Vanguard editorial board chair vows not to resign over bigotry allegations
June 10, 2018

Samuel Ogundipe

Ochereome Nnanna, the Nigerian columnist who slandered the Yoruba on Facebook last Friday, has vowed to stay on as the chairman of Vanguard’s editorial board, amidst calls for his ouster.

“I do not see why I should resign because I did not have Vanguard’s mandate to do what I did,” Mr Nnanna told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone Sunday night. “It was my personal opinion. Why should I resign? For what?”

Mr Nnanna said those demanding his resignation are pro-government elements who are desperate to get back at him for using his column to amplify scathing reviews of controversial policies of the Buhari administration.

“Let them start to run the country very well and make Nigeria start to see the dividends of good governance,” Mr Nnanna said. “I will commend them.”

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Nnanna on Friday slandered the Yoruba ethnic group as “sophisticated morons” in a Facebook thread over the award of Nigeria’s highest honour to Moshood Abiola.

He apologised for the comments on Sunday morning, but demands intensified for him to step down after what appeared to be a pattern of prejudicial epithets gained broader circulation online.

Those concerned about his continued stay as Vanguard’s editorial board lead made a composite compilation of some of his controversial posts in recent months.

In one of such, Mr Nnanna called Femi Gbajabiamila, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, a “moral slowpoke” while reacting to news reports that the top lawmaker purchased an exotic vehicle for his wife.

In one of such, Mr Nnanna called Femi Gbajabiamila, Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, a “moral slowpoke” while reacting to news reports that the top lawmaker purchased an exotic vehicle for his wife.

“”Mr Assurance”, Congressman Femi Gbajabiamila, need-to-know info. Out of this N1.3 billion allocated to his constituency he bought a car worth N100m for his wife on her 50th birthday! Tomorrow he will open his dirty mouth to talk about “PDP looters”. Left to Tinubu this immoral slowpoke would have been the incumbent Speaker of House of Representatives!” Mr Nnanna said in a Facebook post.



Although Mr Nnanna’s online rants are largely targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other government officials, his Facebook feed is also replete with what appears ethnic biases, especially against the Yoruba and the Fulani.

Wale Adedayo, a journalist and public affairs commentator, said the Vanguard risks harsh consequences if the paper fails to relieve Mr Nnanna of his post by Wednesday.

“If by then, Vanguard continues to keep him as one of them, it is a definite stance that the newspaper support his bigotry,” Mr Adedayo said in a Facebook update Sunday afternoon. “We’ll be left with no option than to initiate a campaign to boycott Vanguard newspaper across every part of Yorubaland and beyond.”

Mr Adedayo said there could be a potential backlash against Yoruba interests across the South-east, but said that would “be part of their sacrifice to stop the persistent preaching of hatred against our accommodating position in this part of Nigeria.”

Mr Nnanna said his critics are out to smear him over an isolated transgression for which he had apologised, saying those whose opinions count to him have already accepted his remorse and moved on.

“I have already apologised,” he said. “People who really mean well have accepted my apologies and have been calling to check after me.”

“People will say all sort of things, if you pay attention to what people say, you would not be able to move forward in life,” he added. “I know that majority of Nigerians are very, very discerning. I don’t think it is as bad as that in their mind.”

The columnist said he had received unwavering moral support from his Yoruba colleagues who know him in person and could attest to his long-standing principle of inclusiveness and tolerance.

“Most of my colleagues in the industry who are Yoruba are fighting my battle for me because they know me very well,” he said. “That is what defines me.”

“I am a patriot. I love this country. What I do not like is the way the country is being run, it is wrong. If they start doing well tomorrow, I will be the first to commend.



“What you write on a daily basis, there are people who do not like it. Some of them have been meeting , They hide somewhere to try and smear you, but God is more than them,” he said.

Mr Nnanna said he has been a columnist for over two decades, and Vanguard is one of Nigeria’s largest dailies.

