Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has condemned the growing trend of associating criminal activities with entire ethnic groups, describing the practice as divisive and harmful to national unity.
In a post shared on his Facebook page, Obi said he understood the pain of being stereotyped because of ethnic origin, noting that as an Igbo man, he had experienced judgment and labelling based solely on his background.
According to him, such experiences are not unique to the Igbo ethnic group, as many Nigerians have at one time or another been reduced to their ethnicity rather than being assessed based on their personal character and actions.
The former presidential candidate expressed sympathy for ordinary Fulani citizens who, he said, are often unfairly blamed for crimes committed by individuals who do not represent their community.
Drawing parallels with the civil rights movement in the United States, Obi referenced the message of Martin Luther King Jr., who advocated judging people by the content of their character rather than the colour of their skin.
Obi stressed that criminality should never be linked to ethnicity, insisting that thieves, terrorists and kidnappers are criminals whose actions should not be used to stigmatise entire communities.
“Crime has no ethnicity,” he said, adding that offenders should be identified, arrested and punished in accordance with the law, regardless of their ethnic background.
He warned that blaming entire ethnic groups for the actions of a few individuals fosters hatred, deepens divisions and undermines efforts to build a united nation.
The former governor called on Nigerians to celebrate the country’s cultural diversity and contributions from various ethnic groups rather than succumb to stereotypes and prejudices that could be exploited for political purposes.
Obi further advocated for a Nigeria where citizens are not judged based on tribe, religion or place of birth, but are united by justice, mutual respect and shared aspirations for a better future.
He concluded by expressing optimism that such a vision remains achievable, stating that “a new Nigeria is within our reach.”