Mixed reactions have trailed Reuben Abati’s commentary on
land purchase in Igbo land.
On Thursday, the journalist and ex-presidential
spokesperson, inferred that Igbos in Nigeria’s south-east region do not sell
land to “outsiders”.
Co-host of Arise Television’s ‘The Morning Show’, Abati
shared the story of how Theophilus Benson, minister of information in the first
post-independence government, narrated how Igbos do not sell lands to
non-indigenes.
“Chief TOS Benson, former minister of information, now late,
on one occasion at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs — and I’m
not making this up — he said it publicly, if anybody can contradict me let them
do so… he said something about Igbo people,” Abati began.
“He said he had an Igbo wife, and had an Igbo daughter, that
he wanted to buy land in Igbo land for his daughter, for his wife, and he said
‘I’m getting old, let me build in this place for my wife’.
“He said that his in-laws told him that they don’t sell land
to outsiders.
“That is the irony of Nigeria, about the politics of
federation of unity.
“The same Igbos who are so industrious that they are all
over and do well in other parts of Nigeria, you go as a non-Igbo man to go and
buy umunna (kindred) land, you will be told that you don’t belong even as an
in-law.”
Abati’s remarks elicited a pot-pourri of comments on social
media.
While some supported his perspective, others criticised the
renown journalist for x-raying a subject as sensitive as ethnicity.
Here are some comments.
Today during Arise TV morning show, we all saw how Ruben Abati showcased his Igbophobia. He left the topic of discussion to digress to Igbos not selling land to non Igbo people. Just like a reminder that Ruben Abati was one of the people that fueled the Lagos Igbo hate and the…
— Nedu Ani (@Nedumcity_) November 21, 2024
Just to reiterate,
— OgaHANS🇳🇬 (@OgaHans) November 22, 2024
It's not in the Igbo culture to sell lands.
Land is not a "store of value" as it were.. Land is more of a Heritage.
This is not so for other ethnicities.
To those who know me personally or have been following my digital footprint on issues, I rarely comment about tribe this, tribe that. I don't like like.
— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) November 21, 2024
But in this case, Reuben Abati really goofed. One would ordinarily expect someone or his status and corresponding exposure.. pic.twitter.com/1oVvSINLVr
The lady only asked him to react to the flurry of responses that greeted his claims, why's he acting like she attacked him? https://t.co/YAdMcz0ckH
— Souljah (@jeffphilips1) November 22, 2024
AriseTV anchor, Ojy calls out Reuben Abati over his mischievous comments yesterday that Igbos do not sell lands to outsiders.
— Spotlight Abby (@Spotlight_Abby) November 22, 2024
This is how to address bullies, especially the ugly bigoted ones. Thank you, Ojy! https://t.co/7NR3q76pJf pic.twitter.com/tHkXFzGP9h
Reuben Abati did not allow himself to be gaslighted.. He stood on what he said... Ibos don't sell land to foreigners...
— BayoObidient (@BayoObidient) November 22, 2024
Wait for it... Ibo Obidients will mark Abati for cancelation soon... They will remind him he was once a Deputy Governorship candidate in Ogun state.. pic.twitter.com/S4kmlfOHNy
ABATI DOUBLES DOWN
Unmoved by the backlash, Abati doubled down.
“I have no further comments on that subject,” he said on
Friday after Ojy Okpe, a colleague, prompted him to clarify his previous
remarks.
“I was very clear yesterday, I was very specific, I made my
point, I provided a context in which I was speaking. If people have selective
hearing, that is their problem.”
Some social media users from the south-east had disagreed
with Abati’s views.
Okpe said she was only fulfilling her journalistic
obligation of presenting diverse viewpoints. Abati was having none of it,
however.
“Replay the tape again! Replay the tape!” Abati retorted.
“I was specific about what I said, I provided context.
Nobody should tell me any nonsense. If people have a different opinion, they
have anthropological evidence to support it, they should say so. It’s not for
me to reverse myself.”
Turning to Okpe one more time, he said: “Except you are
expressing your own opinion, and then I will come after you and say you are
wrong.
“It’s not for you to come and challenge me. If you try that, we will fight.”
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayI really don't understand why Dr. Reuben Abati was so worked up this morning against Ojy Okpe. You made a malicious allegations against the most enterprising region. She avail you the opportunity for rebuttal, you became aggressive. You can't paint an entire region with just one pic.twitter.com/6a10l5KrXu
— Nnaemeka Edeh (@NnaemekaEdeh1) November 22, 2024
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