The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed deep concern over the Nigerian government’s apparent tolerance of anti-Igbo sentiment, particularly targeting Bayo Onanuga, Special Assistant on Strategic Communications to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
HURIWA has urged President Tinubu to immediately sack Onanuga due to his history of inflammatory statements against the Igbo community, especially during the 2023 elections.
Onanuga’s Anti-Igbo Statements
According to HURIWA, Onanuga has been vocal in his disdain for Igbos, making public declarations that incite ethnic hatred. His statement that 2023 would be the last time Igbos would be politically active in Lagos is seen as a dangerous narrative that could have severe consequences for national unity. HURIWA believes that Onanuga’s assertions indicate a clear agenda to sideline and marginalize the Igbo community in Nigeria.
Impact on National Unity
HURIWA argued that Onanuga’s continued presence in the President’s administration sends the wrong message to Nigerians, particularly the Igbo community, suggesting that the President may be tacitly endorsing anti-Igbo rhetoric. Despite acknowledging that President Tinubu does not harbor anti-Igbo sentiments, given his familial ties to the Igbo community through his children’s marriages, HURIWA insists that the President must distance himself from individuals who fuel division and hatred.
Call for Action
“The continued presence of Bayo Onanuga in this administration is not only an affront to Igbos but also a threat to national cohesion. His public utterances encourage other anti-Igbo campaigners and perpetuate a climate of ethnic intolerance,” HURIWA stated. The group emphasized that for the government to promote peace and unity among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups, it must remove individuals who spread hate and divisio
