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Yoruba To Igbos: “we’re Sorry For The Civil War Atrocities” – Femi Aribisala by iyyke(m): 3:51pm On Oct 27, 2015 |
Among the different ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Igbo are
without a doubt, one of the most remarkable. So remarkable,
indeed, that some have even traced their ancestry to biblical
Israel, as the far-flung descendants of Jacob, the Jewish
patriarch. Gad, Jacob’s seventh son, is said to have had
three sons who settled in South-eastern Nigeria.
These sons; Eri, Arodi and Areli, are believed to have
fathered clans in Igbo-land and to have founded such Igbo
towns as Aguleri, Arochukwu, Owerri and Umuleri.
Igbo Genius.
Even the bitterest adversaries of the Igbo cannot but admit
that, as a people, they are very resourceful and ingenious.
Indeed, this has often been the cause of their envy and
dislike by others. However, more enlightened non-Igbo
Nigerians see this as a cause for celebration. While today,
the centre-point of Nigeria’s manufacturing is situated in
the Lagos/Ogun axis, there is no doubt that the real
locomotive of Nigeria’s indigenous industrialization lies
farther afield in Aba and in the mushrooming cottage-
industries of the Igbo heartland.
Igbo-menIn one of the paradoxes of Nigerian history, the
terrible civil war provoked homespun industrialization in the
South-East. Military blockade left the Igbo with little
alternative than to be inventive in a hurry. While Nigeria as a
nation failed woefully to harness this profitably after the
war, it has nevertheless ensured that the Igbo are at the
forefront of Nigeria’s economic development today.
Indeed, the way we disregard “made in Aba” today is the
same way we disregarded “made in Japan” yesterday. For
those of us who believe against the odds that Nigeria is the
China of tomorrow, we equally recognize that the ingenuity
of the Igbo is an indelible part of the actualization of that
manifest destiny.
Hall of Fame.
The Igbo have been a great credit to Nigeria. They have
given us a great number of our favourite sons, including
international statesman Nnamdi Azikiwe; military leader
Odumegwu Ojukwu; regional leader Michael Okpara; vice-
president Alex Ekwueme; mathematical genius Chike Obi;
literary icon Chinua Achebe; world-class economist Pius
Okigbo; world boxing champion Dick Tiger; international
statesman Emeka Anyaoku; and world-class artist Ben
Enwonwu. Permit me to include in this illustrious list even
some of my very good Igbo friends: Pat Utomi, Ojo Madueke,
Olisa Agbakoba, Joy Ogwu, and Stanley Macebuh.
Let us get one thing straight: Nigeria would be a much
poorer country without the Igbo.
Indeed, Nigeria would not be Nigeria without them. Can you
imagine the Super Eagles without the Igbo? Not likely! Who
can forget Nwankwo Kanu, Jay Kay Okocha and our very own
Emmanuel Amuneke? Can you imagine Nollywood without the
Igbo? Impossible! Just think of Stella Damascus-Aboderin;
Rita Dominic and Mike Ezuruonye.
And then there are the diaspora Igbo who many are unaware
are of Igbo descent, including concert singer and actor Paul
Robeson; Oscar award-winner Forest Whitaker; mega-pastor
T.D. Jakes; Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu; and BAFTA
actor award-winner Chiwetel Ejiofor.
You may well wonder why I have found it necessary to
present this small litany of Igbo who-is-who. I think it is
important to emphasise how the Igbo have been very vital to
the Nigerian project. They have more than represented
Nigeria creditably in virtually all walks of life. This makes it
all the more absurd that this same people have been
consistently denied the position of executive president of the
country in all but six months of Nigeria’s 54 year history.
Civil-war legacy
Of course, a major reason for this was the 1967-1970 civil-
war which had the Igbo on the losing side. But that was over
40 years ago. If there is really to be “no victor, no
vanquished” in anything more than mere rhetoric, then the
rehabilitation of the Igbo back into post civil-war Nigeria will
not be complete until an Igbo man finally becomes president
of the country.
That imperative should be of interest to every Nigerian
nationalist, committed to the creation of one Nigeria where
everyone has a deep sense of belonging. The problem,
however, is that the Igbo themselves seem to be their own
worst enemies in this regard. They appear to be doing their
very best to ensure that this inevitable eventuality continues
to be denied and delayed.
The Igbo need to forgive Nigerians. No one who lived through
the horrors that precipitated the secession of Biafra and led
to the civil-war cannot but admit that the Igbo were abused
and maltreated in one of the worst pogroms ever. It was not
just that they were senselessly massacred in their own
country; it was that they were butchered.
I remember vividly gory pictures of scores and scores of the
Igbo with hands chopped up and with legs amputated. And
then there were the ravages of the three-year civil-war
itself, resulting in the death of millions of Igbo; many
through starvation and attrition.
The end of the war brought no respite, as the Igbo were
pauperized by fiscal decrees that wiped out their savings and
their properties were blatantly sequestered by opportunists.
All this is more than enough to destroy the spirit of any
group of people. But God has been on the side of the Igbo.
It is a testament to their resilience that, in spite of this
terrible affliction, they have survived, bounced back and
have even triumphed in Nigeria. Forty years have now gone
by. The Igbo may never forget what happened to them and,
indeed, should never forget. But it is past time for them to
forgive.
We Are Sorry.
This is one voice in the Nigerian wilderness saying to the Igbo
from the depth of his heart: we are sorry. We are sorry for
the way we mistreated you. We are sorry for the way we
abused you. We are sorry for starving your children to death.
