https://businessday.ng/analysis/article ... blameless/


The Igbo are not harmless and blameless

BusinessDay

Tochukwu Ezukanma


At a wedding party in Washington DC, an Igbo DJ and a Yoruba band, alternately, entertained the guests. The beat and rhythm of the band’s music was Juju, but the lyrics were in English. The leader of the band attended the same church with the bride. So, on this exceptionally memorable day of the bride, he came, with his band, to celebrate with his sister in the Lord. The bride is of Igbo parentage but born in the United States of America. The gathering was predominately Igbo. At a point, the Master of Ceremony of the occasion, a crude Mbaise man, blurted: this is an Igbo wedding and we do not want a Yoruba band here; he ordered the band to leave. Flustered and dispirited, the band members started packing their musical instruments.

I went over to the band leader, and asked him not to feel too bad for this is the Nigerian reality: ethnic diversity laced with tribalism. I told him that I, like some other guests, was totally indifferent to the ethnic makeup of the band playing. And that some other guests may have been offended by the presence of a Yoruba band but could tolerate it, and then, there were others, like the MC that could not tolerate it. Similarly, if this were a Yoruba wedding, and an Igbo band played, some Yoruba may not mind, some will mind but stomach it, and others will not tolerate it, and may insist on its departure. While there is strength and virility in Nigerian diversity, it is inevitably associated with that pesky, exasperating albatross: tribalism. To varying degrees, all the major tribes of Nigeria are guilty of tribalism.

As the Nigerian information minister (during the civil war), Anthony Enahoro, denounced Igbo hegemony; he accused the Igbo of having boasted of dominating Nigeria and the entire Africa. To me, his statement was inconceivable; I could not imagine that the Igbo were ever that boastful. However, on further research, I found his statement factual. In 1945, Daddy Onyeama, at an Igbo Union meeting, said that the Igbo will not only dominate Nigeria but the whole of Africa. In 1949, Nnamdi Azikiwe said that the gods of the Igbo that have given them the domination of Nigeria will also give them the domination of Africa. That was verbal flamboyance that must have hurt the feelings and wounded the pride of other ethnic groups of Nigeria.

Interestingly, although the Igbo made conceited statements that insulted other peoples’ sensibilities, they lament tactless blusters by other Nigerians that piqued the Igbo. For example, they were unsettled by a statement attributed to the Suarduna of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, which said: it was the British that interrupted our (Hausa/Fulani) jihad. When the British leaves, we will continue our jihad to the south, and ultimately, dip the Koran into the Atlantic Ocean. Both the Igbo and Hausa/Fulani rodomontade were culpable of arrogance, insensitivity and thoughtlessness. They were overconfident and indiscreet statements that bruised the insensitivity and injured the pride of others. The Igbo leaders talked about domination in business, education and the professions, as dictated by enviable Igbo cultural skills. The Hausa/Fulani leader talked about religious domination, as determined by the jihadist unhinged murderousness and proselytizing barbarity.

Rattled by the outcomes of the January 1966 coup, the decimated the Hausa/Fulani leadership and a power shift from the Hausa/Fulani to the Igbo, the Hausa/Fulani unleashed carnage against the Igbo; they murdered thousands of Igbo. The Igbo ran to their home region and declared their own independent state of Biafra. Biafra was a reckless and impetuous enterprise that had no chance of success. As Biafra, inescapably, faltered, and tethered towards a collapse, the Igbo needed someone to blame. They sought and found scapegoats in the “sabotaging” and “back-stabbing” minorities of Biafra. They mass-murdered the minority peoples of Biafra, killing thousands of them.

