Mr. Ismail Omipidan,
I read your open letter to Peter Obi with a mixture of astonishment and concern. Astonishment at the audacity to frame Nigeriaโs complex social and security challenges through such a narrow lens, and concern at how easily narratives like yours thinly disguised as patriotism can mislead the public and embolden those who ignore facts.
First, your repeated claim that Peter Obi โopenly and discreetly canvassed for votes along religious linesโ in the 2023 presidential election is reckless and unsubstantiated. Assertions without evidence are not journalism they are insinuations. Your letter smacks of partisan bias, seeking to paint a political figure as morally suspect while claiming authority to judge the nation. Such claims contribute to division and undermine the very national unity you profess to defend.
Second, your dismissal of genocide claims in Nigeria as โmisplacedโ is deeply troubling. You rely on personal anecdotes like the presence of Igbo communities in Borno or local dynamics in Benue to argue that Christians are not under existential threat. This is selective reasoning. Violence in Nigeria is multifaceted and affects Christians, Muslims, and other groups across various regions. Denying systemic patterns of violence by focusing on isolated examples trivializes the lived experiences of victims and dangerously misrepresents reality.
Third, your critique of the United Statesโ position on Nigeria while simultaneously citing your personal experiences as โproofโ of the countryโs immunity from genocide reflects a misunderstanding of both international concern and the scope of domestic crises. Observing a few communities is not the same as analyzing structural patterns of violence. To claim otherwise is not only misleading but borders on denial of documented human suffering.
Fourth, your argument that traditional rulers, local businessmen, or families in places like Sankera could singlehandedly end mass violence is naive at best. Criminal networks in Nigeria are sophisticated, often transnational, and exploit weaknesses in governance and security institutions. Reducing systemic failure to a moral failure of a few local actors ignores the realities of insecurity and oversimplifies a problem that requires strategic, national solutions.
Fifth, your letter assumes Peter Obi or any leader owes moral validation to you personally in defending the country against what you deem a โmisplacedโ genocide claim. This paternalistic framing is both arrogant and counterproductive. Defending Nigeria requires confronting uncomfortable truths, acknowledging failures, and holding all actors accountable. Silencing or ridiculing legitimate concerns under the guise of patriotism does not protect the country it endangers it.
Finally, your letter, while claiming to serve Nigeriaโs interests, selectively tells a story that absolves certain actors, demonizes others, and conveniently ignores the broader context. Patriotism is not about suppressing criticism or cherry-picking facts; it is about confronting challenges honestly and seeking solutions that protect all citizens. Your narrative, however, prioritizes personal opinion over truth and oversimplifies a crisis that demands careful attention.
Nigeria deserves leaders and commentators who rise above selective storytelling and engage the countryโs problems with integrity and courage. Reducing national tragedy to personal anecdotes or partisan points is not patriotism it is negligence.
Oluwatosin Babatunde
Journalist, Public Commentator, Advocate of Good Governance
babatosin247@gmail.com
