Valentine Ozigbo, a Nigerian politician and former governorship candidate in Anambra State has spoken about the long-standing perception of mistrust between some ethnic groups in Nigeria, noting that recent political developments have challenged such beliefs.
Ozigbo made the remarks during an interview on SYMFONI TV while discussing national unity and the level of cross-regional support that emerged during the presidential ambition of Peter Obi in the 2023 general election.
Reflecting on historical narratives surrounding ethnic relations, Ozigbo said many Nigerians grew up hearing about suspicion and mistrust between the Igbo and Yoruba ethnic groups. According to him, these perceptions often shaped how people viewed politics and relationships across regional lines.
“For instance, we grew up, you are a Yoruba man, I’m an Igbo man. We grew up hearing about this mistrust about the Yorubas and some of us may actually die with this imagination that there is mistrust and suspicion,” Ozigbo said during the interview.
However, he noted that the political movement that emerged around Obi’s presidential bid helped challenge that narrative, particularly through the support the former Anambra State governor received from prominent individuals in the South-West.
“However, when Peter came out, I can tell you the top champions of that candidacy were actually Yorubas,” he added.
Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the Labour Party, drew significant backing from supporters across different regions of the country, especially among young voters and urban populations.
Political observers have often pointed to the 2023 election as one that sparked renewed conversations about national cohesion, political collaboration across ethnic lines, and the evolving nature of voter alliances in Nigeria.