Fifty years after the civil war ended, Igbos do not yet feel a sense of belonging, acceptance or safety in the Federation called Nigeria. The sad part is that this belief is shared not just by the generation that witnessed the war and its deadly consequences, but Igbos across all generations, including the millennials who have been socialized into believing that there is a gap between their people and other Nigerians.

Let us not deceive ourselves about certain plain truths. The civil war is perhaps the most remarkable incident in Igbo history in the last century. The pain, the loss, all about it, is deeply imprinted in the Igbo consciousness. Whereas the Igbo nation has shown great resourcefulness since the war, and its people have proven to be enterprising and determined to hold their own in every sphere of life, including outstanding contributions to the making of the Nigerian state, there are Nigerians who still regard and treat the Igbo suspiciously.

Anti-Igbo sentiment may not be so openly expressed, but it is usually something beneath the surface. There are landlords in many parts of Nigeria, for example, who will never rent out their property to an Igbo man. The Igbo tenant is easily stigmatized. I have heard people complain that Igbo tenants are too stubborn or that when you rent a room to an Igbo man, he will end up sub-letting that one room to all kinds of persons from his village, putting pressure on the property’s limited facilities.

Some landlords insist that an Igbo tenant could even start eyeing the property, to buy it off the landlord, or if it is a shop, the Igbo trader would end up renting the entire street, and could turn the street into an Igbo neigbourhood. This stigma has been a source of agony for many Igbos seeking accommodation, particularly in Lagos, but it is of course completely baseless stereotyping. There are good and bad persons from virtually every Nigerian ethnic group.

The stereotyping of the Igbo person can also be found in the political arena. It is assumed by some persons, and such statements have been made to my hearing, that the only reason an Igbo man cannot be President of Nigeria is because every Igbo man sees himself as a potential President, and should the Presidency be zoned to the South East, the struggle for the ticket could result in inter-community strife in Igboland. The name of the group is Igbo, but when other Nigerians want to be mischievous, or perhaps out of ignorance, they refer to Igbos as Ibo, and when you try to correct them, they may insist you don’t seem to understand. It is I-Before-Others (IBO).

Igbos have also been held responsible for all sorts of things, kidnapping, drug trafficking, child trafficking, armed robbery – even when there are criminals from virtually every community in Nigeria. Meanwhile, they are one of the most vertically educated ethnic groups in Nigeria, and the most enterprising in all fields. A friend once said that if you enter any community in Nigeria and you don’t have an Igbo man running a small shop there, or engaged in some other kind of business, then you have no business staying in that community. Igbos are also obviously the most integrated ethnic group in Nigeria, which is why it is ironic that they are also the most vilified.

I wrote what I considered a harmless piece recently in which I referred to the declaration of Biafra in 1967 and quoted excerpts from the Ahiara Declaration. I got a phone call from a friend who declared that I should stop encouraging these “Biafrans”. Nothing I said made sense to him.
“You don’t know those people”, he declared.
“I know people from all parts of Nigeria,” I said.
“You don’t know Igbos. Has there been any problem in this country that you know in which Igbos have not been involved? They have started again, heating up the polity with threats of secession.”
“It is a sign that all is not well with Nigeria,” I retorted.
“Don’t mind them. I don’t think anybody wants to secede. If Igbos really want to secede, you think it is Nnamdi Kanu that will be speaking for them?”

“It takes just one illuminated soul to start a revolution.”
“Don’t bring that line. Everything is not textbook, this man. Just tell those Igbos not to include my people in whatever they are looking for. We are their neighbours. They dragged us into the civil war. This time around, they’ve gone to draw a map, including my people. Biafra does not extend to the South-South. We are just looking at them.”
“Biafra is an idea.”

“I don’t want to hear all these textbook things, I have told you. Which idea? See, most Nigerians do not support Biafra. They think Igbos are just playing games. I’ll send you some other articles written by other Nigerians and you’d see what I am talking about. People are angry that anybody will be talking about secession in 2017! Nigerians are fed up with Igbos and their games. President Jonathan gave them everything but on election day, many of them stayed at home and refused to vote. Now, they are talking secession.”
“But Yorubas are also talking about Oduduwa Republic.”

