spectroscopic:


Duru, with the level of hate going on now, you had better wish to separate under circumstances that do not involve war (which would be almost impossible). With war (the only option I see), you as an Igbo man will not get a dime of your investment in other parts of Nigeria, not even in Rivers State. In this regard, other zones have been smarter than Igbos in not investing outside their ancestral homelands so heavily.

If Nigerians are human beings with any form of human intellect, the word - war should not appear on the lips of any Nigerian discussing about possible disintegration of Nigeria. There is no iota of unity and patriotism among Nigerians. For the past 50 years, Nigeria still appear as a free-floating device with no anchor. Were Nigerians forbidden from their investments in Ghana when Nigeria got independence? If the nation states were to stand after the disintegration of Nigeria, seizure of investments that belong to other nationals will be a diplomatic landmine.

spectroscopic:


I guess you have the liberty to analyze this after the fact. At the spur of the moment, I wished I did not have to say I was Nigerian after the country was butchered by the Ghanaian.

Perhaps, the shock from the Ghanaians indiscretion froze your mind for a minute? . Biafra seems to me a will

Hey! if the boss is a generalist (and perhaps have not worked closely with a Nigerian before, to know that what matters is the individual, not the group), he could believe the Ghanaian that all Nigerians are bad.

Next to being a Nigerian, the next name would be Biafra (after all, I will have no home in Africa than in Biafra if the agitators succeed in their mission)

(also, you do not expect me to say I am from Ghana too, do you? ). Thank God I was bold enough to admit I am Nigerian.

Duru1:


If Nigerians are human beings with any form of human intellect, the word - war should not appear on the lips of any Nigerian discussing about possible disintegration of Nigeria. There is no iota of unity and patriotism among Nigerians. For the past 50 years, Nigeria still appear as a free-floating device with no anchor. Were Nigerians forbidden from their investments in Ghana when Nigeria got independence? If the nation states were to stand after the disintegration of Nigeria, seizure of investments that belong to other nationals will be a diplomatic landmine.

It is good that you know Nigeria is unlike any other country in the world. There is no international diplomacy that would save Igbo investment in other parts of Nigeria.

What the Ghanaian guy was trying to do is lick your ceo's behind, and I am sure you were part of the problem, at a point you probably bastardize other nigerians to your Ghanaian friend which now boomerang.

spectroscopic:

OK oh! I know one brother can fight another. But please kindly show me which other country people (communities, not individuals) that speak the same Language fight each other every now and then. There was a recent (in late 2000s) internecine war in Ebonyi State among the Ezzas and another Igbo-Ebonyi subgroup. These are not good signs, no?

there has been communal clashes since time immemorial even in india but it always happens due to religion bubbles, that goes to tell you that once things that are ought to be amended or implemented are left unattended to then it may to some be an advantage and some a disadvantage and that may lead to communal clash even to people speaking the same language because something has made them different.... That was the case of Ezza & Ezilo community which speaks the same language but a land dispute which was not properly handled led to them taking sides and seeing the differences between themselves...... nigeria was forced forged and should never stand. That's my take

Spectroscopic, HAS NIGERIA EVER BEEN ONE. We are only forcing different countries together. Is there equity and fairness in Nigeria?
Why are the hausas and the fulanis sacred cows?

Why do muslims have the monopoly of murder. Violence, and mayhem? They attack christians with reckless abandon.

Why is there disparity in the cut-off marks for government schools for different ethnic groups?

Why do we have two constitution: sharia and the secular one?

What is the quota system placed above merit?

Why has the fg continuously neglected the niger-delta region?

Don't you know that is is because of OIL and GAS?

Why is the north intersted in ONE NIGERIA?

If there had been no oil, would we be talking of nigeria?

Why the igbo continuous forced to remain in nigeria against their wish?

ayokellany:
One of the greatest problem Nigeria is facing today which is greatly exploited by both military and democratic leaders is the division among the ethnic nationalities. A critical look at the problem of this country varies from corruption nepotism illiteracy and many more but these problems are not synonymous to only Nigeria. In fact nearly every country in the world is grappling with one problem or the other.

