By Princess Oluwabukola Fasuyi, President, Lady of Africa Empowerment and Advocacy Foundation Global.
We condemn the recent disparaging remarks made by content creators Vincent Otse(Very Dark Man) and Adebayo Debo(Mr Macaroni) against Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, a legendary broadcaster and icon in Nigerian journalism cum astute politician. With a storied career spanning decades, Dabiri-Erewa has earned her place as a respected journalist, media practitioner, politician and advocate, dedicating her life to empowering others and advocating for important causes.
As the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Dabiri-Erewa has made undeniable contributions to Nigeria's growth and development, working tirelessly to promote the welfare of Nigerians abroad and facilitate their contributions to national development. Her achievements include:
- *Journalistic Career*: 15 years of meritorious service at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), where she stood out for her ability to use journalism to bring succor to millions of Nigerians, especially children, women, and the less privileged.
- *Legislative Career*: Served as a member of the House of Representatives, representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, and chaired the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, and later, the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs.
- *Advocacy Work*: Sponsored landmark bills, including the Freedom of Information Bill and the Violence Against Persons Bill, and worked to promote transparency and accountability in governance.
It's appalling that Otse and Debo would target her with rude remarks, disregarding her integrity and the respect due to her as a mother figure. We urge content creators, particularly those with large followings like Mr. Macaroni and VeryDarkMan, to guide their words carefully and promote a culture of respect and empathy online.
To Vincent Otse and Adebayo Debo, we say it's time to retract your hurtful words and apologize for your disrespect. Abike Dabiri-Erewa has been a pivotal figure among many women of value in this great country. With your damaging words towards her in this manner, Adebayo Debo's criticism of her tweeting on her social media platform concerning Wasiu Ayinde Marshall's altercation with Jet staff at the airport, where Abike Dabiri-Erewa's response shared Wasiu's apology video with the caption "To err is human." Adebayo Debo (Mr. Macaroni) reacted by slamming Dabiri-Erewa, stating she doesn't deserve to hold public office due to the tweet. Meanwhile, Vincent Otse (VeryDarkMan) questioned the effectiveness of Dabiri-Erewa's role as CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, suggesting that she was more focused on self-promotion than addressing the issue of human trafficking.
Let's uphold the values of respect and kindness online, particularly towards women of integrity like Abike Dabiri-Erewa who have earned our admiration and respect. Treat her with the dignity she deserves.
We call on all Nigerians and stakeholders to join us in condemning these unwarranted attacks and to stand in solidarity with Abike Dabiri-Erewa. Together, we can promote a culture of respect and dignity for all individuals, especially those who have dedicated their lives to public service.
By standing together, we can ensure that our public discourse is characterized by respect, empathy, and kindness, and that our leaders are treated with the dignity they deserve.
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