In response to perceived selective justice by the Chair of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) regarding hate speech and community tensions, Nigerian community leaders worldwide have taken decisive actions against inflammatory statements made by individuals.
The suspension was announced in a statement signed by Mr. Nosa Aifuwa, President of the union, and was exclusively shared with Newsband Newspaper on Saturday.
During a TikTok virtual meeting with other Edo natives, Ugiagbe had threatened to attack and kill Igbo people wherever he encountered them.
“I will come to the Edo party with poison. The first person I will give the poison is that one they called the Chairman of Ndigbo.
“Anywhere Edo people see Igbo people we should do to them whatever we can do, and if they (Edo people) cannot do anything by fighting them, we should carry our poison in the pocket. I have already arranged my own.
“Thank God there will be Edo Festival on 31.08.2024. I will be going there with my poison to poison the Igbos”, he said during virtual meeting.
But in a swift reaction, the President of Edo community in Vienna has distanced the Union from Ugiagbe’s threat.
He said that the statement Ugiagbe made are entirely his own and do not represent directly or indirectly the position of honorable Edo community, Vienna and the larger Edo community.
He further revealed that Kingsley Ugiagbe has been suspended indefinitely from all Edo community Vienna activities.
The president of the union however, urged the general public to disregard Ugiagbe’s statements, adding that the leadership of Edo community in Vienna has been in talks with the Igbo community and both are working assiduously to resolve the matter.
The statement reads, “The attention of the leadership of Edo community, Vienna has been drawn to a video that has gone viral in the public domain. In the said video, some very appalling and incendiary statements were made by (undeniably) a member of Edo community, Mr Kingsley Ugiagbe, to the effect that there is a running battle between Edo community and the Igbo communities.
“Edo community, Vienna therefore wishes to inform the general public and to state as follows;
“That the said Mr Kingsley Ugiagbe is indeed a member of Edo community, Vienna.
“That the statement he made are entirely his own entitlement and not represent directly or indirectly the position of honorable Edo community, Vienna of the larger Edo community.
“That threat to life inter alia, is a very serious matter, in Edo community, Vienna do not treat with levity.
“That the Igbo communities and indeed all other communities everywhere.
“That we therefore condemn in the strongest terms, Mr Kingsley Ugiagbe’s statement in their entirety and therefore dissociate ourselves, individually and collectively them.
“That the said Mr Kingsley Ugiagbe has now been suspended indefinitely from all Edo community Vienna activities and we therefore will not be a part of our anniversary scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday 31 August 2024. And indeed any of our activities until we are able to resolve the matter.
“In this connection, Edo community Vienna wishes to implore general public to please, disregard Mr Kingsley Ugiagbe’s statements as the leadership of Edo community Vienna has been in talks with the Igbo community and both are working assiduously to resolve the matter.
“We therefore, encourage all concerned individuals and groups to please go about their normal businesses as they relate to their engagement with us. As either as Edo community Vienna or the larger Edo community.”
Meanwhile, the
The House of Representatives committee on diaspora matters has urged the Canadian authorities to prosecute one Amaka Patience Sunnberger for “hate speech”.l
The request is contained in a letter jointly signed by Tochukwu Okere, chairman of the committee; and Biodun Omoleye, chairman of Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group
This is coming after Amaka’s voice was heard making anti-Yoruba comments during a virtual meeting on TikTok which has gone viral online.
Amaka, who claimed to be a resident of Ontario, Canada, vowed to take poisonous substances to her workplace and harm any Yoruba or Benin person she came across.
She claimed her comments were in response to the “hate” against the Igbo.
The letter by the Diaspora committee reads, “On behalf of the Nigeria-Canada Parliamentary Friendship Group and the House Committee on Diaspora Matters, we are writing to express our deep concern regarding the actions of Ms. Amaka Patience Sunnberger, a Nigerian citizen residing in Canada.
“Ms. Sunnberger has recently been recorded making inflammatory statements that incite violence against the Yoruba and Edo ethnic groups in Nigeria, including advocating the poisoning of food and water supplies to achieve their mass genocide.
“Ms. Sunnberger’s recorded statements constitute a direct threat to the lives and safety of millions of Nigerians. Her incitement to violence and call for genocide through poisoning are not only deeply troubling but also represent a clear violation of multiple international, Canadian, and Ontario laws.
“Such rhetoric is dangerous and has the potential to incite real-world violence, both in Nigeria and within the Nigerian diaspora.”
“In light of the seriousness of these violations, we respectfully request the following actions:
“Investigation: An immediate and thorough investigation should be conducted into Ms. Sunberger’s actions by Canadian law enforcement and appropriate authorities.
“Prosecution: We urge that Ms. Sunberger be prosecuted under the relevant sections of the Criminal Code of Canada to hold her accountable for her incitement to genocide and hate speech.
“Public Denouncement: We request that the Canadian government issue a public condemnation of Ms. Sunberger’s actions to reaffirm Canada’s commitment to combatting ha e speech, violence, and genocide.
“Collaboration with Nigerian Authorities: We also request that Canadian authorities collaborate with Nigerian authorities to prevent any potential escalation of violence as a result of Ms. Sunberger’s incitement, and to ensure that justice is served.”
