Ulster Unionist Party pressed after intimidation forces Nigerian out of home

THE Ulster Unionist Party has been called on by Sinn Féin to clarify its stance on racist intimidation in east Belfast after a Nigerian charity worker was forced out of his home by protesters using the same slogan as a UUP election leaflet.

Michael Abiona has been intimidated from his home in the Knocknagoney area, near Belfast City Airport, by people covering it in banners with the slogan “Local houses for local people” – the same slogan the Ulster Unionist Party used in May’s council elections.

Residents claimed they were not racist and were objecting to the Housing Executive allocations system when local people needed housing.

Michael Abiona has lived in. Belfast for four years. He said he fears for his safety if he moved in after the protests and animosity.

Sinn Féin Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile said:

“The Ulster Unionist Party needs to clarify where it stands on this disgraceful and shameful intimidation.

"The use of such inflammatory slogans only serves to fuel racial hatred and create an atmosphere of fear.

"Sinn Féin will be meeting the PSNI to discuss this matter and wider issues around intimidation of foreign nationals and ethnic minorities.”

The east Belfast Sinn Féin councillor added:

"This is not an isolated incident. We are also aware of other cases of intimidation where people have been forced out of their homes in other parts of East Belfast in the course of recent days.”

The Ulster Unionist Party said in a statement late on Wednesday:

“Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kinahan has unreservedly condemned the recent spate of racially motivated incidents of intimidation which have taken place in Belfast.

“It is completely unacceptable that anyone should be targeted because of their race, religion or nationality.

“The Ulster Unionist Party has been absolutely consistent in its stance that no one should be subjected to physical or verbal abuse or have their home attacked, or live in fear of such attacks which are all to be condemned utterly and without reservation.

“If there are concerns about social housing availability in an area then there are ways in which to raise these concerns. Preventing someone from moving into a home which they have been allocated is certainly not one of them.”