Poison threat: APC diaspora chieftain urges unity against hate speech

Mr Ayoola Lawal-Odunewu, a former Secretary of APC Diaspora Committee Chairmen, has tasked governments, political stakeholders, traditional leaders, influencers on unity and sincerity of purpose against ethnic hate speech.

Lawal-Odunewu, the immediate past Chairman of APC in the Scandinavian countries, also condemned the alleged ethnic poison threats, urging a united front.

The APC chieftain was reacting to a hate speech and threats against the Yoruba and Benin descent by a Canada-based Nigerian woman.

It was reported that Ms Amaka Sunnberger, an Igbo lady who lives in Canada, in a viral video on TikTok, allegedly threatened to poison Nigerians of Yoruba and Benin descent.

In a statement on Friday, the APC diaspora chieftain condemned the speech in its totality but said that hate speeches thrived in Nigeria because many people got away with it.

“The internet, especially TikTok is awash with hate speeches. While we condemn this poison threat in its totality, we must going forward, take serious actions against anyone involved in such.”

Lawal-Odunewu, who called out the government, political leaders, traditional leaders and influencers to tailor their speeches to the nation’s unity, said there is need for sincerity of purpose against ethnic hate speech.

“In reality, prominent political figures and leaders have made necessary calls for national unity.

“While the Nigerian House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Matters has already urged the Canadian government to take legal action against the woman, these moves often ring hollow against the backdrop of past offenders.

“The government, political stakeholders and traditional leaders have repeatedly failed to take consistent action against such related hate speech and bigotry in the past especially inside Nigeria.

“The time for rhetoric is over; what Nigeria needs now is concrete, unbiased enforcement of laws designed to curb ethnic and religious tensions.

“Leaders must not only speak out selectively but also hold the government, especially the state governments accountable for selective enforcement of justice on this issue”.

According to him, the time to start shining a brighter light on this hypocrisy is now, if we truly want a united Nigeria in any form we perceive it will work best for all of us, irrespective of tribe, religion or political affiliation.

“We need not just seek to address symptoms of Nigeria’s ethnic divisions but tackle the root causes head-on.

“We must push for patriotism, unity and government that act swiftly and decisively to protect all Nigerians, regardless of ethnicity and where they are domiciled, both in and outside Nigeria,” he added.