By Chris Agabi
The Tiv Community in Lagos have condemned in strong terms the hate speech and ethnic profiling of the Tiv race by a Big Brother Naija All Stars 2023 Housemate (BBNaija), Ms Venita Akpofure.
The Tiv Community under the auspices of the Mdzough U Tiv (Mutual Union of Tiv People) Lagos State Chapter said her false narrative on the Tiv race using the international platform of Big Brother Naija amounts to ethnic profiling and risks a legal action in a competent court..
In statement signed by Engr. Theophilus Terkura Ukaa, the President, Hon. Anagbe Raphael Terungwa, the Secretary. General and Engr. John Terfa Mka Public Relations Officer also said Venita has taken falsehood too far.
The statement read: The ” Mdzough U Tiv received with absolute displeasure a trending video which purportedly captured a house mate of the globally popular reality television show Big Brother Naija – BBN, who is referred to as VENITA AKPOFURE, who on the international television show reportedly said the falsehood that the Tiv of North Central Nigeria arguably the fourth largest ethnic group, as their culture gives out their wives for nuptial pleasure to their guests.”
“This statement is not only a falsehood taken too far, but an aspersion cast on not just an individual but an entire tribe, and we take a very strong objection to this unwarranted provocation against our Tiv tribe” the statement indicated.
“The said Venita Akpoture is reportedly a former wife of a Tiv man from an important family in the Tiv Nation, they are now divorced, thus, we expect that she should know better and despite the facts of the divorce, she is said to have children from her former marriage, as such we expect that she should be an ambassador of truth for her children’s sakes” the statement further stated.
“That the said Venita Akpofure has decided to band up with evil conspirators’ intent on image battery of the Tiv Nation and rather champion a course for demeaning her children race, we demand an incontrovertible and unreserved public apology from her whilst she still has the global media platform” the Tiv people demanded unreservedly.
“In the meantime, we have advised our Lawyers to kick start a legal action against Venita Akpofure towards seeking legal redress for this libelous infraction against an entire tribe” the Mzough U Tiv indicated.
