Lilian Onoh has gone mad again!
By Moradeke Kolawole
Lilian Onoh has once again crawled out with noise instead of substance, rage instead of reason, and abuse instead of answers. This latest outburst does not advance her argument; it exposes her desperation. When facts refuse to bend, she resorts to theatrics.
Let it be clearly stated from the outset: Abike Dabiri-Erewa does not have the luxury of trading insults with a chronically unemployed former diplomat who has turned public commentary into a full-time coping mechanism. Abike Dabiri-Erewa is currently heading a federal agency, dealing with Nigerians in distress across continents, managing real crises, real policies, and real responsibilities. She does not have the time, nor the obligation, to go back and forth with someone whose most consistent output in recent years has been bitterness masquerading as opinion.
Lilian Onoh, on the other hand, appears to have nothing but time. Time to write long, abusive essays. Time to hurl unhinged accusations. Time to manufacture conspiracies. And plenty of time to avoid addressing the serious allegations that trail her public record. Since she has all this time, perhaps she could also use it to search for people who actually agree with Abike Dabiri-Erewa and are cheering her work in assisting Nigerians in the diaspora — like the Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Tochukwu Okere (Owerri, Imo), Senator Victor Umeh (Immediate past Chairman) Senate Committee on Diaspora (Anambra) and members, among numerous others, home and in the diaspora who have consistently commended the honourable lady Abike for her tireless efforts to protect Nigerians abroad, coordinate evacuations, and advance diaspora investments.
According to court filings reported by SaharaReporters, Onoh told a U.S. District Court that she is seeking permanent residence in Texas and asylum as a “diplomat in danger,” insisting that reports about her alleged corruption have made it unsafe for her to return to Nigeria. In sworn affidavits, she claimed she wants to stay in the United States permanently, citing emotional distress, fear for her safety, and reputational damage.
RIGHT OF REPLY: Lilian Onoh, stop your rabid tribal bigotry
Abike Dabiri Erewa, please inspect list of Nigerians deported by the U.S.
So let us be clear: the same woman screaming about patriotism and moral superiority is simultaneously telling a foreign court that Nigeria is too dangerous for her to return to. The same woman attacking public officers still serving Nigeria openly admits she has abandoned any plan of retiring at home. That contradiction alone disqualifies her from lecturing anyone about national interest.
More damning is the fact that Onoh reportedly denied ever being indicted for financial misconduct. Yet SaharaReporters published official documents from the Federal Civil Service Commission indicating her suspension for gross financial misappropriation and fraud, pending further disciplinary action. The report referenced committee findings, refund directives, and specific sums allegedly misapplied during her tenure as ambassador. These are not rumours whispered on social media. They are documented claims backed by official correspondence.
Instead of addressing these facts, Onoh has chosen to shout at everyone else. She throws around words like “bigotry,” “hatred,” and “jingoism” in a desperate attempt to change the subject. But insults are not rebuttals. Volume is not evidence. And hysteria is not credibility.
Her recent response to criticism follows a predictable pattern: evade the allegations, personalise the argument, weaponise ethnicity, and escalate abuse. It is the behaviour of someone fighting relevance, not someone standing on truth. It is also the behaviour of someone who is deeply unsettled by the weight of her own record.
A particularly egregious example of Onoh’s misrepresentation is her obsession with the August 3, 2025 Arise TV interview. Lilian continues to insist that Abike Dabiri-Erewa unfairly labelled an entire ethnic group as criminals. For clarity, here is what was actually said:
“In Indonesia, we had 21 Nigerians on death row. 20 were from one state in the South East, and one from Edo State. But that doesn’t mean everyone in that state is a criminal. If a few Nigerians commit crimes abroad, they should be punished individually, and it is unfair to generalize and attribute that crime to all Nigerians in the region. What about those thousands of Nigerians that are developing these countries? What about those thousands of Nigerians that, if they leave, would significantly impact the countries they serve? Those are the stories we celebrate. However, the media is only interested in the bad news that trends.” – Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairperson of NiDCOM
Notice the nuance: Abike Dabiri-Erewa explicitly condemned generalisation, recognised positive contributions by Nigerians abroad, and cautioned against tribal stereotyping. Yet Lilian has chosen to twist this into an accusation of ethnic bias, blinded by personal bitterness and obsession.
Facts remain sacred; opinion is free. And the facts are clear: Abike Dabiri-Erewa has consistently stood with Nigerians, irrespective of state or ethnic group, in moments of fear and vulnerability—from xenophobic violence in South Africa to the chaos of war in Ukraine. Every Nigerian life matters equally under her watch. As Toby Moses rightly noted: “Abike Dabiri-Erewa is no ethnic bigot.”
Beyond statements, Abike Dabiri-Erewa’s record shows real, measurable impact:
Coordinating evacuation of Nigerians from conflict zones and natural disasters.
Handling distress cases for citizens trapped abroad, often at personal cost.
Elevating diaspora investment initiatives, creating platforms for Nigerians abroad to contribute to national development.
Ensuring institutional support for Nigerians in situations that would otherwise be ignored.
This is governance. This is service. And it is in stark contrast to Onoh, whose record of public service is overshadowed by allegations of financial misconduct, court battles abroad, and a self-imposed exile that contradicts the moral high ground she claims to occupy.
It cannot be overstated: Abike Dabiri-Erewa does not owe Lilian Onoh a debate. She does not owe her attention. And she certainly does not owe her dignity in response to reckless abuse. Governance is not a street fight, and public service is not a comment section.
If Lilian Onoh has issues, she should resolve them with the documents, the courts, and the facts she has sworn to under oath. Screaming at people who still have jobs will not rewrite her history. Attacking others will not erase committee reports. Pretending to be a victim will not nullify official letters bearing her name.
This is not about silencing criticism. It is about credibility. And at this point, Lilian Onoh’s credibility is in free fall. Her fixation, plagiarism, and manufactured outrage only underscore the contrast between someone obsessed with petty grievance and a public servant focused on delivering results for Nigerians at home and in the diaspora.
Nigeria deserves serious discourse, not the angry ramblings of a disgruntled ex-official who has confused personal collapse with national debate. Until she confronts the substance of what has been reported about her, every new outburst will only reinforce what is already obvious to the public.
This is not courage. This is not truth. This is a meltdown.
- Moradeke Kolawole can be reached via email: moradekekolawole19@gmail.com
