The Gubernatorial Candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abia State, Chief Eric Opah, has called on Abians to remain calm and not take the law into their hands over a recent Facebook publication alleged to have stereotyped the Ngwa people.
In a statement on Wednesday, Chief Opah said he understood the pain and anger the post had generated, but warned that no people should be reduced to demeaning stereotypes.
He noted that no young person should grow up believing that an entire ethnic group can be judged by the actions of a few, especially where such claims remain unproven.
Chief Opah expressed concern that government has continued to look away from such incidents, warning that what appears as minor social media provocation can become a seed of division among youths.
He appealed to his brothers and sisters not to answer prejudice with prejudice, stressing that an offensive publication should not be allowed to divide the people or provoke responses that deepen the stereotypes.
The APC candidate said Abians have a proud history of being accommodating, industrious, resilient and enterprising, and urged them not to abandon those values.
He envisioned an Abia where an Ngwa, Aro, Ohuhu, Bende, Isuikwuato, Ukwa or any other Abian does not have to defend his identity before being respected, and where differences become sources of strength rather than tools of political manipulation.
Chief Opah concluded by urging Abians to sheathe their swords, noting that dignity and respect will be restored through good governance, fairness, economic opportunity, justice and deliberate rebuilding of trust.
He said: “It will be well with Abia.”
