Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi has condemned ethnic profiling and the tendency to slur entire ethnic groups with criminality, insisting that crime has no tribe.
In a statement posted on his X handle on Monday, he noted that many Nigerians have at severally been judged based on their ethnic background rather than their character, warning that such stereotypes fuel division and undermine national unity.
The former Anambra governor said he could relate to the experience of being stereotyped because of his own ethnic origin.
“As an Igbo man, I have endured stereotypes, judgment, and labelling solely based on my ethnic origins. 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,” he wrote.
Obi went on to empathise with the everyday Fulani people who, according to him, are often unfairly judged because of the actions of criminal elements who do not represent their ethnic group.
“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 stated.
Drawing a comparison with the civil rights struggle in the United States, Obi pointed out that the unfair labelling of people based on identity had long been challenged across the world.
“Even in America, such unjust labelling fueled 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,” he said.
The presidential candidate harped on the need to distinguish between criminal offenders and the wider communities to which they may belong, maintaining that criminals should be treated as individuals and held accountable under the law.
“Every Nigerian ethnic group is known for its unique traditions, occupations, skills, and strengths. Crime, however, has no ethnicity. A thief is a thief. A terrorist is a terrorist. A kidnapper is a kidnapper. They are bad actors, not representatives of any people. They must be identified, arrested, and punished according to the law,” he added.
Obi charged Nigerians to reject the practice of blaming entire ethnic groups for the actions of a few individuals.
“We must decisively abandon the dangerous practice of blaming entire ethnic groups for the actions of a few criminals. It is unjust, it breeds hatred, and it damages our national unity,” he wrote.
Obi further called on citizens to celebrate Nigeria’s cultural diversity and resist narratives that promote prejudice and division.
“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.
“A new Nigeria must emerge – one where no citizen is condemned because of tribe, religion, or birthplace. We can cherish our cultural roots while standing united by justice, mutual respect, and hope for a better future. We are capable of this,” Obi said.
