Uzodinma: Politicians behind rising ethnic tension in Nigeria

Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo, says politicians are responsible for the upsurge in ethnic tension being witnessed in the country. 

The misunderstanding between the ethnic groups in the country, particularly the Yoruba and Igbo, peaked in the build-up to the last general election.

Speaking at a lecture organised by the Freedom of Online Newspapers, in Lagos on Tuesday, Uzodinma, represented by Declan Emelumba, Imo commissioner for information, said  “Nigerians are happy to accommodate each other”, except when politicians deploy ethnic sentiments to cause tension among them. 

While noting that the administration of President Bola Tinubu will ensure that Nigeria is “on its way out of underdevelopment”, the Imo governor said good governance is the answer to the various challenges facing the country.

“The truth needs to be told that our politicians and leaders are responsible for the recent upsurge in ethnic tensions across the country. And as some analysts put it, hunger, poverty and insecurity do not spare any ethnic group,” he said.

“In the face of these communications challenges is a common language Nigerians, irrespective of tribe or tongue or religion, do understand perfectly.

“That language is good governance. All Nigerians know that when good governance is in town, poverty, unemployment, and insecurity will take flight.”

Earlier this month, in their quest to douse ethnic tension between the Yoruba and Igbo, Uzondinma and Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, jointly set up a committee to strengthen the relationship between the two groups in the south-western state.