Nigerian journalist Reuben Abati has responded forcefully to critics following his remarks about land purchases in the Southeast, which sparked controversy. Speaking on a recent episode of Arise TV‘s morning show, the former presidential spokesperson shared his views on the topic, arguing that the Igbo people in Nigeria’s Southeast region do not typically sell land to outsiders.
Abati referenced an incident involving the late Chief Theophilus Okechukwu Benson, who served as the Minister of Information in the first post-independence government. According to Abati, Benson had once shared a personal experience at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, where he publicly discussed the difficulty he faced when trying to purchase land in the Southeast for his wife and daughter.
Abati quoted Benson’s account, in which the former minister said, “I have an Igbo wife and an Igbo daughter. I wanted to buy land in Igbo land for my wife and daughter. I’m getting old, and I wanted to build a home for them. However, when I approached my in-laws to purchase land, they told me, ‘We don’t sell land to outsiders.’” According to Abati, Benson’s account highlights a broader issue: the complex dynamics of land ownership and ethnicity within Nigeria.
The journalist further emphasized, “This is the irony of Nigeria and the politics of its federal unity. The same Igbos, who are highly industrious and thrive in other parts of the country, will not allow a non-Igbo individual to buy land in their ancestral regions, even when the person is an in-law.”
Abati’s statement quickly generated a wide range of reactions across social media platforms. While some social media users supported his view, others criticized him for broaching a sensitive topic related to ethnicity and land rights, arguing that it could exacerbate existing tensions between Nigeria’s ethnic groups.
Despite the backlash, Abati remained steadfast and unapologetic about his comments. On a follow-up appearance on Arise TV the next day, he reiterated his stance, asserting that his statements were based on personal experience and historical context, and he stood by his assessment.
