… As NiDCOM Chairman receives accolade on diaspora innovations
By Rashidat Olushola Okunlade
The Coordinators of All Progressive Congress (APC) and Asiwaju Support Organisation (ASO) in Texas USA, has kicked against Steve Osuji statement titled “Abike Must Resign”.
The group in its statement sign by Engr. Tayo Ogunjimi said NiDCOM Chairman has never run nor discharge bias ethnic or tribal character, statement in course of discharging her duty, Steve Osuji statement is an outrage to cause ethnicity and tribal war.
Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa OON, as fondly called “Mama Diaspora, Mother Teresa” of the tube because of her compassion for the less privileged for her pioneering efforts in putting Diaspora Affairs on the front burner. She is a sterling Nigerian amazon, an outstandingly brilliant broadcaster who later transitioned to an outstandingly brilliant parliamentarian. She is a worthy, compassionate, fair, firm, respected, and courageous leader.
Dabiri-Erewa championed and co-sponsored numerous bills, many of which are now law, including the Freedom of Information Bill, Violence Against Persons Bill, Bill for the full integration of Nigerians with physical disabilities, Nigerian Infant Health Welfare Bill (ensuring free medical care for children under 5), Nigerian Diaspora Commission Bill (leading to the establishment of NiDCOM), Bill to replace the Nigerian Press Council with the Nigerian Press and Journalism Council, Bill to rename the Women Development Centre to Maryam Babangida Centre for Women Development, a bill to amend the Railway Act to allow private sector and state participation, and a bill to promote the advancement of Nigerian women and girls.
She served with diligence, effectiveness, and passion as the Pioneer Chairman/CEO of Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), a Commission responsible for initiating policies that recognize and harness the potentials of Nigerians in Diaspora Networks and Organisations. As NiDCOM chair, under her leadership, she has put diaspora issues on the front burner with innovative programs and activities.
Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa OON has been a voice for the voiceless and remains a symbol of hope and inspiration to many. Not surprisingly, she has been conferred with over 400 awards and recognition , nationally and internationally, for her unique achievements. Conferred with a National Honour; Order Of the Niger (OON) National Award, an honorary doctorate in Arts, Broadcasting, Community Integration, and Human Rights Advocacy from Lagos State University (LASU) and the Nigerian Excellence Awards in Public Service (NEAPS) Distinguished Award for Pacesetter in Diaspora Affairs.
Her comportment, integrity, virtues, and ideals are indeed qualities worthy of emulation, and her guiding philosophy at all times is that success is not about age, it is not about character, it is not by how much you have but how many lives you are able to touch. She is married to Mr. Segun Erewa and blessed with children and grandchildren.
By any standard of fair commentary, Steve Osuji’s piece titled “Abike Must Resign” is not only one–sided but tragically anchored on falsehoods, mischief, and a clear unwillingness to examine facts before reaching sweeping conclusions.
Let it be said upfront: Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has never described Igbos or any ethnic group as “monkeys” or “baboons.”
To continue to regurgitate this tired fabrication is to deliberately weaponize misinformation for ethnic sensationalism.THE FACTS:The social media incident which commentators like Osuji have twisted is well documented.
An anonymous X handle had, for months, hurled vile insults at Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa, including calling her “Mother Ape.” Another user mocked that account by replying with a gorilla analogy. Dabiri-Erewa responded with emojis directed at the user who insulted her, not at any ethnic group.
Mischief makers then turned this into a false narrative that she was mocking the Igbo race. That is the origin of this controversy nothing more, nothing less.To then claim she gleefully labelled Igbos “monkeys and baboons” is not only dishonest but malicious.
The same Abike Dabiri-Erewa Osuji paints as a “hater of Igbos” has, over the years, stood firmly for Nigerians of all ethnicities. If she bore the alleged hatred, why would she:Facilitate the rescue of Alexander Udoma and Eboh Kenneth Chinedu, two young men from the South East stranded in Bosnia-Herzegovina?Lead interventions in Ghana, where Nigerian traders majority of whom are Igbos faced harassment?
The Nigerian Union of Traders Association Ghana (NUTAG) publicly praised her in 2020 for “standing boldly for Nigerian traders, many of whom are Igbo, at a time when our livelihoods were under threat.”
Spearhead efforts during the Sudan evacuation crisis, ensuring students many from the South East returned safely, while declaring: “Every Nigerian is our responsibility regardless of state or tribe. No life is more important than another.”
Engage tirelessly during the xenophobic attacks in South Africa (2019), ensuring Nigerians (including Igbo students) were evacuated and compensated, earning praise from the Nigerian Students Union in Johannesburg.
Oversee the rescue of over 200 trafficked girls from Ghana, of which 163 were from the South East?The list is endless: from Libya to Ukraine, from CAR to South Africa, Dabiri-Erewa has been consistent. Igbo leaders in the diaspora including Prof. Jude Osakwe (NIDO Africa), Chibuzor Ugochi (NIDO Europe), and Chief Callistus Eleziowua (NIDO Ghana) have openly testified to her detribalized, humane and bridge-building nature.OSUJI’S CREDIBILITY PROBLEM.
It is also important to remind the public that Mr. Steve Osuji is not exactly a paragon of journalistic integrity. Only in July 2025, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) suspended him for one year for violating core ethics of the profession by breaching an “off the record” agreement at its Biennial National Convention.
The Guild, in a statement signed by its President, Eze Anaba, and Secretary, Onuoha Ukeh, described Osuji’s conduct as unprofessional, embarrassing, and a compromise of journalistic integrity.
When a journalist suspended by his own peers for unethical practice now mounts the pulpit to lecture others about honour, the irony is difficult to miss. THE DANGER OF OSUJI’S NARRATIVE.
Osuji attempts to cloak his essay in the language of justice, but what it really does is manufacture a hate figure for public lynching. By reducing every disagreement or social media misstep to “tribal hatred,” he feeds into the toxic divisions already tearing at Nigeria’s fragile unity.
It is shameful to suggest that Dabiri-Erewa is running an “anti-Igbo script” of the renewed hope administration. This is a woman with over forty years of consistent public service, a star broadcaster, lawmaker, and now NiDCOM chair, who has defended Nigerians abroad without fear or favour.
Public discourse should hold leaders accountable, yes, but it must also be anchored on truth. Dabiri-Erewa’s track record speaks louder than concocted labels. As the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council once remarked after her intervention in Ghana:“We may disagree with government policies but we cannot ignore the fact that Mrs Dabiri-Erewa has stood up for Igbo traders time and again.
She has shown empathy and courage when it mattered most.”To continue to demonize her with fabrications is to wound ourselves as a nation. Social media mobs thrive on half-truths; seasoned journalists like Steve Osuji should not be feeding them.
Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa does not owe anyone resignation over a falsehood. What she deserves is recognition for her consistency in protecting Nigerians Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, or otherwise, wherever they may be in the world.History, not mob headlines, will vindicate her.
In conclusion, the group urges the general public to disregard the mischievous, false tale of Steve Osuji against Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa.