“The Yoruba are not going anywhere. What they want is restructuring, fiscal federalism. Which Oduduwa Republic?”
“The people of the Middle Belt are also aggrieved.”
“Anybody can be aggrieved. You can’t please Nigerians. And some of these things are political. Obasanjo became President, Niger Delta carried arms; Jonathan got there, Boko Haram kidnapped children, Buhari is there now, and all the ghosts of Biafra are frightening everybody. But these Igbos, tell them they are not going anywhere.”
“I am surprised you are talking like this.”

“What is the matter with those people? They are all over Nigeria. They are even selling land in Lagos. But no outsider is allowed to buy half a plot of land in Igboland. You carry Igbo girl sef, na problem. Go and check your email. I will send you other perspectives on this matter.”

Before long, I received a mail indeed. The fellow had put together a collection of anti-Biafra, anti-Igbo articles which he urged me to read, with the rider that I should pay particular attention to the fact that some of those articles were written by Igbos. I ignored the rider. Some of those articles could have been ghost written. What is clear, however, is that all is not well with Nigeria. We are a country that needs to be rescued from the centripetal forces tearing us apart, and the leading forces today would include, as was the case before now, ethnicity, religion, the politics of hate, and citizen alienation.

If my review of the stereotyping of Igbos in Nigeria and the reported conversation with an Igbo-hater does not fully convey the seriousness of this situation, then the June 6 ultimatum issued to all Igbos living in Northern Nigeria by a coalition of Northern Arewa youth groups should.
A group called the Northern Emancipation Network, comprising 16 Arewa youth groups, has asked all Igbos living anywhere in Northern Nigeria to pack their bags and baggage and be out of the Northern region by October 1, 2017. When the 19 Northern Governors met and dismissed the threat as misguided, the young Arewa Igbo-haters issued a riposte and more or less asked the Governors to shut up. Their message is that since Igbos no longer want to be part of Nigeria, they should get out, because they, Arewa youths, do not want belong to the same political union with Igbos. They are angry that on May 30, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous Peoples Organization of Biafra (IPOB) succeeded in shutting down a part of Nigeria to mark the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra.

The arrogance of the Northern youths is insufferable. It speaks to virtually everything that other Nigerians are uncomfortable with about the Fulani North: a born-to-rule, hegemonic tendency. It is an assault on the Nigerian Constitution, to the extent that the Constitution does not grant any individual or group, the right or the power to determine where any Nigerian may live or work or die or acquire property. All Nigerians are equal before the law. The Northern youths, who do not think so, held a meeting, a press conference, and issued statements. The Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir el-Rufai asked the Nigeria Police to arrest them for promoting ethnic hatred. The only response we have had from the Police Headquarters so far, is from one Jimoh Moshood, described as Police Spokesman telling Nigerians that the Arewa youths “are not sitting in the market waiting to be picked up.”

Moshood, if you actually said that, then you should be relieved of your position forthwith. If you are a spokesperson and you have nothing intelligent to say, the best option is to remain silent, otherwise whatever you say will be used against you in the court of public opinion. So, the Nigeria police only arrest people when they go to the market and wait to be arrested? Is that the new police that we now have? The Northern Emancipation Network called Igbos all kinds of names – “unruly, reckless, insatiable, uncultured, confrontational, ungrateful” – and since they issued their ultimatum, the polity has been heated up, ethnic hate has been promoted, the Igbos of Nigeria have been further alienated.

This was how the civil war of 1967-70 started. Nigeria cannot afford another civil war. No country survives two civil wars. Already, Igbos in the North are reportedly relocating back to the South East or elsewhere in Nigeria. Young Nigerians from the North, the East and the South started the civil war. The politics of ethnicity and the rhetoric of hate ignited the fire that consumed the nation for three years. The scars have not healed because 50 years later, the youths of the North and the East are again lighting up the fire of hate. On June 6, the Northern Emancipation Network also asked Northerners in the East, I hope this includes the peripatetic herdsmen, to return to the North!
The Nigerian Government must take this on-going febrile conversation between the North and the East more seriously than it appears to be doing. The security agencies do not have to go to the markets to look for what is not there.

