Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), on Wednesday sparked controversy after amplifying a derogatory post on X that referred to Igbos, Nigerian citizens of South-East extraction, as monkeys and gorillas.
The NIDCOM boss had earlier shared a video of a trafficked girl, identified as Mercy, who was rescued from Libya on Monday.
In reaction to the post, an X user, Wale Akere, posting via @akerele_s, lauded Mrs Dabiri-Erewa’s work while berating Igbos as “monkeys, children of gorillas and bustards.”
“My sister you are doing well allow those monkeys to continue to make unnecessary noises they are born to be ungrateful people. Those animals tagging you they are children of gorilla history told us about them. Kudos to you madam @abikedabiri. @Voiceofigbos see what my sister has done omo ale jatijati,” @akerele_s wrote.
In apparent approval of the toxic message, Mrs Dabiri-Erewa reposted it with memes of laughter, amplifying the derogatory remarks. On her timeline, the post has already been viewed by more than 15,000 people, with over 53 reposts and more than 100 comments.
The action triggered widespread backlash, with many X users accusing the NIDCOM chairman of fanning divisive ethnic and tribal tensions.
Reacting under her timeline, @O.David09926893 said: “This is the lowest I have ever seen in the history of Nigeria!!!”
Similarly, @fybebreed remarked: “I thought this page was being handled by a responsible Woman but seriously I see it’s for her tribe interest. And we will respond to you as a tribal bigot.”
Another user, @MrOzor1, added: “One useless fellow who happened to be pushed into the corridors of authority. You never disappoint. You always show the stuff you are made of, a concatenation of vicious and virulent characters hidden behind makeups.”
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa has faced criticism in the past for controversial ethnic remarks, including her claim that in Indonesia, 20 out of 21 Nigerians on death row were from a single state in the South-East.
He might be right, only MNK’S case can prove it.