The paper had distanced itself from Mr Nnanna and said he would be investigated, the outcome of which Mr Adedayo and many others are anxiously anticipating..

“While we are carefully interrogating the circumstance that led to that comment, with a decisive response to the author, we wish to acknowledge that the statement was made entirely as part of a private conversation,” the Vanguard said in a statement Saturday. “Vanguard dissociates itself totally from such unwarranted but careless, private outburst.”

The paper said Mr Nnanna’s outburst contravened its institutional values, adding that an investigation would be conducted and a “decisive response” would be meted out to the columnist.

Although Mr Nnanna insisted to PREMIUM TIMES that the fallout was not sufficient for his resignation, he expressed maximum deference to his newspaper’s management and said he would respect the outcome of its investigation.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/271845-vanguard-editorial-board-chair-vows-not-to-resign-over-bigotry-allegations.html

SuperS1Panther
deomelllo
Lalasticlala

The yeye man is proving stubborn

That eediot should be relieved of that post he occupies at vanguard or that company should be ready to start counting losses.
I'm sure he's a Nairalander who thinks an anonymous site like this is the same as facebook where you can go spew trash when your full identity is known worldwide.
He's learnt it the hard way and this should be a lesson to everyone especially on our social media activities.

I never supported what he said but some people have said worse in the past yet nothing happened. U know a whole 2nd class Oba once called a meeting among Igbo elites nd traders living in Lagos . The whole lias meeting ended up in an Oba telling a whole tribe they would get drowned if they fail to vote for his candidate in a democratic setting.
Nobody might have replied him then nd he never Apologized nd you know hate begat hate..

So even in my sorry state I still feel that the yoruba elites actually started this both oflline nd online
As if the man resign, all he said will turn to false. Yorubas are good in fighting fellow southerners..
Anyway am quite clear whatever is happening nowadays is a huge advantage to Hausa/fulani grip in Nigeria.

Southerners are really enjoying their chain. 1966 counter coup was 3 billion % successful.

[s]

35824L:
He will be relieved of his appointment before this week runs out. I am sure of it. Mr Sam Amuka Pemu is too refined to allow an avowed tribalist head his editorial board.




Nnanna is a liar to call himself a patriot. He is a disciple of nnamdi kanu and does not wish this country well. If you have been a reader of his weekly column on vanguard from many years ago, you would have noticed a pattern typical of hateful bigots from that part of the country where gully erosion, osu caste system, blood money and mass emigration are the norms.

Yyeske:
That eediot should be relieved of that post he occupies at vanguard or that company should be ready to start counting losses.
I'm sure he's a Nairalander who thinks an anonymous site like this is the same as facebook where you can go spew trash when your full identity is known worldwide.
He's learnt it the hard way and this should be a lesson to everyone especially on our social media activities.

[/s]
Did Oba AK47 mouth / towelhead king get relived of his duty when he said he'll throw Igbos inside the lagoon for not voting Tinubu's houseboy Ambode?

Body go tell you......

What did you expect

#Fire the bigot.

Yyeske:
That eediot should be relieved of that post he occupies at vanguard or that company should be ready to start counting losses.
I'm sure he's a Nairalander who thinks an anonymous site like this is the same as facebook where you can go spew trash when your full identity is known worldwide.
He's learnt it the hard way and this should be a lesson to everyone especially on our social media activities.

I also believe that the ugly maggot is a nairalander. At his age, he has no self-respect at all. You begin to wonder the kind of idiots he is raising up as children.

35824L:
I also believe that the ugly maggot is a nairalander. At his age, he has no self-respect at all. You begin to wonder the kind of idiots he is raising up as children.

Look at all you have said over the issue yet you think yourself better than the man.
People easily betraying their inner content yet quickly point accusing fingers at others.
Just know that your comments so far have betrayed you.

