My attention has been drawn to the news circulating in the social media attributed to me captioned “ U.S. based Nigerian Calls for the Killings of the Igbos”. This story is categorically FALSE. It was generated by computer fabricators, manipulated and bandaged to create havoc. Our investigations indicate that this horrible story was cooked, seasoned and delivered to get back at me for my sympathy for the Oba of Lagos during the recently concluded, highly contested Lagos State gubernatorial election. At the peak of the debate, there were heated exchanges and at the heat of the moment, statements were made from both sides that could be misconstrued. The subsequent distortion by these sophisticated fabricators is causing significant injustice to us all. To all the people affected by the original debate or subsequent computer distortions, I hereby apologize. No matter what, these stories are offensive and highly regrettable.
I condemn these computer fabricators in their entirety. I further condemn any killings or any acts of violence anywhere, be it South Africa or Lagos. Humanity will judge these people harshly. I work every day to save people’s lives from heart attacks. I am writing this letter with only 3 hours of sleep in the past 48 hours due to the nature of my work and the barrage of death threats on me and my family. I am Yoruba, but I have worked closely with Igbos all my life without any problem. It came as a shock to me and my Igbo colleagues, that I was being labeled as an Igbo hater. Indeed, I appreciate the confidence and support that I have received from my friends and well wishers that know me from around the world. I thank you for the support and your continued prayers in face of this unwarranted and relentless attack created by this false story. My only true statement regarding the Oba of Lagos was taken out of context on completely unrelated issue and bandaged together to create this horrendous story. To prove that I am no Igbo hater, but in fact, I am my brother’s keeper, I will take you through an improbable journey of a young Nigerian boy from a small town to the world’s pinnacle of academic medicine. I will highlight the practical examples of my close relationships with some of my Igbo colleagues all along the way.
At the Univeristy of Ibadan, the first Nigerian University, I received the best medical education that could be obtained under the sun. My teachers were Yoruba, Igbos, Hausa, and Fulani. During our training, we were tribal free. I am currently working with an old U.I colleague, who is a U.S. based Cardiologist, and an Igbo, Dr. Obi Emerole as we put together the First Lagos Cardiovascular Symposium this summer in Ikeja, Lagos.
At Howard University Hospital, where I trained as a medical resident and chief resident, my Igbo friends were Dr. John Agwunobi and Dr. Ahagtotu. Dr. Agwunobi later became the secretary of health to Governor Jeb Bush in Florida, and, Dr. Ahaghotu is now the head of Urology and Associate Dean at the Institution. We were all interns, bound together as Nigerians, without tribal affiliations. We ate together, were on call together, and partied together on Saturday nights whenever we had time.
In 1995, I was a research fellow at Harvard Medical School’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, where I was simultaneously enrolled for Master degree at the Harvard School of Public Health. I reached out to all the Nigerians in the Boston area institutions and we had regular meetings as “one Nigeria.” It was that year in Boston that I actually met Professor Wole Soyinka and the late Professor Chinua Achebe.
At the Johns Hopkins Hospital, regarded as the number one hospital in the United States, I was an Interventional Cardiology fellow. My immediate senior colleague, Dr. Camellus Ezeagwu was Igbo. I went to his house quite often for some “Fufu and goat meat” that his beautiful wife regularly prepared for us.
The best man at my wedding was an Igbo man. Our families enjoy time together and vacation together. I have served in various capacities under the umbrella of the Association of the Nigerian Physicians in The Americas (ANPA). I was humbled to be the keynote speaker at the recent end of the year event. I have also served in our communities and churches encouraging our youth to pursue a carrier in medicine. I have served as head, chairman, director, and secretary in various capacities in different Nigerian organizations that included Yorubas and Igbos for the past 30 years, and not once has anyone said that I hate one group or the other. I currently serve as mentor for lots of young Nigerian doctors. I help them get into residency and fellowship around the country (Yorubas and Igbos alike). As we speak, I have several Yorubas and Igbos students rotating under my service at the hospital.
