Controversy has trailed an anti-Igbo tweet attributed to the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, with the Minister denying ever insulting Ndigbo as reflected in the offensive tweet.

The tweet, made at 6:47 PM on 23 June, 2017 from the Twitter handle Kemi Adeosun @HMKemiAdeosun, read: “I’m happy that igbos are gradually becoming insignificant in Nigeria financial System & before the End of 2023 igbos will be Insignificant In South east & Nigeria in general.”

One of those who responded to the tweet, Micah David‏ @RealMicahDavid tweeted on Jun 25: “I will keep poping up this hate speech by @HMKemiAdeosun the Nigeria minister until she defends herself.”

As the tweet generated controversy, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Mrs. Adeosun as tweeting on 25 June from her twitter handle Kemi Adeosun @HMKemiAdeosun that there is a “fake Twitter post circulating in my name, suggesting that I said something derogatory about Igbos. Kindly disregard it.”

She also tweeted: “It’s nothing but a shoddy attempt to photoshop a hateful statement onto my Twitter handle. I did not say or tweet any such thing. Thank you.”

Also in her Facebook account, she said: “It has come to my attention that there’s a fake Twitter post circulating in my name, suggesting that I said something derogatory about Igbos. Kindly disregard it.

“It’s nothing but a shoddy attempt to photoshop a hateful statement onto my Twitter handle. I did not say or tweet any such thing.

“Every part of Nigeria is important to our financial system and our Economy, and as a Government we will support ALL to achieve their full potential.”