Former presidential candidate Peter Obi has waded into Nigeria’s heated conversation on insecurity and identity, warning against the growing tendency to link criminality to entire ethnic groups.
In a message that appeared aimed at easing rising ethnic tensions across the country, Obi argued that criminal acts should be attributed to individuals and not used to stigmatize millions of innocent citizens who share the same ethnic background.
The former Anambra State governor said the practice of profiling communities based on the actions of a few bad actors is unjust, divisive and dangerous to national cohesion.
Drawing from his personal experience, Obi recalled facing stereotypes as an Igbo man and said he could relate to the plight of ordinary Fulani citizens who are increasingly judged by the actions of criminal elements operating in parts of the country.
According to him, many law-abiding Fulani men and women now find themselves carrying the burden of accusations for crimes committed by people they neither know nor support.
Obi insisted that while Nigeria must remain relentless in its fight against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping and other violent crimes, the battle should not be turned into an indictment of entire ethnic nationalities.
“Crime has no ethnicity,” he said, arguing that a kidnapper, terrorist or thief should be identified by his actions and prosecuted accordingly, rather than becoming the basis for collective blame.
The former presidential candidate warned that ethnic profiling risks deepening divisions at a time when the country requires greater unity to confront its security and economic challenges.
Invoking the legacy of American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., Obi noted that societies make progress when people are judged by their character and conduct rather than inherited identities such as ethnicity, religion or race.
His intervention comes amid increasing public debate over the language used in discussing insecurity and criminality, with concerns growing that sweeping ethnic generalisations could inflame tensions and weaken national solidarity.
Obi urged Nigerians to resist narratives that pit communities against one another and instead celebrate the country’s rich cultural diversity and shared aspirations.
He maintained that every ethnic group in Nigeria possesses unique strengths, traditions and contributions that should be recognised and respected, rather than overshadowed by the actions of a criminal minority.
Calling for a new national mindset, Obi said the country must move towards a future where citizenship, justice and equal opportunity matter more than tribe or place of birth.
According to him, Nigeria can only achieve lasting peace and progress when its people reject prejudice and embrace mutual respect, fairness and a common national purpose.
“A new Nigeria is within our reach,” he declared.