EMMAUGOH:
As if the man resign, all he said will turn to false. Yorubas are good in fighting fellow southerners..
Anyway am quite clear whatever is happening nowadays is a huge advantage to Hausa/fulani grip in Nigeria.

Southerners are really enjoying their chain. 1966 counter coup was 3 billion % successful.

If you believe there's any truth in what he said then you are not different from him and the southern unity you preach is nothing but a ruse.

Igbo patriot.

See where his hatred for Yorubas and other ethnic groups have landed him. He must be sacked.

nnachukz:

Look at all you have said over the issue yet you think yourself better than the man.
People easily betraying their inner content yet quickly point accusing fingers at others.
Just know that your comments so far have betrayed you.

The person u quoted, is a bloody nonentity on nl, not d chairman of d vanguard editorial board

Can u just remove sentiments n use ur brain objectively


Can he just, honourably, resign from his position, already The day d vanguard, becomes a regional daily, he can be reabsorbed! Reading thru his quotes sef, his written English, is embarrassing for a supposed, chairman of d editorial board of a national daily! Not by merit, certainly

Nigeria stinks of hypocrisy. whatever he said is his wahala. but telling him to resign is the least disturbing. to those who are the lovers of freedom did not tell the Oba of lagos to step down when he made that irresponsible statement about the igbos neither was the yoruba doctor told to resign. buhari has made inflammatory statements and no one has told him to step down. its so disgusting to see how bias most of these people are. on Nairaland, its on a daily basis. so whats the big deal with what he said when the same people who accuse him even say worse things here. if i was the man i would apologize which i guess he did which these other people who spoke against the igbos did not. not because of fear but to show that are things we are bigger than. but for you to say he should step down, that person must be mad.

We all know Nnanna will not resign voluntarily. It is the duty of the management of vanguard newspaper to sack him immediately. Anything short of that will amount to an open endorsement of his bigotry.

35824L:
He will be relieved of his appointment before this week runs out. I am sure of it. Mr Sam Amuka Pemu is too refined to allow an avowed tribalist head his editorial board.




Nnanna is a liar to call himself a patriot. He is a disciple of nnamdi kanu and does not wish this country well. If you have been a reader of his weekly column on vanguard from many years ago, you would have noticed a pattern typical of hateful bigots from that part of the country where gully erosion, osu caste system, blood money and mass emigration are the norms.

@bold: For one to be a true blue follower of that Late King Pig, one has to mandatorily HATE Yorubas. If you have no intention to hate them, then you might as well shelve any thoughts of supporting his course.

An ethnic group doggedly pursuing an agenda of hate and bigotry. So damn unfortunate.

Nnanna will be daft to resign. I am glad he isn't indulging that nonsense

When Oba Lil Wayne threatened genocide against Igbos because of an election yorubas hailed him and celebrated. Even the educated ones and nobody asked him to step down for disgracing his throne.

When a yoruba doctor in USA said all Igbos should be killed, yorubas went to disrupt an Igbo owned business called Emzor whose owner Stella Okoli had been quietly doing her business, employing Yoruba youth and giving the state tax.

Abeg abeg abeg

Make we hear word

meccuno:
Nigeria stinks of hypocrisy. whatever he said is his wahala. but telling him to resign is the least disturbing. to those who are the lovers of freedom did not tell the Oba of lagos to step down when he made that irresponsible statement about the igbos neither was the yoruba doctor told to resign. buhari has made inflammatory statements and no one has told him to step down. its so disgusting to see how bias most of these people are. on Nairaland, its on a daily basis. so whats the big deal with what he said when the same people who accuse him even say worse things here. if i was the man i would apologize which i guess he did which these other people who spoke against the igbos did not. not because of fear but to show that are things we are bigger than. but for you to say he should step down, that person must be mad.

Slow down, it's ok to support the man simply because you share his tribal and bigoted sentiments, but he's a journalist and a newspaperman who should be objective, guided and void of ethnic and tribal views to remain credible as a journalist.

