources before sharing content online.

Legal action is reportedly being pursued against those responsible for the impersonation, signaling a broader effort to hold purveyors of fake news accountable.