Presently, most Igbo are angry, bitter and feel persecuted by other Nigerians and every Nigerian government and its policies. For example, although, since 1999, no Igbo politician has made a serious run for the presidency, many Igbo already believe that there is a conspiracy amongst other peoples of Nigeria against an Igbo presidency. Although, most heterogeneous countries of the world have quota system, in one form or another, the Igbo consider quota system in university admission an anti-Igbo policy. That this is a national issue (with advantages and disadvantages) that, also, adversely affects the Yoruba, Edo and all southerners, are facts the Igbo do not want to get in their way. And incredibly, many Igbo think that the Fulani herdsmen, despite their ravages of communities in Benue, Kaduna, etc are primarily targeting the Igbo, and that their attacks on none Igbo communities are just ploys to give an orchestrated anti-Igbo onslaught a coloration of a national problem. Clinging to the lies we were fed in Biafra, we believe that we are a blameless and harmless people surrounded, hated and victimized by murderous and vengeful peoples of Nigeria. And, as such, our only saving grace is in secession. It is this groundless belief that is fuelling the neo-Biafran lunacy and the muddled enthusiasm for it among many Igbo youths.

The renowned American diplomat, John Galbraith, once wrote that, “Every human endeavor is geared towards the acquisition of power and glory”. Power, in this context, is protean; it includes political power, the power of a teacher over his students, a wife, over her husband’s patience and bank account and a toddler, over the mother’s time and mood. Essentially, we are all driven by the same basic interests – power and glory. Secondly, no one is really angelic or totally demonic. In their song, Ebony and Ivory, Paul McCarthy and Steve Wonder sang, “There is good and bad in everyone”. Like any other group of humanity, the Igbo have their strengths and weakness, with the capacity for both good and bad. Like other major ethnic groups of Nigeria, the Igbo, have, in the quest for power and glory, been insensitive and arrogant, exploitative and inconsiderate, and vicious and murderous. And, like the Hausa/Fulani, we have massacred, in thousands, those that stood in the way of our political ambitions.

The Igbo desperately need to appreciate that they are not blameless and harmless, and that the other peoples of Nigeria are not a band of the vengeful and murderous united in a common plot to annihilate the Igbo. This will enable us to value the good in other Nigerians, and thus, resolve to live in peace, and forge a common future, with them in a united Nigeria.



Tochukwu Ezukanma

At All, They Must Be Up To Something As Usual.

Lol. Tochukwu Ezukanma you have now made yourself an "efulefu" and enemy of your own fellow Igbos with this article.

Na 'OYO' you dey with this truthful but unwise reportage because you are speaking truth to the most irredeemably bigoted folks in the world who automatically make bitter and life-long enemies of those who speak against their ways, attitude and actions.

Good luck to you because you have spoken truth to those who can't handle the truth and will never be able to.

They will now notice you fully and focus on all your handles everywhere to then begin launching coordinated and terrorist attacks against you, your business, your wife, children and loved ones from this point on.

They are your people and load to carry unfortunately.

No other tribe is interested in what happens to Igbos. Every tribe is concentrated on how to improve the lives of its people, not what is happening to some drug traffickers and baby factory merchants

RichBoy247:
No other tribe is interested in what happens to Igbos. Every tribe is concentrated on how to improve the lives of his people

Brooooooo!!!

They dont matter at all

Back to the topic, they will come here to call him a SW person disguising as an Igbo, not knowing we dont do that shiii

Oh yes, because a whole ethnic group is defined by a few bad eggs. Makes perfect sense. eye roll

Yet they will insist they are innocent, saintly, marginalised and always "victims".

I personally think it is the Loud, shameless and pugnacious hypocrisy of Igbos that others hate passionately.

Like the child who is always dirtiest, from top to bottom, in school yet forever attacking others for small stains in their shirt.

In their song, Ebony and Ivory, Paul McCarthy and Steve Wonder sang, “There is good and bad in everyone”. Like any other group of humanity, the Igbo have their strengths and weakness, with the capacity for both good and bad. Like other major ethnic groups of Nigeria, the Igbo, have, in the quest for power and glory, been insensitive and arrogant, exploitative and inconsiderate, and vicious and murderous. And, like the Hausa/Fulani, we have massacred, in thousands, those that stood in the way of our political ambitions.

