“In fact, the Nigerian Union of Traders Association in Ghana (NUTAG) issued a public statement in 2020 thanking her for “standing boldly for Nigerian traders, many of whom are of Igbo origin, at a time when our livelihoods were under threat”
By Abdur-Rahman Balogun
In his recent article, Ike Abonyi attempted to hang the false label of ethnic bigotry on Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa. Though couched in seemingly polished arguments, his piece rested on distortions, half-truths, and outright falsehoods. It is necessary to set the record straight.
The “Monkey” Allegation
Abonyi leaned heavily on the tired claim that Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa allegedly called Igbos “monkeys.” This is far from the truth. The facts are simple: an anonymous X (formerly Twitter) account, @VoiceofIgbo, repeatedly hurled insults at her, even calling her “Mother Ape.” Another user responded to that abuse by referencing a “family of gorillas.” Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa merely replied with a smiling emoji. Mischief makers twisted this into a narrative that she insulted an entire ethnic group.
How could a cosmopolitan, polished, and globally exposed woman of her stature stoop to such? The narrative is baseless and disingenuous.
Sudan Evacuation: Facts, Not Fiction
Abonyi also resurrected the Sudan evacuation crisis and recycled debunked claims. The truth is that at the height of the war in Sudan, Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa and NiDCOM worked tirelessly to ensure the safe evacuation of Nigerians, including hundreds from the South East. Her guiding principle was clear: “Every Nigerian is our responsibility regardless of state or tribe. No life is more important than another.”
If she bore the alleged ethnic hatred, she would have abandoned those she is accused of despising. Instead, she worked to bring them home safely.
Nigerians in Indonesian Prisons
On the matter of Nigerians facing trial in Indonesia, Abonyi accused her of stigmatising a region. The record shows otherwise. Years ago, as a lawmaker, she joined a delegation led by the late Amb. Ojo Maduekwe to visit young Nigerians on death row. It was Amb. Maduekwe himself who revealed that 20 out of 21 convicts hailed from a single state, with four already executed.
As NiDCOM Chairman today, Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa has not abandoned them. She continues to plead and advocate for clemency. Leadership requires confronting hard truths. Pretending problems don’t exist will not save our youths from crime or exploitation.
Her Record in Ghana and Beyond
Abonyi conveniently ignored her strong interventions in Ghana when Nigerian traders—mostly Igbos—were harassed and their shops shut. She engaged Ghanaian authorities repeatedly, insisting: “An attack on any Nigerian is an attack on all of us. The Nigerian identity does not stop at tribe.”
In fact, the Nigerian Union of Traders Association in Ghana (NUTAG) issued a statement in 2020, thanking her for “standing boldly for Nigerian traders, many of whom are of Igbo origin, at a time when our livelihoods were under threat.”
Similarly, during the xenophobic attacks in South Africa in 2019, she championed evacuation efforts, earning the praise of the Nigerian Students Union in Johannesburg, who described her as “a mother who refused to abandon her children in a time of trouble.”
Are these the actions of an ethnic bigot?
A Bridge Builder, Not a Divider
From Libya to Ukraine, Bosnia-Herzegovina to Sudan, Hon. Dabiri-Erewa has consistently defended Nigerians in distress, regardless of ethnicity or faith. As former President Muhammadu Buhari rightly noted, “She has been relentless in ensuring that Nigerians abroad are treated with dignity and that their country stands with them.”
It is unfair, malicious, and dangerous to reduce such a track record to a caricature of tribal hatred. Such narratives only feed into Nigeria’s fragile fault lines.
For over four decades in public service, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has built a reputation as a bridge builder and defender of Nigerians everywhere. Attempts to paint her otherwise are not only misleading but harmful to national unity.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council once acknowledged her role, saying: “We may disagree with government policies but we cannot ignore the fact that Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa has stood up for Igbo traders time and again.”
Social media mobs and uninformed commentators must stop weaponising falsehoods against achievers. To continue on this path is to wound ourselves as a nation.
Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s record speaks louder than concocted tales of hate. She remains a national figure who has consistently stood for all Nigerians, at home and abroad.
E-signed,
Abdur-Rahman Balogun
Director of Media, Public Relations and Protocols
NIDCOM, Abuja
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