Nigeria is my country and I am proud of her. She gave me a lot and I intend to continue to give back. I will not let some people create a wedge between me and this country that I love. I believe my only sin was the support that I gave to the Oba of Lagos. As a son of a monarch myself, I have utmost respect for our native rulers. Thus, the position that I took during the debate leading to the highly spirited Lagos State gubernatorial election might have offended some people. For me, this is a lot of price to pay when I am not even a politician. It also shows how far people will go for payback. But, please, this is not a game for me. I have my plate full in USA. I would rather use this time to save lives and improve the health of people, or increase the chances of other Nigerian kids getting to where I am today rather than responding to false stories designed to get back at me for my different political position. At the time that I am writing this missive, I have received over 500 telephone calls that are mostly death threats. Please let us calm down and work together for peace.
I hope my story clears some ambiguities regarding this unfortunate computer manipulated and generated story. Although, it hurts a lot, I will forgive them (the fabricators). We want every Nigerian to live in peace and harmony. We seek a more tolerant Nigeria, a vibrant Nigeria where there is freedom and liberty, where no one is inferior or superior to the other. We need to band together and start building our nation towards prosperity and a brighter future as we move forward to a more perfect Nigeria. God bless Nigeria. God bless us all.
Abraham Ariyo
First, you cannot deny the fact that your facebook cite clearly shows what you wrote. You can only deny that fact if you can show that someone else hacked into your facebook cite and write those things. The question is – who would do that and why? the answer is no one. Secondly,since the write up came from you, what exactly are you trying to show by this ill fated excuse page? This is exactly the same excuses that the racists use – they have friends of the other race. At the same time, they are engaged in heinous acts against those people. Interestingly, you had all these so called friends of yours that are of Igbo ethnicity – yet you find it a must to hate the Igbos. I believe I have an answer to that -you have looked around all your Igbo friends and have found that they are all better and have accomplished more than you. last year, the medical board almost stopped you from medical practice – because you could not do a simple thing in your so called area of expertise. You stated that you had to defend the so called oba. let me tell you this – that oba is an ass. Yes -i say that with clear intent. A person of his level and position would be reasonable in thought, actions and statements. For him to make such unreasonable statement makes him an ass. Your attempt to promote yourself in this piece adds to nothing. You are a mistake and I am sorry that you will surely feed your innocent children with your wicked and idiotic venom. I hope your wife will see through your stupid charade and protect her children from your dangerous antics.
Investigate a Dallas-based cardiologist, Dr. Adeniran Abraham Ariyo who called for xenophobic attack against Igbos the way foreigners were violently attacked in South Africa.
A killer or A cardiologist?
Hitler with the Jews! A muslim surgeon who acts like a Boko Haram.
No ethnic group should ever have to be massacre due to hate for any reason whatsoever since there are legally accepted ways of dealing and settling differences. The world cannot allow this to happen.
I saw, and I reported….
This not an apology.It is all about him and how he is being victimized.A man stepped on a snake and started yelling,what should the snake do.This man has fetched ant infested firewood,he has given an open invitation to the rodents.
Lins
U I is not Nigeria ‘ first University. The great institution was established as University College of a UK University. All graduates those good old days were issued with the UK University Degree.
Dr. Azikiwe thoughtful established University of Nigeria (UNN) where graduates were issued a NIGERIA University Degree for the 1st. Time.
UN later followed the order and left the UK Affiliate and became a full fledged University that awards Nigeria Degrees.
Please the truth must always be told for the sake of our Children.
I have looked at the facebook screenshots, dr ariyo should be ashamed of himself. I am an Igbo man who graduated from UI and run a business in Lagos. The first engineer I employed was a Yoruba. Dr ariyo has shown what is wrong with Nigeria. As a patient, I will not near his office and the medical board should investigate this and take appropriate actions
While I would caution Dr Adeniran to have used better language, I see the attempt at petitioning his employer over this as as nothing but cyberbullying. Yes, the Dr could have expressed himself more eloquently but to say that he was calling for Xenophobic attacks is malicious especially when the Dr had the decency to offer apologies to whomever he may have inadvertently offended, has explained himself and taken off the offending posts. Who are those trying to kill a gnat with a sledgehammer or make a mountain out of a molehill?
A counter petition has been launched at
https://www.change.org/p/texas-medical-board-reject-frivolous-petition-against-dr-adeniran-abraham-ariyo?just_created=true
Please sign.
Thank you
!Africa!Think!
Hahahaha! Your counter petition did not even see the light of the day. It was closed as soon as it was created! Another big blow to yariba!