By Our Correspondent—
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 elections, Mr Peter Obi, has called for an end to the media’s tendency to frame crime along ethnic lines, describing the practice as “divisive” and damaging to national unity.
In a post on his X account, Obi wrote of having “endured stereotypes, judgment, and labelling solely based on my ethnic origins”.
He said this was not an isolated experience, and that most Nigerians had at some point been “reduced to their ethnicity rather than recognised for their true character”.
The candidate expressed empathy for the ordinary Fulani man, who he said is “often unfairly judged by the actions of criminals he does not support, has never met, and who are not representative of his people”.
He drew a parallel with the United States, where he noted that “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.
“Every Nigerian ethnic group is known for its unique traditions, occupations, skills, and strengths,” Obi wrote. “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.”
He urged that such individuals “must be identified, arrested, and punished according to the law”, and called on Nigerians to “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 said.
The former Anambra State governor appealed for a future where diverse cultures, talents and contributions are celebrated, rather than exploited by “politicians and divisive interests”.
He said: “A new Nigeria must emerge—one where no citizen is condemned because of tribe, religion, or birthplace. … A new Nigeria is within our reach.”
