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Banners at Nigerian man's home 'racist' - Naomi Long Banners at Nigerian man's home 'racist' - Naomi Long
(35 minutes later)
Banners put outside a house in east Belfast where a man originally from Nigeria was due to move in were "blatantly racist", Alliance MP Naomi Long has said.Banners put outside a house in east Belfast where a man originally from Nigeria was due to move in were "blatantly racist", Alliance MP Naomi Long has said.
Michael Abiona, 34, was greeted with posters reading "Local Houses 4 Local People" at Glenluce Drive on Tuesday.Michael Abiona, 34, was greeted with posters reading "Local Houses 4 Local People" at Glenluce Drive on Tuesday.
Mr Abiona, who has been living in Northern Ireland since 2010, said he was too afraid to move in.Mr Abiona, who has been living in Northern Ireland since 2010, said he was too afraid to move in.
Mrs Long said: "This sort of behaviour has no place in our community."Mrs Long said: "This sort of behaviour has no place in our community."
She added: "Any right-thinking person will condemn this blatantly racist behaviour and I have no doubt the vast majority of residents in the area will be sickened by it," she said.She added: "Any right-thinking person will condemn this blatantly racist behaviour and I have no doubt the vast majority of residents in the area will be sickened by it," she said.
"Rather than Mr Abiona and his family, it is this kind of vile behaviour that should be unwelcome in our society.""Rather than Mr Abiona and his family, it is this kind of vile behaviour that should be unwelcome in our society."
Mr Abiona told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster he had gone to meet a boiler repairman at the Housing Executive property in Garnerville when he saw a group of people sitting outside.Mr Abiona told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster he had gone to meet a boiler repairman at the Housing Executive property in Garnerville when he saw a group of people sitting outside.
"I thought they were just out enjoying the sunshine and having fun but then I saw the banners at the front of the building," he said."I thought they were just out enjoying the sunshine and having fun but then I saw the banners at the front of the building," he said.
"A woman told me the place should be meant for locals, she said there are a lot of local elderly and disabled people living in the area who have been on the housing waiting list for about nine years, so how come I got the house?"A woman told me the place should be meant for locals, she said there are a lot of local elderly and disabled people living in the area who have been on the housing waiting list for about nine years, so how come I got the house?
"She said it wasn't personally about me, it was about housing."She said it wasn't personally about me, it was about housing.
"She was even asking me if I am disabled and I said I am, but I was wondering why she was asking me this.
"I went through the normal channels of getting the premises.""I went through the normal channels of getting the premises."
Mr Abiona said he believed he was being targeted because he is black.Mr Abiona said he believed he was being targeted because he is black.
"It is not about me being elderly or local - it is about intimidation and discrimination," he said."It is not about me being elderly or local - it is about intimidation and discrimination," he said.
"A housing officer told me they were trying to resolve it, but with what was written on the banner I don't think I will be able to move in there."A housing officer told me they were trying to resolve it, but with what was written on the banner I don't think I will be able to move in there.
"The safety of my son comes first. His mother told me she would not allow him to come and visit me there."The safety of my son comes first. His mother told me she would not allow him to come and visit me there.
"My son comes first so I'm not going to go back to the premises.""My son comes first so I'm not going to go back to the premises."
Mr Abiona is active in race relations in Northern Ireland and serves in key roles in the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities and the Nigerian Association.Mr Abiona is active in race relations in Northern Ireland and serves in key roles in the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities and the Nigerian Association.
Anti-racist rallies have been held across Northern Ireland in recent weeks following a spate of hate crimes.Anti-racist rallies have been held across Northern Ireland in recent weeks following a spate of hate crimes.
It also follows a public apology by First Minister Peter Robinson after he said he would not trust Muslims involved in violence or devotees of Sharia law, but would trust Muslims "to go to the shops" for him.It also follows a public apology by First Minister Peter Robinson after he said he would not trust Muslims involved in violence or devotees of Sharia law, but would trust Muslims "to go to the shops" for him.
He claimed he was misinterpreted, and apologised to Islamic leaders in Belfast.He claimed he was misinterpreted, and apologised to Islamic leaders in Belfast.
He had been speaking in support of Belfast pastor James McConnell who described Islam as "heathen" and "satanic". He also apologised for his comments.He had been speaking in support of Belfast pastor James McConnell who described Islam as "heathen" and "satanic". He also apologised for his comments.