News
Abike Dabiri Under Fire for Endorsing Anti-Igbo Tweet
The Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, is at the center of a heated controversy after endorsing a tweet on X from a notorious account known for making anti-Igbo remarks.
The handle referred to Igbos as “monkeys” and “children of gorillas,” sparking outrage across social media platforms.
This is not the first time Dabiri has faced accusations of ethnic bias in her official capacity.
In 2024, she was tagged “the female Bayo Onanuga” after hastily reporting Amaka Sunnberger, a Canada-based Igbo woman, who threatened Yorubas in retaliation to online threats from Yoruba users. Dabiri was criticized for ignoring the initial aggressors while focusing solely on Amaka’s response.
Days later, militant leader Asari Dokubo threatened to kill all Igbos, but Dabiri offered no public reaction, prompting accusations of selective justice.
Reports later surfaced that Amaka Sunnberger sued Dabiri in Canada for discriminatory conduct.
The Latest Incident
When Nigerians cautioned Dabiri for endorsing the recent gorilla and monkey slur, she allegedly doubled down liking further tweets where Yoruba extremists dragged in “Obidients,” a political support base largely associated with the Labour Party’s Peter Obi.
Critics argue that such behavior is unbecoming of a public officer entrusted with the sensitive task of representing Nigerians abroad, especially as NIDCOM pushes for diaspora voting rights.
While many Nigerians accuse Dabiri of abusing her office and normalizing bigotry at a time when ethnic tensions remain high. Her supporters argue that the endorsed tweets did not explicitly mention Igbos, insisting she technically did nothing wrong.
Abike Dabiri is not the first official in the Tinubu administration accused of amplifying ethnic sentiments.
Several aides, both at the state and presidential levels, have been caught making or endorsing inflammatory statements.
As the backlash grows, many are questioning whether NIDCOM’s credibility in advocating for diaspora rights can remain intact under Dabiri’s leadership.
Follow BONA NAIJA for more
