Arise TV anchor Reuben Abati has come under severe criticism from Nigerians over his recent comments about the Igbo ethnic group in the country.
Speaking during The Good Morning Show on Friday, the former Special Adviser on media to ex-president Goodluck Jonathan stated that they Igbos, unlike other ethnic groups in the country, deny selling landed properties to non-igbos.
Alluding to the ordeal of Chief Toss Benson, former minister of information, the seasoned journalist stated that Benson’s in-laws refused selling land to him despite having an Igbo wife and daughter.
He said, ”Chief Toss Benson, former minister of information, now late, on one occasion at the Nigeria ministry of international affairs, and I am not making this up. He said it publicly: If anybody can contradict me, let them do so.
”He said something about Igbo people. He said he had an Igbo wife and an Igbo daughter, and that he wanted to buy land in Igbo land for his daughter and for his wife to say, ‘I’m getting old; Toss Benson is getting old; let me build in this place for my wife.’
”He said that his in-laws told him that they don’t sell to outsiders. That is the irony of Nigeria.
”The same Igbo who are so industrious that they are all over and they do well in other parts of Nigeria. If you go as a non-Igbo man to buy land, you will be told that you do not belong even as an in-law.”
His statement, which many have described as ”bigotry,” has generated heated reactions from Nigerians across social media.
Many Nigerians called for the sack of the anchor, arguing that his statement is capable of overheating the already sensitive ethnic divide in the country.
This publication highlights some of the reactions of Nigerians to his statement.
Ada Igwe, ”Reuben Abati is a state actor who is now used for creating distractive narratives. The attention should actually be on BAT’s administration, who is doing nothing to save this nation from further economic decline, but Reuben has succeeded in flipping the story to tribalism.”
Igbo, ”Reuben Abati on National television deliberately stated a fallacy, an unverifiable assertion against Igbos just like Reno Omokri. These are two men that served as senior media aid to Goodluck Jonathan but couldn’t defend GEJ against APC media lies that were full of propaganda.”
Blossom, ”Nduka Obaigbena should sack this Abati @abati1990 before he runs down his media business for him.
”This kind of pride and arrogant behaviour is what displeases God; what happened to Nebuchadnezzar will soon happen to Reuben Abati.”
Anthony Nnaji, ”I am ashamed of Reuben Abati. As a seasoned journalist which he claims to be, he should be able to analyse issues and let them make sense. Where did his Benson seek to buy land and was told this story? Did he want to buy family land belonging to his ex-wife’s family? Shame on Abati.”
Dankwa Chinedu, ”Reuben Abati wasn’t happy about the good thing Akpabio, the senate president, said about ndi Igbo developing anywhere they are.
”On national TV, Reuben told an unverified old story to rubbish Akpabio’s story. Please, Ruben, emancipate yourself from your Clannish mental slavery.”
Don Bez, ”What Reuben Abati did was not just mischievous but pure evil. He acted irresponsibly as a journalist and made such an unfounded statement on TV without investigation and diligence. His intentions were calculated bigotry and Igbophobia, just to counter Akpabio! Shame on him.”
Ifeanyi Akorjuru, ”Reuben Abati, still within the spirit of being respectful, let me honestly state that you just confirmed your idiocy and the level of stupidity.
”It is a shame that someone like you, with your level of education and personality, will go on air spreading baseless lies and fake news.
”I am deeply offended by these wicked lies because I have friends who are non-Igbos that own properties in Abia State and Enugu State, respectively.
”Dr. Reuben Abati, sir, you are simply a disgrace to the noble profession of journalism.
”This further confirmed the level of hate and wickedness that a particular tribe and ethnicity in Nigeria harbour for Ndigbo.
”People should come out and debunk these wicked lies coming supposedly from a learned man. If there are non-Igbos that own property or properties in the Southeast, please speak.”
Bashir Ahmed, ”The comments generated following Mr. Reuben Abati’s remarks on Igbos being hostile or accommodating do not look good.
”Though it is important and in all honesty to acknowledge that it is not fair to say all Igbos are hostile; however, the feedback from those who have lived in Igbo land suggests a notable number might be.
”It is very important for the good-hearted among them to actively and publicly work towards changing these negative stereotypes.
”They should encourage their brothers to welcome everyone to the beautiful East for a more inclusive environment.”
