Victor EzejaThe joint body of South-east Council of Traditional Rulers, and Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops on Peace and Conflict Resolution has called on the National Assembly to create a law that criminalises hate speech and ethnic profiling in Nigeria.
The group also urged the federal government to immediately sanction and prosecute all those using hate speech and ethnic profiling against Ndigbo and other ethnic groups in the country.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe group made the call in a statement signed by His Majesty, Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha and Chairman, Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council; His Majesty, Igwe L. O. C. Agubuzu, Chairman, Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council; Most Rev. Dr. Valerian Maduka Okeke, Catholic Archbishop of Onitsha; and Most Rev. Dr. Chibuzo R. Opoko, Methodist Archbishop of Umuahia.
The group’s call comes on the heels of recent resurgence of ethnic profiling targeted at Igbo people living in South-western part of Nigeria.
Prior to the commencement of the #EndBadGovernance protest across the country, some individuals had used social media to threaten Igbo people to leave Lagos and other South-west state under the #IgboMustGo.
The South-east traditional rulers’ council and bishops commended President Bola Tinubu for condemning ethnic bigotry and threats against any section of the country during his 4 August nationwide address.
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They however said the Federal Government needs to take concrete action to urgently address the issue of hate speech and ethnic profiling, stressing that it is not “specifically linked to the #EndBadGovernance protests but has rather become a recurring theme of Nigeria’s socio-political turbulence.”
They therefore recommended that the government should create laws and other concrete measures that would decisively deal with ethnic bigotry, warning that history has shown that “unchecked hostility can lead to catastrophic consequences such as the tragic events of the Rwandan genocide and the Nigeria Civil War” and should not allow a repeat of such.
The group said: “We, the Joint Body of the South-East Council of Traditional Rulers and Representatives of Igbo Archbishops and Bishops on Peace and Conflict Resolution (the Joint Body), are gravely concerned by the resurgent escalation of hate speech and ethnic profiling targeting the Ndigbo community. Such actions are not only divisive but also pose a significant threat to the unity and stability of Nigeria.”
Call for Legislative Action
“We urge the Government to immediately sanction and prosecute all those using and supporting the use of hate speech and ethnic profiling against Ndigbo and other ethnic groups.
“We also urge the National Assembly to expedite the passage of comprehensive legislation that criminalizes hate speech and ethnic profiling, with stringent penalties for offenders,” the joint body of South-east traditional rulers and religious leaders stated.
Awareness of Dangers of Ethnic Bigotry
The group also called for a nationwide campaign to educate citizens on the dangers of hate speech and the importance of ethnic harmony.
“This can be achieved through public service announcements, workshops, seminars, media and community outreach. All lovers of peace in Nigeria should undertake or support this at individual and corporate levels,” it suggested.
The group charged community leaders, traditional rulers, and religious leaders across Nigeria to initiate dialogue sessions within their communities to promote understanding and cooperation among different ethnic groups.
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The group also urged the media to adopt a code of conduct that discourages the dissemination of divisive content and encourage reporting that create peace and harmony between communities.
They also called on law enforcement agencies to step up efforts in tackling threats emanating from hate speech and ethnic profiling, adding that “Perpetrators must be held accountable to deter others from engaging in such harmful behaviour.”
The group implored all Nigerians to remember the horrors of the past and see the need to work together to build a future based on mutual respect, understanding, and unity, emphasizing that the strength of the country lies in its diversity, “and it is only through embracing this diversity that we can achieve lasting peace and progress.
“Let us heed the lessons of Rwanda and the Nigeria Civil War, recognizing that the path of division and hatred leads only to destruction. Together, we can create a Nigeria where every citizen, irrespective of ethnic background, can thrive in an atmosphere of peace and harmony,” the group added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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