- Reuben Abati recently stirred up a storm with his controversial comments about the Igbo people.
- While acknowledging their industrious nature, he veered into accusatory territory, insinuating that the Igbo community harbors a general hostility toward other tribes.
- This sweeping statement ignited a fierce backlash online, with many Igbos expressing their outrage.
- Leading the charge was Kenneth Okonkwo, who didn’t hold back in dismantling Abati’s remarks.
Veteran Nollywood actor and outspoken politician, Kenneth Okonkwo, has delivered a blistering critique of journalist Reuben Abati, accusing him of fanning the flames of ethnic discord and perpetuating a long-discredited conspiracy about land transactions in Igboland.
In a provocative segment on Arise TV, Abati asserted that Nigerians from other tribes, particularly Yorubas, are systematically denied the right to purchase land in the South-East region.
His remarks, laced with implications of exclusion and bias, have been met with widespread condemnation, sparking outrage among those who view them as an attack on the Igbo community’s integrity.
In a recent interview with Symfoni News, Okonkwo directly confronted the implications of Abati’s comments, accused the journalist of harboring a deeply rooted personal bias against the Igbo people and behaving in a manner unworthy of his professional standing.
Okonkwo lamented the divisive nature of Abati’s rhetoric, emphasized that such statements not only distort reality but actively erode efforts to foster a united and inclusive Nigeria.
Taking his criticism a step further, Okonkwo boldly questioned the integrity of Arise Television, a network that he claims enjoys immense support from the Igbo community and is celebrated for its diverse and inclusive ethos.
Kenneth Okonkwo argued that Abati’s disparaging remarks are not only unprofessional but outright hypocritical.
His words;
“When someone like Ruben Abati makes derogatory statements about the Igbo, it shows his personal bias. He is not representing the truth, nor is he behaving as a professional journalist. Instead, he is spreading division with his words. This is not the kind of mindset that will help build Nigeria.
“If Ruben Abati hates the Igbo so much, he should resign from Arise Television and stop collecting from them.
“Why work in a place that thrives on inclusivity, where Igbos are contributing significantly to its success, if you despise them? It’s hypocritical, and he should be called out for it.”
WATCH HIM SPEAK IN CLIP BELOW