Peter Obi, presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Party (NDC), has cautioned the media against linking crime to ethnic groups, saying such narratives are unfair, divisive, and harmful to national unity.
In a post on X on Monday, the former Anambra governor said Nigerians should resist the temptation to judge entire communities by the actions of a few criminals.
Obi said he understands the dangers of ethnic stereotyping, having personally experienced prejudice as an Igbo man.
“As an Igbo man, I have endured stereotypes, judgment and labelling solely based on my ethnic origins,” he said.
“This is not an isolated Igbo experience. Most Nigerians have, at some point, been reduced to their ethnicity rather than recognised for their true character.”
The former governor said many ordinary Fulani people are also unfairly judged because of the activities of criminal elements.
“I understand the pain of the ordinary Fulani man today, often unfairly judged by the actions of criminals he does not support, has never met, and who are not representative of his people,” he said.
“Even in America, such unjust labelling fuelled the civil rights movement and prompted Martin Luther King Jr. to declare that people should be judged by the content of their character, not the colour of their skin.”
TREAT CRIMINALITY INDIVIDUALLY
Obi stressed that criminality should be treated as an individual act rather than attributed to an ethnic group.
“Crime has no ethnicity. A thief is a thief. A terrorist is a terrorist. A kidnapper is a kidnapper,” he said.
“They are bad actors, not representatives of any people. They must be identified, arrested and punished according to the law.”
Obi urged Nigerians to reject narratives that blame entire ethnic groups for the crimes of a few individuals.
“We must decisively abandon the dangerous practice of blaming entire ethnic groups for the actions of a few criminals,” he said.
“It is unjust, it breeds hatred, and it damages our national unity.”
He also called on Nigerians to celebrate the country’s diversity rather than allow ethnic and religious divisions to be exploited for political gain.
“Let us proudly celebrate our diverse cultures, talents and contributions, rather than falling prey to stereotypes and prejudices that politicians and divisive interests exploit for their gain,” he said.
“A new Nigeria must emerge — one where no citizen is condemned because of tribe, religion, or birthplace.”
