The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has cautioned against linking crime to ethnicity, warning that the practice fuels division and undermines national unity.
Obi made the remarks in a statement posted on his verified X account on Monday, June 8, where he expressed concern over what he described as the growing tendency to stereotype entire ethnic groups based on the actions of a few criminal elements.
The former Anambra State governor said he could relate to the experiences of many Nigerians who have faced prejudice because of their ethnic backgrounds, noting that such stereotyping was neither fair nor productive.
“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 said.
Obi specifically defended ordinary Fulani people, arguing that many of them are unfairly judged because of 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 are not representative of his people,” he stated.
Drawing parallels with the civil rights movement in the United States, Obi said discrimination based on identity had historically been challenged by advocates of equality and justice.
He referenced the words of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who urged people to be judged by their character rather than 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 bad actors, not representatives of any people,” Obi said.
He called on law enforcement agencies to identify, arrest and prosecute criminals without attaching 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 criminals,” he said.
According to Obi, ethnic profiling only deepens social divisions and creates opportunities for political actors to exploit differences among citizens.
He urged Nigerians to celebrate the country’s diversity and focus on shared values rather than stereotypes.“A new Nigeria must emerge—one where no citizen is condemned because of tribe, religion, or birthplace,” he added.
