Abike Dabiri, Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has recently come under intense social media scrutiny for accusations of promoting ethnic bigotry, particularly targeting the Igbo community.
The controversy erupted after a viral video surfaced, condemning Dabiri for fostering divisions among Nigerians, a sentiment echoed by influential voices like Charly Boy on X.
NN News Media highlighted the video, where a commentator expressed deep disappointment with Dabiri’s alleged biased behavior, accusing her of focusing predominantly on negative stories about Igbo individuals living abroad. For instance, the commentator pointed out Dabiri’s emphasis on the cases of Igbo nationals imprisoned in Singapore, while seemingly ignoring the plight of over 50 Yoruba citizens facing execution in Saudi Arabia. This selective attention has been criticized as evidence of favoritism and bigotry.
Further fueling the outrage is an incident involving two diaspora Nigerians: Amaka in Canada, whom Dabiri reportedly reported to the police for alleged hate speech, contrasted with her silence concerning Kingsley Ugiagbe in Austria, who allegedly threatened to unalive Igbo children globally. Many view this uneven response as additional proof of Dabiri’s partiality against the Igbo.
This backlash emerges amid rising ethnic tensions in Nigeria, underscored by events such as the #IgboMustGo campaign, which led to widespread calls for action against social media accounts accused of inciting violence toward Igbos. Critics argue that Dabiri’s silence during these heated episodes, combined with selective engagement in controversies, reflect a troubling pattern of ethnic bias in her leadership.
Past actions of Dabiri including her muted responses to prior incidents of hate speech contrasted with brisk reaction to others have only deepened perceptions of inconsistency and prejudice, particularly in how the Igbo community is treated.
The situation highlights the ongoing challenges Nigeria faces in managing ethnic relations, both within its borders and across its diaspora. The viral video has reignited urgent conversations about the need for fair, inclusive leadership and the dangers posed by ethnic divisiveness within the Nigerian diaspora and the nation at large.