You do wonder how stupid some people can be.

Someone is complaining about January 1966 coup, the same person has no complaints about July 1966 coup, 1976 coup, 1983 coup, 1985 coup or 1993 coup. His complaint starts and ends with one particular coup, in the many that occurred in Nigeria

Someone is complaining that Igbos said they will dominate Nigeria, he has no complaints about being dominated by the Hausa/Fulani oligarchy for the last 60 years

Someone is complaining that parts of Nigeria are bitter against Igbos, but is finding every reason for Igbos to remain in a country where people are bitter against them


Someone is complaining that Nigeria has failed, but thinks Biafra is lunacy. Do you enjoy remaining part of a failed country?

He also said that Igbos have not made a serious run for the Presidency, Fulani herdsmen are killing Nigerians in all 6 geopolitical zones in Nigeria. But that did not stop a Fulani man called Buhari from being elected President twice

I don't believe an Igbo man wrote this nonsense, but if it is an Igbo man that wrote it, he is a disgrace to himself and his ancestors

The only contentment we have in Nigeria is politics!

We have fanatics who always don’t give a fck about good governance as long as they have their tribe man and religious man in power

Politics of illiteracy

gidgiddy:
You do wonder how stupid some people can be.

Someone is complaining about January 1966 coup, the same person has no complaints about July 1966 coup, 1976 coup, 1983 coup, 1985 coup or 1993 coup. His complaint starts and ends with one particular coup, in the many that occurred in Nigeria

Someone is complaining that Igbos said they will dominate Nigeria, he has no complaints about being dominated by the Hausa/Fulani oligarchy for the last 60 years

Someone is complaining that parts of Nigeria are bitter against Igbos, but is finding every reason for Igbos to remain in a country where people are bitter against them


Someone is complaining that Nigeria has failed, but thinks Biafra is lunacy. Do you enjoy remaining part of a failed country?

I don't believe an Igbo man wrote this nonsense, but if it is an Igbo man that wrote it, he is a disgrace to himself and his ancestors

Olodo. Can't you cut and past in google? Anyway, I already predicted the 'reception' you irredeemable haters will accord "efulefu" Tochukwu Ezukanma. Let the show begin.

Nonsense everything wrote here is a garbage nothing interesting.

Igbo will dominate Nigeria and Africa when times come no body will stop us.

So if this senseless Sabo or impostor should get it to his empty skull.

Zulu11zulu:
Nonsense everything wrote here is a garbage nothing interesting.

Igbo will dominate Nigeria and Africa when times come no body will stop us.

So if this senseless Sabo or impostor should get it to his empty skull.

Lol. Thanks for reminding me. I forgot to add "sabo" to "efulefu" as tags you guys will malign Tochukwu Ezukanma with.

This is why his kind prefer to stay away from you savages to remain abroad or in SW if they have to live in Nigeria.

Cubana Chief Priest , who.now prefers to stay in Lagos far away from.ala Igbo, was the latest to expose you lot.

Today he is feeling the heat from attacks against his name and person for exposing you lot and what you do to each other while trying to pretend you are saints and others are devils.

WizardOfNG:


Olodo. Can't you cut and past in google? Anyway, I already predicted the 'reception' you irredeemable haters will accord "efulefu" Tochukwu Ezukanma. Let the show begin.

No show needs to beging except for you Nigerians to allow Igbos go their way from your long failed 'one Nigeria'

Oh, I didn't realize corruption was a competition. Thanks for clearing that up, I'll make sure to update my scorecard.

Igbo this Igbo that...


No word about the two tribes that has killed the country since 1970 till date




Verdict : Igbo Amakamma

gidgiddy:


No show needs to beging except for you Nigerians to allow Igbos go their way from your long failed 'one Nigeria'

Lol. A people who want to "go their way" is exemplified by those same people trooping into the SW and other regions of Nigeria in their tens of thousands daily?

You are the most misguidedly delusional individual I have ever encountered.

