During my NYSC days when I served in Taraba state, I was fortunate to meet, live, play football and eat different types of Igbo food and soups I could lay my hands on. Some foods and soups I had the opportunity to eat were Ofe okra (okra soup), oha soup, ogbono and egusi among others. I ate the soups with pounded yam, fufu, garri - which is called eba in Yoruba. They were the best you can ever eat. My fellow Igbo corps members were astonished as to how I could eat such delicacies and ask for more. But they never knew that I had lived among the Igbo in Lagos state when I was a kid, and I always relish savouring their foods and soups.

That is why we need to know that there is no benefit in not telling your story. Our Igbo compatriots must be proactive rather than being passive in telling other tribes about their stories, cultures and norms and ethos. In fact, religion must not be sidelined in it because many Yoruba and Hausa believe that all Igbo are Christians, and those who are Muslims among them don't mingle with others. Such is the mendacity and perfidy we hear, and read more often than not.

After all, some do say we should believe the slogans that say: ‘One Nigeria’, ‘May Nigeria succeed’ and ‘Unity in diversity’ should be our watchwords like a baby starring at a mirror. You don't say these slogans just for impression alone but it must be followed with action. There can never be unity if our diversity does not bring us together. The hate speech against the Igbo today stems from long hatred and irrevocable obsession seeing and witnessing some of them making waves in their chosen endeavours and they are perceived as egocentric.

I had firsthand experience of the dearth of Igbo history while I was preparing for my General Certificate of Education (GCE). The government textbook back then only gave a clear description of how Igbo tribe is an archetype of a people whose society was stateless or acephalous. Back then, I knew this wasn't right and my curious mind made me ask discerning questions from my Igbo neighbour who sells spare parts of 'Okada' in my area.

Another unforgettable experience I had was during my NYSC, I was privileged to teach Social Studies and Civic Education from JSS 1, 2 and 3, while for the SSS class, I only taught SSS 3. I observed rightly that the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) did not or failed to document the history of the whole caboodle about Igbo culture and history as expected. The syllabus was not revealing and my students who are ignorant will ask me: “Uncle, is there no history about the Igbo people?” I could recall my response back then, which was: "They have history; this textbook doesn't have, that is why you will need to embark on research about them." I never heard from them again because they lack access to the internet.

For those who follow the trends in the media, you will agree with me that few media outlets tell the true and undiluted Igbo narrative compared to other tribes or ethnics. The image painted is that the Igbo people are Nigerians but their leaders are betrayals and avaricious individuals who will go to any length to achieve their ulterior motive. They make it seem that you should not trust them with power and the civil war of 1967 to 1970 attest to this fact. Perception and impression matter in life no matter how far you go. Both will count on you. Such is the bias many media outlets portray.

When you also take a cursory look at the perception and impression made by some Nollywood movies about Igbo ambiance, clans, kith and kin, it will make one baffle if there are no development over there, whereas obverse is the case. Those who are yet to travel over to South east or south south are most likely the ones who give erroneous and ignominious stories about the Igbo. The so-called intelligentsia and opinion leaders among us who have met different people from different walks of life still do not have a change of mind due to the badly stationed perception they have from childhood about Igbo. Sometimes, you will stumble upon discussion between two people, and you hear: "Igbo people, don't trust them with money."

Perception about Igbo among some Yoruba and Hausa is that their land is barren; they don't accommodate other tribes, and are not hospitable towards others. To the extent that they don't sell their lands to the Yoruba and Hausa, but they themselves enjoy better accommodation and hospitality elsewhere. This perception will only alter if the Igbo document their history and trends, and what their hometowns look like. Perception is good to convince people, but reality carries more weight on how others perceive you. People should travel as well to the Igbo land and see for themselves. Then, you will know that, “Seeing is believing.”

No one will tell your story until you tell them. Our Igbo compatriots have the onus to provide us with proper and apt documentation of their history, culture, norms, ethos and religion before outsiders paint a bad and black picture about them. That is why George Santayana who is a writer and philosopher, and well known for his aphorisms was attributed to have said that, "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it." Thus, we all need to learn from history and we should guide against all affectations for the good, growth and development of the nation. Posterity, progeny and providence will always judge us!