When there is a threat to the state, it is their duty to identify the threat and act on it. All persons who are working hard and making provocative statements to cause a national crisis should be monitored and checkmated. With all the difficult challenges facing this country, at this moment, our security alert system should be pushed a notch higher.

If the security agencies fail to act, particularly on the matter of the coalition of Northern youths promoting Igbo hatred, the Federal Government would have committed a grievous sin, likely to be interpreted as aiding and abetting. And there would be persons who will legitimately ask: are we confronted with a hand of Jacob and voice of Esau situation? Who is sponsoring the Arewa youths? Who granted them the permission to use the platform of Arewa House to spew anti-Igbo hate speech? Who is blocking their arrest by the security agencies? What those boys have done is even worse than the threat of secession by Nnamdi Kanu and his supporters.

But the message is clear: Nigeria is not yet a nation. A country where any group or association can threaten to expel another group is not yet a nation. The common enemy is not the secessionists. The common enemies are the political leaders, the tribal demagogues, the political opportunists, the religious bigots, the paid shamanists, who continue to manipulate Nigeria’s destiny to suit their own purposes. There can be no country except the people love the nation and the state.
Click https://ynaija.com/reuben-abati-igbo-haters-arewa-ultimatum-nation/ to read more...

Well, the epistle was quite voluminous... But the North should understand that what Igbo's are seeking is just a peaceful dissolution...

You go your way in peace vis-à-vis... No one gets hurt or killed...

The world is way too civilised for all this sh*t... And whoever drafted that letter for Arewa youths must be educated to know the difference between treats and peaceful dissolution...

About the Igbos, they are one of three major ethnic groups in this country and so, should be allowed a shot at the presidency of this country. This can be done with proper consultations among the three major players.

About Arewa Youths, they are been guided by their leaders who think the country is their property.

About the Nation, it is an undisputed fact that certain issues need to be properly addressed. No person or group of persons should try to lord over others. No group should be allowed to go about killing others with impunity.

On a personal note, i hate all forms of injustice.

Ok

We yorubas dont give a Bleep

The arrogance of the Northern youths is insufferable. It speaks to virtually everything that other Nigerians are uncomfortable with about the Fulani North: a born-to-rule, hegemonic tendency. It is an assault on the Nigerian Constitution, to the extent that the Constitution does not grant any individual or group, the right or the power to determine where any Nigerian may live or work or die or acquire property. All Nigerians are equal before the law. The Northern youths, who do not think so, held a meeting, a press conference, and issued statements. The Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir el-Rufai asked the Nigeria Police to arrest them for promoting ethnic hatred. The only response we have had from the Police Headquarters so far, is from one Jimoh Moshood, described as Police Spokesman telling Nigerians that the Arewa youths “are not sitting in the market waiting to be picked up.”

Moshood, if you actually said that, then you should be relieved of your position forthwith. If you are a spokesperson and you have nothing intelligent to say, the best option is to remain silent, otherwise whatever you say will be used against you in the court of public opinion. So, the Nigeria police only arrest people when they go to the market and wait to be arrested? Is that the new police that we now have? The Northern Emancipation Network called Igbos all kinds of names – “unruly, reckless, insatiable, uncultured, confrontational, ungrateful” – and since they issued their ultimatum, the polity has been heated up, ethnic hate has been promoted, the Igbos of Nigeria have been further alienated.

This was how the civil war of 1967-70 started. Nigeria cannot afford another civil war. No country survives two civil wars. Already, Igbos in the North are reportedly relocating back to the South East or elsewhere in Nigeria. Young Nigerians from the North, the East and the South started the civil war. The politics of ethnicity and the rhetoric of hate ignited the fire that consumed the nation for three years. The scars have not healed because 50 years later, the youths of the North and the East are again lighting up the fire of hate. On June 6, the Northern Emancipation Network also asked Northerners in the East, I hope this includes the peripatetic herdsmen, to return to the North!
The Nigerian Government must take this on-going febrile conversation between the North and the East more seriously than it appears to be doing. The security agencies do not have to go to the markets to look for what is not there.

