THE CABLE NG
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, 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.
— OgaHANS🇳🇬 (@OgaHans) November 22, 2024
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.
But in this case, Reuben Abati really goofed. One would ordinarily expect someone or his status and corresponding exposure.. pic.twitter.com/1oVvSINLVr
— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) November 21, 2024
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.
This is how to address bullies, especially the ugly bigoted ones. Thank you, Ojy! https://t.co/7NR3q76pJf pic.twitter.com/tHkXFzGP9h
— Spotlight Abby (@Spotlight_Abby) November 22, 2024
Reuben Abati did not allow himself to be gaslighted.. He stood on what he said… Ibos don’t sell land to foreigners…
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
— BayoObidient (@BayoObidient) November 22, 2024
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.”
