The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has cautioned Nigerians against linking criminal activities to ethnic groups, warning that such narratives promote division and threaten national unity.
Obi made the remark in a statement shared on his verified X account on Monday, where he expressed concern over the growing tendency to stereotype entire ethnic communities based on the actions of a few criminals.
The former Anambra State governor said many Nigerians have experienced prejudice because of their ethnic background, stressing that individuals should be judged by their character rather than their tribe.
“As an Igbo man, I have endured stereotypes, judgment, and labelling solely because of my ethnic origin. This is not unique to the Igbo people. Many Nigerians have at one time or another been reduced to their ethnicity rather than being assessed by their true character,” Obi said.
He noted that ordinary Fulani people are often unfairly profiled and blamed for crimes committed by individuals with whom they have no connection.
“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 do not represent his people,” he stated.
Drawing lessons from the civil rights movement in the United States, Obi referenced the philosophy of equality championed by Martin Luther King Jr., stressing that people should be judged by their character and not their identity.
The former presidential candidate maintained that criminality should be treated as an individual act rather than an ethnic trait.
“Crime has no ethnicity. A thief is a thief. A terrorist is a terrorist. A kidnapper is a kidnapper. They are criminals and should not be seen as representatives of any ethnic group,” he said.
Obi urged security agencies to focus on identifying, arresting and prosecuting offenders without attributing their actions to entire communities.
“They must be identified, arrested and punished according to the law. We must decisively abandon the dangerous practice of blaming entire ethnic groups for the actions of a few criminal elements,” he added.
According to him, ethnic profiling only deepens social divisions and creates opportunities for political manipulation.
He called on Nigerians to embrace unity, celebrate the country’s diversity, and reject narratives that promote hatred and discrimination.
“A new Nigeria must emerge—one where no citizen is judged because of tribe, religion or place of birth,” Obi said.