Thank you Reuben for staying on the side of truth.

I really fear for this nation Nigeria. What we are seeing today from the North to the East has been accentuated by the lack of leadership we have experienced since the advent of this administration. A leader should be able to carry everyone along with a sense of belonging.

The last time I checked, we all need each other.

Say bye bye to Nigeria

-Since when did a group exercising their human right to Self-determination become unlawful, evil or wrong?
This is a bloody human right! Not a gift from government, organization, group or another mere human.
-Reuben, as for your friend declaring :"Igbos are going nowhere!" Is he God or something?
Please tell him to have a serious word with himself. What arrogance!
-As for Nigeria, there is no love here.

PDJT:
-Since when did a group exercising their human right to Self-determination become unlawful, evil or wrong?
This is a bloody human right! Not a gift from government, organization, group or another mere human.
-Reuben, as for your friend declaring :"Igbos are going nowhere!" Is he God or something?
Please tell him to have a serious word with himself. What arrogance!
-As for Nigeria, there is no love here.

I never remember the English, Welsh and Northern Ireland people threatening the Scots for seeking independence

Oladimejyy:
We yorubas dont give a Bleep

thats why you sold abiola for 30 pieces of kobo...smh

First they laugh at the igbos

Then they lock them up

Then they threaten them...

Soon they will cry and beg

But by then it would be too late

HiddenShadow:


I never remember the English, Welsh and Northern Ireland people threatening the Scots for seeking independence

My brother de thing tire me oo!

Wales no even reach 5 million, Northern Ireland isn't up to 2 million and Scotland is less than 6 million, yet they are all proud Nations.

Some Africans just weak me. Smh.

The youths of the North and East stoking the flames of war, i hope when that war comes, you all will be consumed by the water you boiled.

K

simplycarro:
The youths of the North and East stoking the flames of war, i hope when that war comes, you all will be consumed by the water you boiled.

actually its eastern Nigerians that are perpetually in cold war with north n nigerian with their battle cry calling Nigeria zoo n yoruba boko haram. All insuting statements that you cant call them . if Nigeria had been calling them this they would have cry more than they are crying now.

Actions brings reactions

Abati should save us this long story joor...when you fail to caution a child or bring up a child properly when he or she is straying, what you see is what you get.

Nnamdi Kanu thought he had monopoly of insulting and inciting without any consequences. His subjects (supposed elders/young ones) were giving him tacit support because they refuse to caution him or sanction him...now see where the eagle has landed.

Very soon he will use canoe and disappear to God knows-where...

Abati is as confused as the namdis of this world, you think am wrong OK check out this

[/b]but Igbos across all generations, including the millennials who have been socialized into believing that there is a gap between their people and other Nigerians.[b]

[/b]and its people have proven to be enterprising and determined to hold their own in every sphere of life, including outstanding contributions to the making of the Nigerian state[b]
[/b]
I have heard people complain that Igbo tenants are too stubborn or that when you rent a room to an Igbo man, he will end up sub-letting that one room to all kinds of persons from his village, putting pressure on the property’s limited facilities.[b]

[/b]Igbos have also been held responsible for all sorts of things, kidnapping, drug trafficking, child trafficking, armed robbery – even when there are criminals from virtually every community in Nigeria[b]

[/b]Igbos are also obviously the most integrated ethnic group in Nigeria,[b]

Then Abati went to start attacking the Arewa group without reasoning the same way he reasoned with the igbo-haters!! That's double standard and illogical, read this

[/b]Their message is that since Igbos no longer want to be part of Nigeria, they should get out, because they, Arewa youths, do not want belong to the same political union with Igbos.[b]

[/b]The arrogance of the Northern youths is insufferable. It speaks to virtually everything that other Nigerians are uncomfortable with about the Fulani North: a born-to-rule, hegemonic tendency.[b]

But Nigerians are not allowed to be "uncomfortable" with kidnappers, armrobbers and the rest. Hmmmm

[/b]It is an assault on the Nigerian Constitution, to the extent that the Constitution does not grant any individual or group, the right or the power to determine where any Nigerian may live or work or die or acquire property. All Nigerians are equal before the law.[b] but the Kanus of this world are allowed to abuse Yorba, Hausa Fulani and the rest of Nigerians?

