Tension Rises As Kebbi Indigenes Demand Apology From Abati Over ‘Baseless’ Remarks

Former presidential aide and veteran journalist, Dr. Reuben Abati, is facing backlash over a controversial remark suggesting that students from Kebbi State benefit from university admissions despite lower academic performance.

During a recent broadcast, Abati claimed, “A boy from Anambra will score over 300 in JAMB and be denied admission, while someone scoring 100 from Kebbi will easily enter university and eventually become a permanent secretary or Supreme Court judge.”

The comment has sparked outrage, with many critics accusing him of making a sweeping generalization that discredits the accomplishments of Kebbi indigenes in education, public service, and the judiciary.

Among the sharpest critics is Shamsu Aliero, a public affairs analyst and native of Kebbi, who slammed Abati’s comment as “not only a fundamental misrepresentation, but also defamatory, ethnically biased, and an insult to Kebbi’s legacy.”

Aliero emphasized that Kebbi State has produced “renowned intellectuals, top professionals, senior advocates, and respected civil servants” who attained success through merit, not privilege.

“Your claim lacks factual basis and reflects poorly on ethical journalism. It stokes ethnic division and misleads the public,” Aliero stated.

He demanded an immediate retraction and public apology from Abati to the people of Kebbi and Northern Nigeria, cautioning that failure to do so could trigger legal or social responses.

“Kebbi people will not stand by while their integrity and contribution to national progress are tarnished by misinformed opinions,” Aliero concluded.