Peter Obi Defends Fulani Community, Says Criminals Should Not Define Ethnic Groups

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has condemned the growing practice of ethnic profiling, arguing that criminal acts should never be used to stigmatise entire communities.

In a statement posted on his verified X account on Monday, Obi said Nigerians must resist the temptation to judge people based on their ethnic background rather than their personal conduct.

The former governor said he could personally relate to the harmful effects of ethnic stereotypes.

“As an Igbo man, I have endured stereotypes, judgment, and labelling solely based on my ethnic origins. This is not an isolated Igbo experience. Most Nigerians have, at some point, been reduced to their ethnicity rather than recognised for their true character.”

Obi particularly expressed sympathy for ordinary Fulani citizens who, he said, are frequently associated with crimes committed by individuals they neither know nor support.

“I understand the pain of the ordinary Fulani man today, often unfairly judged by the actions of criminals he does not support, has never met, and who are not representative of his people.”

Referencing the teachings of civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., Obi stressed that people should be assessed based on their character and actions rather than their ethnicity.

He maintained that criminal behaviour is an individual responsibility and should never be attributed to an entire ethnic group.

“Crime has no ethnicity. A thief is a thief. A terrorist is a terrorist. A kidnapper is a kidnapper. They are bad actors, not representatives of any people.”

The NDC flag bearer urged law enforcement agencies to pursue criminals wherever they are found while avoiding narratives that paint entire communities in a negative light.

“They must be identified, arrested, and punished according to the law. We must decisively abandon the dangerous practice of blaming entire ethnic groups for the actions of a few criminals.”

According to Obi, stereotyping communities fuels mistrust, weakens national cohesion and creates room for division.

He called on Nigerians to celebrate the nation’s diversity and work toward a society where citizens are not judged because of their tribe, religion or place of origin.

“A new Nigeria must emerge—one where no citizen is condemned because of tribe, religion, or birthplace,” he said.

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