The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has said he has personally faced stereotypes, judgment, and ethnic labelling because of his Igbo background.
Peter Obi made the remark in a post on X, where he also condemned the growing tendency to associate criminal behaviour with specific ethnic groups.
He noted that such experiences are not limited to the Igbo people, adding that many Nigerians have at different times been unfairly judged based on ethnicity rather than individual character.
The former Anambra State governor also said he understands the plight of ordinary Fulani people who are often wrongly blamed for crimes committed by individuals they do not know or represent.
According to him, criminals should be identified strictly by their actions and not by ethnic identity, stressing that wrongdoing has no ethnic affiliation.
He said, “A thief is a thief, a terrorist is a terrorist, and a kidnapper is a kidnapper.”
Obi referenced the civil rights movement in the United States, citing Martin Luther King Jr.’s call for people to be judged by the content of their character rather than their race.
He added that every ethnic group in Nigeria has its own culture, strengths, and contributions, while crime should never be attributed to any group.
Obi urged Nigerians to reject ethnic generalisations in crime reporting, warning that such narratives fuel division and weaken national unity.
He also called for greater respect for Nigeria’s diversity and a renewed commitment to justice, mutual understanding, and national cohesion.
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