Osefo had accused Nigerians of promoting xenophobia by killing witch doctors, an allegation found to be untrue.
It’s common knowledge that witch doctors operate freely in Nigeria and are sometimes consulted by individuals, families or communities for spiritual services. Osefo’s claim has however not gone over well with a session of Nigerians who accuse her of promoting fake news against the country to gain leverage on an American television program.
She had earlier accused another Nigerian cast mate, Nneka Ihim of being xenophobic and dangerous following Ihim’s revelation of a shrine threat Ihim received from Osefo’s mother. The xenophobic allegation has traveled to the ears of us native Nigerians residing in Nigeria and has not gone over well with a section of respondents who have taken a swipe at Osefo.
Top investigative reporter in Nigeria Mr. Kunle has gone out to seek opinions of residents of the nation’s capital and beyond who believe that Osefo is representing the country in a negative light and should be called to order.
“We are tired of Dr. Wendy misinforming America about our great country Nigeria. She’s not being a good ambassador of Nigeria”, Professor Mike Orji told our reporter.
People openly profess to be witches in Nigeria but are not subjected to attacks. In the last political season in Nigeria, association of witchcraft practitioners openly endorsed candidates for elections.
Another respondent, a businesswoman Mrs Margaret Mbamalu from Imo State said, “Wendy is misrepresenting Nigeria. She needs to be axed out”.
“In Nigeria we are free to practice Christianity, Muslim and our traditional practice which involves witch doctors that do stay in shrines. People consult with doctors and witch doctors and do not face any public harm and their children and families are unharmed”, a respondent, Desmond Adeboye said.
Additionally, Osefo further misrepresented Nigerians pertaining to the very delicate subject of the osu caste system. Osefo implies that the caste system that has since been abolished in Imo State, still exists. She claimed that people do not associate with osu people and that they don’t attract guests when they have social functions, an allegation which is equally untrue.
Ihim when asked about the existence of osu also confirmed that it has been abolished and no more exists.
While we are a proud country rich in culture and tradition, we cannot accept such deliberate negative misrepresentations.
Sure, when a name is submitted to a witch doctor of a Nigerian shrine in anger, it is not for a good outcome, however, those witch doctors never face persecution as Osefo claims. This is false representation of our country’s culture and her fellow professors in Nigeria are outraged about this claim.
They are further appalled by her treatment of American cast mate Mia Thornton as Osefo addressed her as slow and too low down for uplifting. That is the opposite of what professors are called to do. Nigerians consider education as a paramount means to pride. We do not condone a Nigerian ambassador professor calling people slow as Osefo has done to Thornton says Prof. Nwabueze