Oba of Lagos is not a newspaperman and his throne is not a newspaper selling media house so trading apples for oranges just to justify support for bigots and their bigoted utterances.

Trust me, he will get fired because this is about business and money. Vanguard as a news media org., they can not afford to lose customers because of an in-house bigot and tribalistic clown who can not hold back or curb his tribal worries. I'm very sure a big chunk of their customers are Yoruba and last I checked, ibo customers alone cannot keep Vanguard alive and this is the reason why he's going to get axed by Vanguard.

They have little or no credibility to start with anyway.

The man should be promoted


He said it as it is......

deomelo:



Slow down, it's ok to support the man simply because you share his tribal and bigoted sentiments, but he's a journalist and a newspaperman who should be objective, guided and void of ethnic and tribal views to remain credible as a journalist.

Oba of Lagos is not a newspaperman and his throne is not a newspaper selling media house so trading apples for oranges just to justify support for bigots and their bigoted utterances.

Trust me, he will get fired because this is about business and money. Vanguard and as a news media org., they can not afford to lose customers because of an in-house bigot and tribalistic clown who can not hold back or curb his tribal worries. I'm very sure a big chunk of their customers are Yoruba and last I checked, ibo customers alone cannot keep Vanguard alive and this is the reason why he's going to get axed by Vanguard.

They have little or no credibility to start with anyway.

Have you ever heard of TVC
The worst and most biased television station on earth ..
So what exactly are you insinuating....

Thanks to Buhari
Tribalism have come to stay in the land
The consciousness of the 5% is been awoken to the reality on ground... The hate is real

Why we can't go separate ways baffles me
This country cannot progress like this
BTW... The nation newspapers should be termed APC handbook... It's an embarrassment

deomelo:



Slow down, it's ok to support the man simply because you share his tribal and bigoted sentiments, but he's a journalist and a newspaperman who should be objective, guided and void of ethnic and tribal views to remain credible as a journalist.

Oba of Lagos is not a newspaperman and his throne is not a newspaper selling media house so trading apples for oranges just to justify support for bigots and their bigoted utterances.

Trust me, he will get fired because this is about business and money. Vanguard as a news media org., they can not afford to lose customers because of an in-house bigot and tribalistic clown who can not hold back or curb his tribal worries. I'm very sure a big chunk of their customers are Yoruba and last I checked, ibo customers alone cannot keep Vanguard alive and this is the reason why he's going to get axed by Vanguard.

They have little or no credibility to start with anyway.

i dont support the dude in any way. but my eyes lit when i saw names here who i know have said nasty things about igbos including you forming saints. its disgusting. yall insult people and expect them not to react. and it goes both ways. i see disparaging comments directed towards the se and i choose not to comment. how do you expect one to caution his own tribe about making such comments when missles are thrown everyday towards his direction? i despise hypocrisy.

zombieHUNTER:
The man should be promoted

He said it as it is......

lol promoted

Ochereome Nnanna did not apologise.

He said it's not worth it. He said he has forgiven people and they should also forgive him.

I don't know why Premium Times is saying he apologised.

[s]

conductor97:
The man didn't say anything wrong.

What he said is not close to Oba Lil Wayne who threatened to put a whole tribe into the ocean because of mere candidate of gubernatorial election or Fashola the Deporter, the only person who can deport people of the same country to another part of the same country - He arrested mad people roaming Lagos and hurriedly sent them to Onitsha Head Bridge in the dead of the night.

What Nnanna said is not close to what bigot Buhari said about 5% and 97% but because Nnanna is from that part of the country you people hate (yet can't afford to stay without) vultures are calling for his head..

All of you busy bodies should go Bleep yourselves over.

[/s]Oba received no support and was condemned by all. The man is a morón and lazy thinker to not know when to talk and when not to talk. He proved nwazuruike n nwosu 100% right on their views on their igbo race.