Former presidential candidate and 2027 flag bearer of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has spoken strongly against the growing practice of linking crime to ethnic groups in Nigeria, saying such behaviour is dangerous and unfair to innocent citizens.
Obi said he personally understands what it means to be judged based on ethnicity, explaining that he has faced stereotypes, labels, and negative assumptions simply because he is Igbo.
He made the comments in a detailed post shared on X, where he warned that continued ethnic profiling of criminals could deepen division in the country and weaken national unity.
According to him, Nigerians must learn to separate individual criminal acts from the identity of entire communities, stressing that wrongdoing should always be linked to individuals and not their ethnic background.
“I have endured stereotypes, judgment, and labelling solely based on my ethnic origins,” he wrote. “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.”
Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, said the issue is not limited to any one group. He explained that many Nigerians, regardless of where they come from, have at different times been unfairly judged because of the actions of a few people who share the same ethnic identity.
He also said he understands the experience of many Fulani people who, according to him, are often wrongly blamed for crimes committed by individuals they do not know or support.
“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 added.
His remarks come at a time when Nigeria continues to struggle with insecurity, including cases of banditry, kidnapping, and violent attacks in different parts of the country. In recent years, public discussion on insecurity has sometimes taken an ethnic dimension, with some groups being broadly associated with criminal activities carried out by individuals.
Obi stressed that crime has no ethnic identity and should be treated strictly as a legal issue, not a cultural or tribal one. He said criminals must be identified by their actions and prosecuted according to the law, regardless of where they come from.
“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.”
In his message, Obi also drew attention to the importance of Nigeria’s cultural diversity, noting that every ethnic group in the country has its own strengths, traditions, and contributions to national development. He warned that reducing people to ethnic labels ignores their individual humanity and achievements.
He further referenced global history, pointing to the United States civil rights movement led by Martin Luther King Jr., as an example of the need for fairness and equal treatment. He recalled King’s famous idea that people should be judged by the content of their character rather than the colour of their skin, applying the principle to Nigeria’s ethnic diversity.
Obi argued that Nigeria’s unity depends on mutual respect and understanding among its many ethnic groups, adding that blaming entire communities for the actions of a few criminals only fuels hatred and distrust.
He called on Nigerians, including political leaders, opinion shapers, and the media, to be more responsible in how they discuss crime and insecurity, warning that careless language can inflame tensions.
“Media framing of crime along ethnic lines is divisive,” he said, urging Nigerians to reject narratives that promote collective blame.
He also appealed for greater national unity and cooperation, saying the country can only move forward if citizens begin to see one another as equals rather than through the lens of tribe or ethnicity.
Obi’s comments have added to ongoing national conversations about identity, insecurity, and unity in Nigeria, where ethnic diversity remains both a strength and, at times, a source of tension.
As debates continue, Obi’s message remains focused on one central idea: that crime should be punished, but ethnicity should never be blamed.