...everyday lies, deception, propaganda from the usual hateful , tribalistic bunch hiding under an Igbo name to sow seeds of division & rancour..

..this is a very useless propaganda as they come...no diversion tactics will ever make sane Nigerians to stop callimf out the failures of APCshit & the graduate of Cocaintancy..

..everyday 24/ 7 some jobless creatures gather themselves in a parapo coven thinking how can they make other ethnic Nigerians hate the Igbo since their messiah the thief Thief'nubu is distributing renewed hopelessness on their behalf..

..misery, frustrations & hopelessness has been their portion since standing on a rotten manhood..

WizardOfNG:


Lol. A people who want to "go their way" is exemplified by those same people trooping into the SW and other regions of Nigeria in their tens of thousands daily?

You are the most misguidedly delusional individual I have ever encountered.

So why are you Nigerians trooping to America,Europe, Canada and others since you already have Nigeria?

some slow-poke south-westerners are just too intimidated by the igbos.
hardly a day goes by without them writing some nonsense about the igbos here.

sulaak:


https://businessday.ng/analysis/article ... blameless/
[b]





Presently, most Igbo are angry, bitter and feel persecuted by other Nigerians and every Nigerian government and its policies. For example, although, since 1999, no Igbo politician has made a serious run for the presidency, many Igbo already believe that there is a conspiracy amongst other peoples of Nigeria against an Igbo presidency. Although, most heterogeneous countries of the world have quota system, in one form or another, the Igbo consider quota system in university admission an anti-Igbo policy. That this is a national issue (with advantages and disadvantages) that, also, adversely affects the Yoruba, Edo and all southerners, are facts the Igbo do not want to get in their way. And incredibly, many Igbo think that the Fulani herdsmen, despite their ravages of communities in Benue, Kaduna, etc are primarily targeting the Igbo, and that their attacks on none Igbo communities are just ploys to give an orchestrated anti-Igbo onslaught a coloration of a national problem. Clinging to the lies we were fed in Biafra, we believe that we are a blameless and harmless people surrounded, hated and victimized by murderous and vengeful peoples of Nigeria. And, as such, our only saving grace is in secession. It is this groundless belief that is fuelling the neo-Biafran lunacy and the muddled enthusiasm for it among many Igbo youths.




Tochukwu Ezukanma[/b]

I almost agree completely with you in the other paragraphs. But this highlighted portion is completely false.

Quota system as it's practiced in Nigeria doesn't make any sense. Quota system should happen in places where a certain portion of the society is under represented. Are the northerners under represented? Are they minority? Are the unheard and vulnerable? They're the ones with power and using that power to their advantage.

Why has no Igbo person come close to clinging the seat of power at until recently? Does it mean no Igbo has ever been serious about it? You mean to tell me theirs no conspiracy against the Igbo specifically and the Yorubas enabling it even if they're victims themselves?

So what is the essence of this thread at this time?

At present, the issue is the incompetence of the person at the helms of affairs, but state sponsored ethnic bigots are trying to make it seem as if it is only the Igbos that are complaining with no justification.

To be clear, the Igbos have issues with themselves which they need to seriously address. But so does every other ethnic nationality, major and minor.

I have yet to hear about Igbos and Yorubas having a major fight anywhere in Nigeria, bar the civil war era.

As Arrogant as both tribes are, they still learn to compose themselves when together. And except the narrator of the epistle can back up his assertions with documentary evidence, I see it as another state sponsored propaganda to distract from the failure of BAT and the apc.

Those who keep pushing this destructive and divisive narratives of hate simply because they want to cover the failings of BAT need to have a rethink.

Nigerians are against failing governments irrespective of tribe, religion or social status. If the government continues to pay lip service to the suffering in the land, it will not rest from criticism and no amount of state sponsored racist propaganda will save it from its impending fall from grace.

This article explains it all, the lgb0s have developed "they hàté us" complex over the years and that's why they find it difficult to blend with other tribes even minor tribes.

