. . . Urges President Tinubu to sack Bayo Onanuga

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has charged the Federal Government to take immediate action against Mr. Kingsley Ugiagbe, a Nigerian residing in Vienna, Austria, for making inflammatory and dangerous statements threatening mass killings of Nigerians of Igbo extraction. HURIWA strongly condemned the hateful rhetoric and urged the Nigerian authorities to apply the same level of commitment and pressure as was done in the case of Canada-based Nigerian, Mrs. Amaka Sonnberger, who advocated for the poisoning of Yorubas and Benin people and was subsequently arrested by Canadian authorities.

According to HURIWA, the call for Ugiagbe’s arrest is not only a matter of justice but a necessary step toward preventing ethnic violence and promoting peace in Nigeria. In a strongly worded statement, signed by the National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the human rights advocacy group expressed deep concern over the growing trend of ethnic hate speech, which it described as a serious threat to Nigeria’s fragile unity.

HURIWA recalled the swift action taken by the Nigerian government when Sonnberger’s video, where she called for the poisoning of certain ethnic groups, went viral. In response to public outcry and diplomatic pressure, Sonnberger was arrested and is now facing prosecution in Canada. The association demanded that the same approach be adopted in dealing with Ugiagbe, who has openly threatened mass poisoning of Igbo people.

“The same way Nigeria mounted pressure on the Canadian government, which led to the arrest and prosecution of Amaka Sonnberger, should be applied in the case of Kingsley Ugiagbe. The gravity of his threats cannot be ignored, and justice must be served. Hate speech and incitement to violence should be addressed wherever and whenever they occur, and those responsible must face the consequences of their actions,” HURIWA said.

The human rights organization warned that failing to take decisive action against Ugiagbe would send a dangerous signal that ethnic threats and hate speech against the Igbos could go unpunished, thus emboldening others to propagate hate and incite violence.

In addition to the call for Ugiagbe’s arrest, HURIWA also raised concerns about the Nigerian government’s apparent tolerance of anti-Igbo sentiment within its ranks. Specifically, the organization urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately sack Bayo Onanuga, his Special Assistant on Strategic Communications, whom it described as a notorious Igbo hater.

Onanuga, according to HURIWA, has been vocal in his disdain for Igbos, especially during the 2023 elections, when he was reported to have made inflammatory statements about the Igbos’ involvement in Lagos politics. Onanuga’s public declaration that 2023 would be the last time Igbos would be politically active in Lagos is, according to HURIWA, a dangerous narrative that incites ethnic hatred and could have severe consequences for national unity.

“Bayo Onanuga has made it abundantly clear that he harbors deep resentment toward the Igbos, and his statements suggest that he is willing to stoke ethnic tensions in the future. His assertion that Igbos will no longer participate in Lagos politics after 2023 is a clear indication of his agenda to sideline and marginalize a significant ethnic group in Nigeria. Such a person has no business holding a strategic communications role in the President’s administration,” HURIWA stated.

HURIWA argued that President Tinubu’s continued retention of Onanuga in his government sends the wrong message to Nigerians, particularly the Igbo community, who may feel that the President is tacitly endorsing anti-Igbo rhetoric. The group, however, clarified that it does not believe President Tinubu harbors any anti-Igbo sentiments, given his familial ties to the Igbo community. Tinubu’s children are married to Igbo spouses, which HURIWA sees as evidence that the President is an Igbo in-law and not an Igbo hater.

Nevertheless, HURIWA insisted that for the President to promote inter-ethnic harmony and social justice, he must distance himself from individuals like Onanuga, whose public statements fuel division and hatred. “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. If the government is serious about promoting peace and unity among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups, it must remove individuals who spread hate and division,” HURIWA added.

In conclusion, HURIWA reiterated its call for the immediate arrest of Kingsley Ugiagbe, stressing that there must be no double standards in the fight against hate speech and incitement to violence, regardless of the ethnic group involved. The organization also urged President Tinubu to take proactive steps to promote ethnic harmony by removing Bayo Onanuga from his position as Special Assistant on Strategic Communications.

“There is no place for ethnic hatred in Nigeria, and no tribe has the right to advocate for the killing or marginalization of another. We are one Nigeria, and until such a time comes when we decide to part ways through peaceful and democratic means, no one should be allowed to sow the seeds of ethnic discord. The government must act swiftly to bring those who spread hate to justice,” HURIWA concluded.

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