₦airaland Forum

Stephen0mozzy:
Hahaha.... That's how to tell you that these people in the top echelon have zero sense of anything 🤣🤣

Everything na performance - Theatrics.

Let's pretend that these returned prisoners were model Nigerians in Ethiopia and that was why they were sent to prison. Her body language is, we (current admin.) don't really care about y'all crime in another country - soiling our image as a nation - provided we can score points and do photo ops.

Maybe they'll also rehabilitate these one and enlist them into the Military.

Must you guys wail at everything?

Return Nigeria to the era Yaradua met it, pls.

That's all I want to hear, not all these noise and deceit

As na you born the man. Tell me, what is the colour of his favourite boxers?

Christlike01:
Mr. Ojudu certainly wouldn't want his language to be spoken inside an Ethiopian prison—or any prison, for that matter.

Chai! The way some of you reason is simply out of this world—truly bizarre. It's amazing how some people can completely miss the point and still argue with such confidence. If we may ask, who are those speaking madam Bianca's language inside an Ethiopian prison facility? The answer is: CRIMINALS!

Pakute:
https://dailypost.ng/2026/06/14/what-a-shame-ojudu-faults-tinubus-minister-dancing-with-nigerian-prisoners-in-ethiopian/




https://dailytrust.com/onoh-defends-bianca-ojukwus-ethiopia-prison-visit-responds-to-ojudus-criticism/

The Bianca Ethiopia prison video raises a serious question: can a good diplomatic achievement be weakened by poor optics?

Nigeria was right to negotiate a prisoner transfer agreement with Ethiopia. Citizens do not lose their nationality because they are in prison abroad. The state has a duty to protect their rights, ensure humane treatment, and bring eligible prisoners home to serve their sentences under Nigerian custody.

But Ojudu also has a point.

A prison is not a campaign ground. It is not a rally venue. It is a place of punishment, remorse, justice and hopefully rehabilitation.

The problem is not compassion. The problem is optics.

When inmates are seen singing political praises and celebrating around a minister, the message can easily be misunderstood. To law-abiding Nigerians struggling honestly, it may look like criminality is being rewarded with attention, music and political theatre.

That is why public officials must separate empathy from spectacle.

Bianca may have meant well. The agreement itself may be commendable. But the presentation should have carried sobriety, not carnival energy.[i][/i]

A serious nation can protect its citizens abroad without appearing to glorify crime.

The achievement is diplomacy. The mistake is optics.

TemplarLandry:
There's nothing wrong in dancing with your imprisoned kinsmen.
Let's see how it goes.

There's nothing wrong with showing compassion to imprisoned compatriots. But prisons are not wedding receptions, and incarceration is not a cultural reunion.

Public office demands sensitivity to optics. A little more sobriety would have better conveyed empathy without risking the impression of celebrating criminality.

At worst, Bianca's conduct was not an error of compassion, but an error of judgment and optics.
But nobody is above mistake

hi

Gbogboski:
For the records, most of the prisoners are held for visa overstay. They were our young men that japad to the wrong destination.

We have an epidemic of young Nigerians that wants to leave the country by fire by force, while at it, they should do a proper research of their japa destinations. There are a lot of shit hole countries out there.

Our people want to japa to any country as long as you're no longer in Nigeria.Some would feel like japa to cotonuo is arriving in London.This was what led me to Belgium many years ago,at a time when Nigeria was the real Giant of Africa.Na so l went to go and que to buy bread in midi in Belgium.At that time,bread was a poor man food in Nigeria.

Gbogboski:
For the records, most of the prisoners are held for visa overstay. They were our young men that japad to the wrong destination.

We have an epidemic of young Nigerians that wants to leave the country by fire by force, while at it, they should do a proper research of their japa destinations. There are a lot of shit hole countries out there.

I am not sure our Ministry of Foreign Affairs agrees with your assertion.

Oct 3, 2023.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has revealed that over 270 Nigerian inmates are serving various prison terms in Ethiopia, adding most were imprisoned for drug-related offences.