It's on record Kanus has directed his people to chase the Hausa Fulani out of the east and call all Yoruba pastors as imbeciles and yet the constitution allow him but not Arewa, hmm

[/b]]When there is a threat to the state, it is their duty to identify the threat and act on it[b] but when kanu was arrested you were in forefront calling for his release and now you are changing dance when same song is still playing

[/b][i][/i]The common enemy is not the secessionists.[b]


Magu has really reset this guy brain #WeNeedTheRealAbatiBack

Before final divorce comes initial separation. After that, custody for kids and properties are legally determined....in that order.

Ndigboes has filled notice for divorce and arewa has told them to separate before the final divorce status is determined.

That is the simplest procedure for such a complex union like Nigeria...

Nobody is hating on anyone...

raker300:
First they laugh at the igbos

Then they lock them up

Then they threaten them...

Soon they will cry and beg

But by then it would be too late

Its actually igbos that are doing the crying and begging right now

Oxalic:
About the Igbos, they are one of three major ethnic groups in this country and so, should be allowed a shot at the presidency of this country. This can be done with proper consultations among the three major players.

About Arewa Youths, they are been guided by their leaders who think the country is their property.

About the Nation, it is an undisputed fact that certain issues need to be properly addressed. No person or group of persons should try to lord over others. No group should be allowed to go about killing others with impunity.

On a personal note, i hate all forms of injustice.

A shot at the presidency does not guarantee that the regions would be better off. OBJ and the SW, GEJ and the SS, Yar'Adua/Buhari and the north; even having had Senate president from the SE for various years haven't helped the Igbos. Igbos could care less where the president comes from and would vote him if they feel he's not a bigot and vindictive (Obj, Yar'Adua, GEJ, Abiola), even rejecting their own (Ojukwu), yet, they are accused of hate. Igbos wanted a country where justice is felt and life appreciated; where I will be safe and not killed because of a cartoon drawn in far away land. But it seems that ship has sailed.

BlackMbakara1:
Abati should save us this long story joor...when you fail to caution a child or bring up a child properly when he or she is straying, what you see is what you get.

Nnamdi Kanu thought he had monopoly of insulting and inciting without any consequences. His subjects (supposed elders/young ones) were giving him tacit support because they refuse to caution him or sanction him...now see where the eagle has landed.

Very soon he will use canoe and disappear to God knows-where...

I just find it funny people forget the past threats of various leaders from the north and latch unto NK as if he said much worse than the current president (dogs and baboons soaked in blood) or Kaita that made the "ungovernable country" statement or the Oba who threatened lagoon. For all those who accuse him (not like he's innocent), people from their ethnic group have said similar or worse things with people from their ethnic group supporting codedly.

Arewa and their elders have threatened Nigeria numerous times, no one was arrested ; Nnamdi Kanu said his and was arrested (paid the price if you may). Why are we one sided? Why do we become blind to a certain section of the country and go blazes on another? Or is the saying that "they are the owners of Nigeria" true?

koladebrainiac:
actually its eastern Nigerians that are perpetually in cold war with north n nigerian with their battle cry calling Nigeria zoo n yoruba boko haram. All insiting statement that you cant call them . if Nigeria had been calling them this they would have cry more than they are crying now.

Actions brings reactions

How about past actions of the north, does it not deserve a reaction? What about the subtle taunting of Igbos being second class citizens / not being president in Nigeria or to aptly put, they'll never be president of Nigeria, does it not deserve a reaction also?