What make Nigeria problem unique is the varying need of the ethnic tribes. I happened to have travelled to the East North n live in the West. One problem which appear insignificant but is an essential determinant to a successful revolution which I believe is the only way forward is the divergent wants/needs of each tribe.

What the Hausa want is not what the Yoruba, Igbo Desire. What's needed in the SS in not what the NC SW or NE needs. Until there's unity of purpose among the masses from the North East South n West Enough to force a revolution the Politicians will continue to act oblivious to those want but would campaign on it during election to earn vote.

Sorry to say but you are mostly wrong. The main problem we have is that we are too small minded, and very ignorant as a people. We go to other countries and their orderliness shocks and scares us so much that we breath a sigh of relief when we return. What values do we have? In every corner we are ashamed to stand up to crooks and the corrupt, not if it costs us five whole minutes. We are always in a rush to get nowhere, always looking for shortcuts, seldom happy to think of the public good, act with true charity and not pity, or give or receive without envy or bitterness.
Consider these simple things, our local authorities have no interest in preserving the pavements for pedestrians when it can be used for additional parking. We allow private residences that have only 6 parking spaces to be used as banks or supermarkets, and if there are five easily accessible public toilets in your local government, that is extremely exceptional. We have nurses with no inclination to nurse and teachers without gift or ability. But we all believe in 'salary' come hell or high water.

And yet if we simply had consideration for each other, good roads, education (in a true broad sense), affordable housing, regular electricity... Is there a tribe that hates any of these things? Most other nations developed by different people recognising the public good and working towards that... But in all our 'smartness' we have managed to destroy every positive impression of the country, earn a reputation for dishonesty, and are so intellectually lazy that even though we have decimated and plundered our local communities, we still have the nerve to blame ethnic division for our circumstances.

dor75:
I am sure you were part of the problem, at a point you probably bastardize other nigerians to your Ghanaian friend which now boomerang.

And you got that idea how?

@OP, Nigeria is fake.

It is all about the OIL and GAS deposits. Do you think that we would be talking of nigeria if the oil in niger-delta was in the northern nigeria?

Timbuktuo:


Yet you come to the southwest and live peacefully with the locals. Why not stay in your igboland, all of you. Let me tell you today, if I come across and igbo man with this mentality and a war or tribal witchhunt occurs in my area, I will personally take the liberty of shooting you in the face. You're disgusting.

what stops you from coming to my own land? You should be grateful to Biafrans my dear, we easily relate with strange things.

The hatred and envy by Nigerians is a historic one. Our has never being our mentor. As i will say our problem as a nation can be trace to religion and tribalism not corruption. Tackle the first two and Nigeria problems is half solve.

brize:
what stops you from coming to my own land? You should be grateful to Biafrans my dear, we easily relate with strange things.

Why should I be grateful for Biafrans when you won't be grateful for Ooduans? I need to know that special factor about you strange things.

Timbuktuo:


Why should I be grateful for Biafrans when you won't be grateful Ooduans? I need to know that special factor about you strange things.

You are not about walking this path with you referring to others as strange thing, are you? Keep in mind the reason for this thread, and the fact that the thread owner, an Igbo, is one of whom you refer to as strange things.

brize:
my dear i better wish for a drug trafficking country than a country that does not value human life.... Do you get that

What an oxymoron any Country known for drug trafficking clearly does not care about human lives.do you know lives are destroyed daily from drug addictions, many also die. You can't be trafficking drugs and say you care about human life

spectroscopic:


I thought of that option, but on a second thought, I realized that the boss is not ignorant about Nigeria's image. So I may end up having to defend myself against the boss, and the Ghanaian would have really accomplished his mission.

so in your opinion, it is right for someone to think this way (whether your boss or colleague)?

