Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo On Noticing Igbophobia In Nigeria

EKO HOT BLOG reports that former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has spoken out against the discrimination and prejudice against the Igbo tribe in Nigeria, which he described as “Igbophobia”.

Speaking at an event in Anambra State on Saturday, March 25, to commemorate Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s one year in office, Obasanjo recounted his experience with Igbophobia during his presidency.

EDITOR’S PICKS:

• What Nigerians Should Do Following Attacks On Igbos — Angela Okorie

• UK Court Finds Ekweremadu, Wife Guilty Of Human Organ Trafficking

• Mikel Arteta Puts 7 Arsenal Players For Sale

During Obasanjo’s administration, from 1999 to 2007, Okonjo-Iweala served as the Minister of Finance and Charles Soludo was the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Obasanjo said that Soludo, who had worked closely with him as an economic adviser, “never misadvised me”, and was so impressed with his performance that he asked him to lead the apex bank. Soludo was the second Nigerian CBN governor who was not a commercial banker.

Obasanjo recalled how he was confronted by a dissenting voice after appointing Okonjo-Iweala as Minister of Finance.

“Somebody came to me and said, ‘Wow! You have ruined the economy of Nigeria.’ I said, ‘How?’ He said, ‘An Igbo woman, Minister of Finance; an Igbo man, Governor of the Central Bank? Then you have clearly completed the task of ruining the economy of Nigeria.'”

Obasanjo said he did not understand why the individual made such a statement except for what he called Igbophobia, which he said remains and persists in Nigeria.

The former president called on Nigerians to conquer evil with good, saying that whoever people are afraid of should make themselves friendly to those who fear them and earn their friendship by being good to them.

He added that the appointments of Okonjo-Iweala and Soludo were “probably the best of the appointments that I made when I was president”.

Obasanjo’s comments come amidst growing tensions and agitations for secession in the southeast region of Nigeria, largely inhabited by the Igbo tribe.

FURTHER READING:

• 2023 Polls: Our Silence, Never Cowardice — Keyamo Fires Point Blank Warning

• FG Moves To Introduce New Curriculum On Child Rights Reporting

• JUST IN: Sanwo-Olu Directs Lagos AG To Pay N5m Compensation To Assaulted Uber Driver

The Igbo people have long been marginalized and discriminated against in Nigeria, with many seeking greater political representation and equal rights.