The ministry said this in reaction to a viral video by one Dr Paul Ezike, making the rounds on social media on the alleged plight of Nigerian inmates in the Kaliti Prison in Ethiopia.

Read more: https://punchng.com/over-270-nigerians-jailed-for-drug-trafficking-others-in-ethiopia-fg

lightwind:
[bAll t]he Igbo hater's are on this thread.[/b]

Please, don't go there.

Suppose Bianca were a Yoruba woman, the prisoners being transferred were mostly Yorubas, and they were singing her praises in Yoruba. Are you honestly saying no Igbo commentator would question the optics?

And if they did, would that automatically make them Yoruba haters?

Criticism of Bianca's conduct is perfectly legitimate. Public officials are not above scrutiny. Playing the ethnic card only weakens the defence and makes a valid debate unnecessarily tribal.

Not every criticism of an Igbo public figure is hatred of Igbos. Sometimes criticism is simply criticism.

Unfortunately, for people with a deep-seated persecution mentality, every disagreement is interpreted as hostility and every critic becomes an enemy.

That mindset does not strengthen the tribe; it isolates it.

Bianca is a beautiful, classy and cosmopolitan woman who has represented Nigeria with grace and distinction.. None of that is in dispute.
But dismissing critics as "Igbo haters" is an argument for the emotionally insecure, not the intellectually serious.

agulion:
This Ojudu most be a very stupid man, as if he is not in Nigeria were wicked islamic bandits and Terrorists (BAT) are labelled Repentant terrorists and monthly salaries been paid to them by Nigerian govt, but people with minor offences in Ethiopia he wants them to remain in captivity

No, Ojudu is not the stupid one here.

The stupid thing is your inability to stay on the subject.

Nobody said the prisoners should remain in Ethiopian captivity. In fact, Ojudu did not oppose the transfer agreement. His concern was with the optics of the event and whether a prison environment should assume the atmosphere of a celebration.

Instead of addressing that point, you immediately deflect to bandits, BAT and repentant terrorists.

Classic whataboutery.

By your logic, no issue can ever be discussed because there is always another problem somewhere else.

And for the record, two wrongs do not make a right. If you disagree with the policy on repentant terrorists, criticize it on its merits. But don't use it as an excuse to avoid discussing Bianca's conduct.

The topic is Bianca. The topic is optics. The topic is whether compassion can be expressed with greater solemnity.

Everything else is deflection.

And the fact that your first instinct is to call Ojudu stupid rather than engage his argument suggests that you have abandoned reason for emotion.

Which, incidentally, is how serious discussions are usually derailed.

Gbogboski:
For the records, most of the prisoners are held for visa overstay. They were our young men that japad to the wrong destination.

We have an epidemic of young Nigerians that wants to leave the country by fire by force, while at it, they should do a proper research of their japa destinations. There are a lot of shit hole countries out there.

Even that is a crime..Stop normalizing crime like a psycho! I definitely don't support a minister dancing with prisoners over swaps and I agree with Ojudu. Worst is that they turned it to an ethnic commaradeie event. It was shameful.
Predictably Obi joined the foray, rationalizing crime with japa slang. Shame!!!

You were rejoicing after Tulumbu reintegrate bandits and terrorist Boko into society

ddippset:
As expected, APC apologist would support Bianca, while opposition would support Ojudu.

Nothing is done with logic and sensibility anymore,, everything is based on political inclination.

If you bring an APC official committing the most heinous crime today APC apologists will defend them.

Same way you catch an anti APC official committing murder, people who are opposed to APC will defend.

Are ye sure you read the thread well

And more than 4000 boko haram members were pardoned and reintegrated in borno state and ojuju kept mute.

agulion:
This Ojudu most be a very stupid man, as if he is not in Nigeria were wicked islamic bandits and Terrorists (BAT) are labelled Repentant terrorists and monthly salaries been paid to them by Nigerian govt, but people with minor offences in Ethiopia he wants them to remain in captivity

eepeepook:
As na you born the man. Tell me, what is the colour of his favourite boxers?

Grow up, boy.

Exactly.

Christlike01:
Grow up, boy.