Ramnon2:


You are not about walking this path with you referring to others as strange thing, are you? Keep in mind the reason for this thread, and the fact that I, the thread owner, am Igbo, one of whom you refer to as strange things.

I responded to someone who said I should be grateful for his tribesmen's ability to associate with strange things. You could say I took it personal. Perhaps, Mr. Igbo Man, you should call your kin to order.

Ramnon2:


You are not about walking this path with you referring to others as strange thing, are you? Keep in mind the reason for this thread, and the fact that I, the thread owner, am Igbo, one of whom you refer to as strange things.

Is this your alternate ID?

Timbuktuo:


Why should I be grateful for Biafrans when you won't be grateful Ooduans? I need to know that special factor about you strange things.

am grateful to Ooduans for having human sympathy and conscience more than the northern hausa-fulani, that's where my appreciation starts and ends

Mamatee07:


What an oxymoron any Country known for drug trafficking clearly does not care about human lives.do you know lives are destroyed daily from drug addictions, many also die. You can't be trafficking drugs and say you care about human life

thank you teacher. i know what drug means and it's effects.... Read what triggered that response

brize:
am grateful to Ooduans for having human sympathy and conscience more than the northern hausa-fulani,

But not more than the eastern igbo?

spectroscopic:
Background:
American (overall Boss; title of office = President/CEO)
Nigerian (staff) (me)
Ghanaian (staff) (colleague of mine)

My Ghanaian colleague and I were chatting with our boss. My colleague and I are at the same level, more or less; each extremely professional, with PhDs to boot.

Unfolding event:

The discussion happened during a dinner organized by our organization and the boss was going around meeting his staff and getting introduced to them; he is a new appointment. I was seated with the Ghanaian whom I considered a brother, and with whom, quite frankly, I have always gone along well. Besides, we are the only Africans in the organization.

The boss sat with us for quite some time chatting, compared to the time he took with others. I presume he did this because we were the only people ''different'' from the rest, and he would have been naturally curious to learn more about us. So he really chatted with us for a long time. In the course of the discussion, he had asked my colleague if he was Nigerian and he said ''No''. ''I am Ghanaian'', he went on to say, ''but Ghana and Nigeria are at the same wavelength'', he added. The boss replied, ''but you guys see things more similarly in Ghana than Nigerians do, as far as I know''. At that point I got really edgy, thinking the boss wants to throw a bombshell at Nigeria, and I am Nigerian.

To my surprise, it was my African colleague who did. Hear him. ''Sure, Nigerians are much more corrupt than us, and they hate each
other with so much passion''. He continued, ''they always want to rip you off your money, and they kill each other in real time'' (that is, in reality) and online as well''. I was thrown aback and felt extremely betrayed, but I could not, and would not, start an argument, with a new boss around who is eager to know his staff, but who apparently knows one or two things about Nigeria (where I happen to come from). You know what they say in America about the ''angry black man'', right? So I was not about to lose my cool.

''So where are you from?", he eventually asked me. In a split moment I was torn between saying Nigeria or Biafra (I am Igbo, BTW). Saying Biafra would have given me immediate ''immunity'' from the problems associated with the name, ''Nigeria''. But then the boss, elderly enough to know about the Nigerian civil war, would immediately have asked ''Biafra? Do you have a new country now'', and all that kind of stuff. Then the discussion would have become even more tortuous and perhaps messier. ''I am from Nigeria'', I said smiling. ''But I am American too'', I added (just for disclosure, I hold a US citizenship see thread https://www.nairaland.com/1974578/received-us-citizenship-today-im

He turned his head and looked at the Ghanaian. ''Did you know he is Nigerian? he asked. ''Yes I know, but he is a different Nigerian from the ones I described to you,'' replied the Ghanaian. I could see that the boss was surprised that someone could speak so negatively about the heritage of another right in their face without any respect or regard for their presence.

