Former senator and rights campaigner Shehu Sani has criticised American rapper Nicki Minaj for alleging that Christians are facing genocide in Nigeria, describing her comments as uninformed and politically motivated.
In a statement on Wednesday, Sani said the United Nations (UN) should not have provided what he called a "global platform" for Minaj to "dispense lies" about a non-existent genocide.
He argued that the rapper had no prior engagement with Nigeria’s humanitarian or conflict issues.
"The rapper knew nothing about Nigeria and has never visited any community in conflict. She has never taken up any humanitarian cause in Nigeria and has never helped anyone," he said.
He contrasted Minaj with Western celebrities who advocate for causes such as hunger, women’s rights, child protection and landmine elimination.
Minaj, he claimed, had "nothing on her stable and record other than rapping gibberish and displaying outfits and physique incompatible with our African culture and tradition."
Sani insisted Minaj was "not a role model for Nigerian or African girls," alleging that her remarks on Nigeria’s security situation were linked to a desire to curry favour with US President Donald Trump.
"Her claims of genocide in Nigeria were not born out of conscience or care but a sycophantic and opportunistic meddling to gain Trump’s endorsement. Minaj should focus on her country of birth, Trinidad and Tobago, where her voice is needed to address social issues," he said.
He added that the rapper was attempting to "appease and please President Trump, whose views and policies are directed against immigrants like Minaj," urging her not to use Nigeria "as a tool for political praise-singing."
Sani also restated his earlier criticism of US television host Bill Maher, who recently repeated claims that Christians were targeted for extermination in Nigeria.
According to him, the country’s insecurity is complex and not defined by religious persecution.
"We have bandits in the north-west and terrorists in the north-east. In the north-central, we have a mixture of banditry, terrorism, ethno-religious violence, and farmers-herders clashes," he said.
He stressed that armed groups "do not discriminate" on the basis of faith.
"Muslims, just like Christians, are killed. They attack churches and mosques. They kill pastors, priests and imams," he said.
Citing recent attacks in Katsina and Zamfara, as well as incidents in Plateau and Benue, he said both religious communities suffer casualties.
Reflecting on his time in the Senate, Sani noted that lawmakers from southern Kaduna often spoke out when their Christian constituents were attacked, while some from northern Kaduna "were silent" about Muslim victims for political reasons.
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