Ayam coming

Modified
Different articles/statement against the Kaduna declaration. Does this really means Northern Nigeria is Superior to Southern Nigeria? I have never read/heard numerous reactions to any statement/declaration from Afenifere, OPC, IPOB, MASSOB, IYC, Ohaneze and all other sociocultural group in the southern part of this country like this before.

Calling for the arrest the said youths is the real call for war (the same mistake buhari made with Kanu's arrest), as Northern Elders would not be coward to show support (publicly) for their own, like the Eastern Elders are doing.

But why is emphasis on call for Igbos to leave north and not other issues in the declaration?

I wonder why ibos are complaining. you say the north is barren and useless yet you don't want to leave. you want to hate the people and call them all sort of names yet you want to live with them and do business with them. clowns

amc:


I never remember the Scots calling the UK a zoo and the citizens animals, and threatening to destroy the UK and turn it into another Somalia.

thank you. the ibos sowed the seed of hate all over again in 2015 and this is the fruit.

I heard live on radio with my two ears and kanu encouraged someone to kill kumuyi when he comes to the south east.

the hausas have been called parasites and all sort of names even though they are responsible fr at least 60% of what we consume in the south.


the ibos planted the seed of discord. yorubas will only sit and watch from the sideline even though we were also insulted and called parasites

They keep hating while we keep progressing. He who God has blessed, no man can curse!

vicadex07:


Its actually igbos that are doing the crying and begging right now

It doesnt appear so. Naturally,those who have major investments in the north would be very troubled, but whats their percentage amongst the entire ndigbo.

To be honest, Over 90% of ibos in the SE, SS and diaspora are very excited about the idea of Biafra. Thats why the sit at home was a major success, which sent shock waves around the country and was very insructive for the northerners, which now led to the ultimatum.

In the SW, the story is not too different.I asked a couple of my relatives in lagos what They thought and they said they were willing to go home if it comes to that.

Please let no one think that ndigbo As a people are begging the north to calm Down. Nothing currently happening indicates that.

I am a full blooded ibo man, but i dont support disintegration, at least for now. My mind is on restructuriing. However, i will rather we go our seperate ways than remain the way we are.

The more people say Igbos are not going anywhere, the more Biafra attracts me like a bee to honey.

My reaction will always be, I'll show you!

From my colleague, Hadiza:

The Ibos want Biafra
The North wants Ibo's exit
The Yorubas want Ibo's exit
The Ibos are saying "we have investments in your areas and cannot leave them"
And the fight is being cooked.

Amongst all these, the President is in London
Governors are sharing bailout funds
Workers salaries are not paid
Government officials have their children schooling abroad
Ministers and senators are looting

The poor Hausa man is riding Okada
The poor Ibo man is riding Okada
The poor Yoruba man is riding Okada

The poor Hausa man sleeps under the bridge as Alamajiri
The poor Yoruba man sleeps under the bridge as Alaye
The poor Ibo man sleeps under the bridge as agbero

It is pertinent to note that the poor from all ethnic groups in Nigeria have everything in common and so is the rich.

Do not allow the agitation of an Ibo man who lives in UK or USA for Biafra cause the killing of the Ibo man in Adamawa. The rich hate us that much.
Do not allow the Alhaji whose children are living abroad to persuade you to go and start killing on the street of Kaduna.

The problem in the country is not the agitation of any ethnic group but the unity of the elite and the disunity of the masses.

How many times have you taken your agitation to question your local government Chairmen?

Why have you not asked your Governors through agitation how they spent bailout fund?

Why have you not agitated against that government official whose mansions you go to beg for help?

Sad to note;
All the Governors love themselves
All the past Presidents love themselves
All the senators love themselves
All the top government officials love themselves
All the looters love themselves

Why can't you and I love ourselves?
Why can't we combine efforts and fight them?
Why do we fight ourselves?
Why do we allow them the freedom we don't have?

Remember; a good Nigeria is better than a good Arewa, Oduduwa or Biafra.

Nobody gives a rats balls about restructuring because you lot created the present state.

You've been claiming you want to leave and now your landlords up North have asked you to leave why do you have a problem with that?