I did my best to conceal my consternation with the Ghanaian until the boss left. I then tongue-lashed him, after which I stormed out on him. Since then, he has been apologizing but I find it hard to forget the betrayal, even though I know that the mutual hatred and killing accusations he had made about Nigerians are not far from the truth. Although I do not want to hate Ghana as a country because its citizen disparaged Nigeria the way he did, I feel I have to watch my interactions with this particular Ghanaian.

Lessons learned:

Nigerians should stop the morbid hatred they have been exhibiting, both offline and online, against each other. The world is reading and watching, and cyberspace has made everything accessible these days. Nairaland has been a ''good'' online resource for outsiders to learn how hateful we have been towards each other. If I were the Nigerian authorities, I would ban Nairaland at this point. The minders of this site have done a bad job promoting the unity of Nigeria.

As for me, I do not know if I have made any hateful and ethnically disparaging comments on Nairaland in the past. If I ever have, that would be the last such comment I would make here, and I ask to be forgiven.

If Nigerians must live together as citizens of one country, which I believe we should, then we should begin to actually live together. It is not for nothing that God (or is it the British ) brought us together, 250 ethnic groups. We should make this work.

Thanks for reading.

Though he shouldn't have said all those things about Nigeria, I believe he spoke the truth about Nigeria. Plus you should consider him a real friend, he didn't backstabed you, he said all those things to your face.

busterr:
ghanaians will exhibit their ignorance any time any day without realizing that some times some things are better left unsaid. allow me to applaud your maturity @op I know for real the boss will hold you in high esteem unlike your sissy colleague.

There was nothing ignorant about what he said. It looks like he described Nigeria perfectly.

osesology:
Hmmm. I really don't have much to say at this moment. All I can say is that Nigeria is a very big nation with different ethnic groups, so whatever is happening now was to be expected. And to the Ghanaian guy, if we are to list the top 15 corrupt presidents in Africa, I already know which position your president should be. The pot that calls kettle black. Nonsense!

I agree our when it comes to corruption Ghana has caught up to Nigeria and left Nigeria behind. Ghana is very Corrupt.

OMG @ op am really sorry about the embarrassment you went through.

I would have been equally embarrassed!That guy is an idiot and am shocked that he would say such insensitive things like that in front of your boss and yourself.

My advice is just keep your distance (don't get too close to him). I personally cant stand crass individuals.

As one of the only two Africans at work, you guys are supposed to have each others back at all times. Maybe he didn't mean for it to go that far. A clear case of verbal diarrhea because I know a lot of Ghanaian's don't like to be compared to Nigeria and often times than not some people think we are the same. Either way it's not an excuse for such.

I can't get close with such crass individuals. There is certain things that one just can't say. Honestly I am ashamed that he did that as a fellow Ghanaian American. I hope this Incident will not leave you with negative views of the whole population as we are all not all the same.

Also watch what comes out of your mouth, because if you constantly say bad stuff about your own country then others may feel like it is okay to do the same since you constantly do it.

I will commend you on the way you handled the situation. You did not lose your cool which is very good under the circumstances

JiggamanGh:


I agree our when it comes to corruption Ghana has caught up to Nigeria and left Nigeria behind. Ghana is very Corrupt.

Exactly. Perhaps he may be one of those ignorant ones who knows nothing about what's happening in his motherland. You get those too. I am just appalled at his crass behaviour!

JiggamanGh:


I agree our when it comes to corruption Ghana has caught up to Nigeria and left Nigeria behind. Ghana is very Corrupt.

I beg to disagree Bro .. Not trying to glorify Ghana but I know for sure. Nigeria is more corrupt. The current party NDC was just corrupt and had no idea of running the economy to be precise.. That's what caused the demise Ghana finds its self. We have an encouraging system that when a competent person comes in it will turn things around. Well to the Ghanaian guy mentioned in the topic. I think he has a loose tongue, he ought to apply wisdom when engaging in such discussions

TRAPQUEEN1:


Exactly. Perhaps he may be one of those ignorant ones who knows nothing about what's happening in his motherland. You get those too . I am just appalled at his crass behaviour!

it's unlike a Ghanaian.

