Our Reporter, New York
Mazi Tochukwu Ezeoke, the CEO of Njenje Media Group, has cautioned against use of divisive and hateful rhetoric in the build up to the 2023 elections.
He made this plea while speaking as a guest in the online interview programme 90MinutesAfrica hosted by Rudolf Okonkwo and Chido Onumah on Sunday.
The London-based political analyst was reacting to statements credited to a Katsina-based activist, Mahdi Shehu, advising northern Christians not to vote for southern candidates in the 2023 election.
Recently, Mahdi Shehu was heard in a viral video making the following comments amongst others: “Christians from the North should think wisely, act wisely and behave wisely. You have no business voting for a Southern candidate based on Christianity. If you pick (Peter) Obi, his agenda is not “Christianity.” He could be a fantastic Catholic but beneath his Catholicism, he is a die-hard Biafran.” Mahdi’s statements have since generated various reactions, many condemning him for the brazen ethnic and religious bigotry in the message.
But while Mazi Ezeoke described the outburst as “utter rubbish,” he also cautioned that people like Mahdi Shehu are found in every region of the country.
“It is easy to talk about Mahdi but we forget that there is a man in Anambra State called Ebube Muonso who made a video saying any Igbo person who does not vote for Peter Obi should be chased out of the Igbo nation and many people said no, that is wrong. He is a pastor or whatever he calls himself but his message is as hateful as that of Mahdi. We must not tolerate such messages because they are wrong,” Mazi Ezeoke cautioned.