WizardOfNG:


Lol. Thanks for reminding me. I forgot to add "sabo" to "efulefu" as tags you guys will malign Tochukwu Ezukanma with.

This is why his kind prefer to stay away from you savages to remain abroad or in SW if they have to live in Nigeria.

Cubana Chief Priest , who.now prefers to stay in Lagos far away from.ala Igbo, was the latest to expose you lot.

Today he is feeling the heat from attacks against his name and person for exposing you lot and what you do to each other while trying to pretend you are saints and others are devils.

You’re pathetic and need to get a life!

Your entire existence on nairaland is taken up with obsessing over Igbo this…Igbo that! Seeing as you are so overcome with bigotry and hatred towards them, you and your ilk should support their secession effort so you can have Nigeria to yourself!

A Igbo was last president/head-of-state in 1966! Ever since then, it’s largely been tossed between the Fulani and Yoruba (ndi ‘liberators’ dem), and Nigeria has gone south in unity and all developmental indices ever since! All this, yet Igbo is your problem!?

Ok

JagabanB:
This article explains it all, the lgb0s have developed "they hàté us" complex over the years and that's why they find it difficult to blend with other tribes even minor tribes.

..what other opinion do you hold against those you envy so much..

..you must see the lies, deceit & propaganda as an explanation to fuel your desire for hatred, jealousy & tribalism against the Igbos....

..i can imagine you moving all over Oshogbo on bear foot with so much hatred & bile in you..

Zulu11zulu:
Nonsense everything wrote here is a garbage nothing interesting.

Igbo will dominate Nigeria and Africa when times come no body will stop us.

So if this senseless Sabo or impostor should get it to his empty skull.

You are not an Igbo but an imposter from the waste side of Nigeria.

At All, They Must Be Up To Something As Usual.

I am igbo as well, but i dont like the exhibitionist, boastful and victimhood tendencies of my people. With such an appendage we are creatimg more enemies than friends and allies. I know what i personally suffered when i refused to endorse obi over others in 2023 and when i opted for buhari both over jonathan and atiku.

Most nationalistic igbo politicians havent been spared our peoples collective wrath either. They prefer paraochial minds like Peter Obi and venerate neo anarchists like Nnamdi Kanu. Mind you, Kanu is the sole reason our land remains largely unaafe.

In my local church, i belong to the igbo community. But when it comes to the igbo penchant for exhibitionism and loudness, which is usually a veiled attempt at drawing envy and silent hisses from the other on looking tribes, i hide myself because i put myself in the shoes of those people and i wonder how they might be feeling at our peoples insensitivity a lot of times.

The igbo really need a very strong introspection.

Great writeup. Truth, sincerity, nothing more!

Enlightened folks such as Tochukwu Ezukanma are actually the reason the Igbos are still held in high esteem.

Unfortunately, those who choose to live in ignorance or self-deceit, would always end up attacking his likes, and rather listen to charlatans such as ekpa and kanu.

Nigeria is not working irrespective of the cause. Lets stop flogging a dead horse

WizardOfNG:
Lol. Tochukwu Ezukanma you have now made yourself an "efulefu" and enemy of your own fellow Igbos with this article.

Na 'OYO' you dey with this truthful but unwise reportage because you are speaking truth to the most irredeemably bigoted folks in the world who automatically make bitter and life-long enemies of those who speak against their ways, attitude and actions.

Good luck to you because you have spoken truth to those who can't handle the truth and will never be able to.

They will now notice you fully and focus on all your handles everywhere to then begin launching coordinated and terrorist attacks against you, your business, your wife, children and loved ones from this point on.

They are your people and load to carry unfortunately.

Zulu11zulu:
Nonsense everything wrote here is a garbage nothing interesting.

Igbo will dominate Nigeria and Africa when times come no body will stop us.

So if this senseless Sabo or impostor should get it to his empty skull.

Same thing Azikiwe said in 1949. Yet till today, you are a 5 percenters aka dot in a circle.