Nonsense! What was wrong with what the Ghanaian said? I would have said worse things sef arrant crap!

spectroscopic:
Background:
American (overall Boss; title of office = President/CEO)
Nigerian (staff) (me)
Ghanaian (staff) (colleague of mine)

My Ghanaian colleague and I were chatting with our boss. My colleague and I are at the same level, more or less; each extremely professional, with PhDs to boot.

Unfolding event:

The discussion happened during a dinner organized by our organization and the boss was going around meeting his staff and getting introduced to them; he is a new appointment. I was seated with the Ghanaian whom I considered a brother, and with whom, quite frankly, I have always gone along well. Besides, we are the only Africans in the organization.

The boss sat with us for quite some time chatting, compared to the time he took with others. I presume he did this because we were the only people ''different'' from the rest, and he would have been naturally curious to learn more about us. So he really chatted with us for a long time. In the course of the discussion, he had asked my colleague if he was Nigerian and he said ''No''. ''I am Ghanaian'', he went on to say, ''but Ghana and Nigeria are at the same wavelength'', he added. The boss replied, ''but you guys see things more similarly in Ghana than Nigerians do, as far as I know''. At that point I got really edgy, thinking the boss wants to throw a bombshell at Nigeria, and I am Nigerian.

To my surprise, it was my African colleague who did. Hear him. ''Sure, Nigerians are much more corrupt than us, and they hate each other with so much passion''. He continued, ''they always want to rip you off your money, and they kill each other in real time'' (that is, in reality) and online as well''. I was thrown aback and felt extremely betrayed, but I could not, and would not, start an argument, with a new boss around who is eager to know his staff, but who apparently knows one or two things about Nigeria (where I happen to come from). You know what they say in America about the ''angry black man'', right? So I was not about to lose my cool.

''So where are you from?", he eventually asked me. In a split moment I was torn between saying Nigeria or Biafra (I am Igbo, BTW). Saying Biafra would have given me immediate ''immunity'' from the problems associated with the name, ''Nigeria''. But then the boss, elderly enough to know about the Nigerian civil war, would immediately have asked ''Biafra? Do you have a new country now'', and all that kind of stuff. Then the discussion would have become even more tortuous and perhaps messier. ''I am from Nigeria'', I said smiling. ''But I am American too'', I added (just for disclosure, I hold a US citizenship see thread https://www.nairaland.com/1974578/received-us-citizenship-today-im

He turned his head and looked at the Ghanaian. ''Did you know he is Nigerian? he asked. ''Yes I know, but he is a different Nigerian from the ones I described to you,'' replied the Ghanaian. I could see that the boss was surprised that someone could speak so negatively about the heritage of another right in their face without any respect or regard for their presence.

I did my best to conceal my consternation with the Ghanaian until the boss left. I then tongue-lashed him, after which I stormed out on him. Since then, he has been apologizing but I find it hard to forget the betrayal, even though I know that the mutual hatred and killing accusations he had made about Nigerians are not far from the truth. Although I do not want to hate Ghana as a country because its citizen disparaged Nigeria the way he did, I feel I have to watch my interactions with this particular Ghanaian.

Lessons learned:

Nigerians should stop the morbid hatred they have been exhibiting, both offline and online, against each other. The world is reading and watching, and cyberspace has made everything accessible these days. Nairaland has been a ''good'' online resource for outsiders to learn how hateful we have been towards each other. If I were the Nigerian authorities, I would ban Nairaland at this point. The minders of this site have done a bad job promoting the unity of Nigeria.

As for me, I do not know if I have made any hateful and ethnically disparaging comments on Nairaland in the past. If I ever have, that would be the last such comment I would make here, and I ask to be forgiven.

If Nigerians must live together as citizens of one country, which I believe we should, then we should begin to actually live together. It is not for nothing that God (or is it the British ) brought us together, 250 ethnic groups. We should make this work.

Thanks for reading.