ZUBY77:
Of course she is from that part of theccountry where you can get to be recognized by the government just by calling them out. If not, tell me where this Ojudu measures up to Bianca.

The day Bianca tried to contest Senate in Anambra, she was shown the way to her father's house in Enugu.
Bianca is only who she is in politics because she fokkd Ojuku. That's it.

TemplarLandry:
There's nothing wrong in dancing with your imprisoned kinsmen.
Let's see how it goes.

Bro everything is wrong about this.. first the person in question is a minister in the Nigerian government. Dancing with them shows u are in support of wat they have done. Even if I want to celebrate with them dancing in public is not the best way to do so. Let not support irregularities..

Shameful and undiplomatic act.

Ojudu is wrong, people that are criminals and sent to death roll doesn't mean they should be sigmatize with.

Whaaaaatt!!! Well I'm not disappointed. I understand that some of you are actually using nairaland to think aloud in public settings.

The issue at hand has suddenly transformed into a misunderstanding only because someone could not read to understand between public conduct (regardless of prevailing situations) and emotions.

Maybe I should ask Mr Onoh this and his co-travellers; "Would you maintain decorum or rather dance on the spot of an accident as a lone survivor (even in the very presence of the loved ones of co-travellers)"?

I'll also now conclude that I noticed you only sleep, wake-up, eat, take your bath, drink, read, learn, and practice nothing else outside the news of banditry and kidnappings. How boring this life could be for some people.

Nice2023:
Let us have conscience at least.

May be she should have flogged them mercilessly.

He won't talk about the nation and banditry...foolish criticisms.

People no longer read to understand these days anymore, they only read to give an uninformed opinion. Look at this one again.

PeterObash:
Ojudu is wrong, people that are criminals and sent to death roll doesn't mean they should be sigmatize with.

Terrible, terrible stuff.

First of all, isn't there a protocol guiding interaction between non-prison staff and prisoners? Are prisoners free to swarm around federal ministers in this manner ?

And some people on here are tying themselves in knots trying to defend this?

Rubbish

When can we stand up for good thing in Nigeria, so just because he cud not criticise ur radical brothers does that justify the woman dancing with prisoners, what a pathetic reasoning.

agulion:
This Ojudu most be a very stupid man, as if he is not in Nigeria were wicked islamic bandits and Terrorists (BAT) are labelled Repentant terrorists and monthly salaries been paid to them by Nigerian govt, but people with minor offences in Ethiopia he wants them to remain in captivity

Nonsense observation, its people like this Ojudu that dance with the Devil everyday. Bianca is doing well, let her breathe please.

Her response was culturally appropriate, she achieved a great feat and celebrated with them their good news, in an appropriate African way,what kind of person beefs that.... so she should pack face like a pretentious prude... what's that now...

She shared the news with them, rejoiced with them and treated them like humans... someone has a problem with that it appears

KingPure:
Whaaaaatt!!! Well I'm not disappointed. I understand that some of you are actually using nairaland to think aloud in public settings.

The issue at hand has suddenly transformed into a misunderstanding only because someone could not read to understand between public conduct (regardless of prevailing situations) and emotions.

Maybe I should ask Mr Onoh this and his co-travellers; "Would you maintain decorum or rather dance on the spot of an accident as a lone survivor (even in the very presence of the loved ones of co-travellers)"?

I'll also now conclude that I noticed you only sleep, wake-up, eat, take your bath, drink, read, learn, and practice nothing else outside the news of banditry and kidnappings. How boring this life could be for some people.

This is why and how we know the foreigners in thinking amongst us. You schooled abroad right?


Her response was culturally appropriate. She's our foreign affairs minister for a reason. She get sense well global and local. She was with her people, representing their home and their interests, they sang and dqnced, and she danced with them, in Africa we call her response home training... what was you peoples beef again? She should stand at attention like the warden...I see...

Fujiyama:


Terrible, terrible stuff.

First of all, isn't there a protocol guiding interaction between non-prison staff and prisoners? Are prisoners free to swarm around federal ministers in this manner ?

And some people on here are tying themselves in knots trying to defend this?

Rubbish

This one is trying to sound like one famous oyibo man like that