We are sorry for killing your loved ones. We are sorry for
stealing your properties.
We are sorry for making you feel unwanted in your own
country. Please forgive us. It is time to forgive us. It is way
past time for the Igbo to forgive Nigerians. We beg you in
the name of God.
There was a civil war in the United States, but the defeated
South rose from the ashes. Five of the last nine presidents
of the United States have been from the South, including
Jimmy Carter from Georgia, George Bush from Texas and Bill
Clinton from Arkansas. The time is overdue for an Igbo
president of Nigeria, but it is not going to happen as long as
the Igbo continue to hold a grudge against Nigeria and
Nigerians.
There is no question about it: the Igbos cannot elect a
president of Nigeria on their own. To do so, they have to join
forces with others. They have to form alliances with people
from other parts of Nigeria. That is not going to happen as
long as the Igbo continue to bear a grudge against practically
everybody else.
The Igbo have a gripe against virtually all the people they
need. They have this tendency to antagonise their possible
alliance partners. They keep dredging up the past, refusing
to let sleeping dogs lie. Until they drop these gripes, they are
not likely to realise their dreams.
Demonising Yorubas
For example, the Igbo have this tendency to demonise the
Yorubas. It is alarming when reading the Vanguard blogs
today to see the animosity often expressed between Igbo and
Yoruba contributors. The hatred is most unhealthy. Insults
are traded with abandon. What is the point of this? For how
long will the Igbo demand emotional retribution from every
Yoruba for the betrayal of Awolowo? Most of the
contributors were not even born when the civil-war took place
more than a generation ago.
There is now even transferred aggression against Babatunde
Fashola, who made the blunder of repatriating some
destitute Igbo from Lagos back to their home-states. The
man has apologised for the infraction. He should be forgiven.
Blunders are not the exclusive preserve of the non-Igbo. The
Igbo have made more than a few themselves and will yet
make others.
Paradoxically, the redemption of the Igbos to prominent
national office moved apace under President Obasanjo; a
Yoruba man. Recognising that Igbos are some of the most
seasoned, competent and experienced public-servants,
Obasanjo relied heavily on their expertise.
Thanks to him, we got Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala at Finance,
Charles Soludo at Central Bank, Obiageli Ezekwesili at
Education, Ndidi Okereke at the Stock Exchange, and Dora
Akunyili at NAFDAC. Indeed, Igbo statesmen came into more
prominence under Obasanjo than did Yoruba statesmen. But
for some strange reason, this does not seem to have
succeeded in assuaging the ill-feeling of the Igbos toward
the Yorubas.
Bad Politicians
Within the framework of Nigerian politics, the Igbo also have
a fundamental problem. Out of the three major ethnic groups
in Nigeria, the Igbo have by far the worst politicians. They
have no recognizable leaders, and have no discernible
strategy as to how to negotiate power at the centre. As a
result, the Igbo have tended to be short-changed at the
federal level. Traditionally, the inconsequential ministries,
such as the Ministry of Information, have been zoned to
them.
The Igbo need to work out a plan that will take them to Aso
Rock. First, they need to choose and groom a de-tribalised
leader of the Azikiwe mould who can be sold to non-Igbos.
Then, they need to give him undiluted support. At the
moment the internal politics of the Igbo militates against
this. The Igbo seem to hate themselves as much as they hate
others. They seem to fight themselves with as much venom as
they fight others. Every potential Igbo leader seems to have
more enemies within than without. This must not be allowed to
continue.
The Igbo need to help themselves in order that their friends
can help them. In this centenary of Nigeria’s amalgamation,
as we embark on the arduous process of crafting our future
through a National Conference, we salute the Igbo for their
fortitude and implore them to stake their claim in Nigeria.
Nigeria cannot survive without the Igbo. |
Re: Yoruba To Igbos: “we’re Sorry For The Civil War Atrocities” – Femi Aribisala by Phunmibi: 3:51pm On Oct 27, 2015 |
lie lie lie .... lies detected No paragraph! Really? We owe them no apology 3 Likes |
Re: Yoruba To Igbos: “we’re Sorry For The Civil War Atrocities” – Femi Aribisala by Chiaka(f): 3:53pm On Oct 27, 2015 |
High time all southerners start coming together and shelf off all these non sense that doesn't make us united 1 Like |
Re: Yoruba To Igbos: “we’re Sorry For The Civil War Atrocities” – Femi Aribisala by osazeeblue01: 3:58pm On Oct 27, 2015 |
Am not sure if the Biafran can forgive Nigeria for pain they cost on them. |
Re: Yoruba To Igbos: “we’re Sorry For The Civil War Atrocities” – Femi Aribisala by Warlord3000(m): 4:02pm On Oct 27, 2015 |
*yawns* Started sleeping immediately I saw FEMI Whether na aribisala or fani kayode... Dem case no be here 1 Like |
Re: Yoruba To Igbos: “we’re Sorry For The Civil War Atrocities” – Femi Aribisala by ajasbaba(m): 4:03pm On Oct 27, 2015 |
Go to hell, we don't need your apology. Baifra is coming. |
Re: Yoruba To Igbos: “we’re Sorry For The Civil War Atrocities” – Femi Aribisala by nikkiking(m): 4:04pm On Oct 27, 2015 |
I no understand |
Re: Yoruba To Igbos: “we’re Sorry For The Civil War Atrocities” – Femi Aribisala by IAMTHEHERO: 4:11pm On Oct 27, 2015 |
This man will surely live long!!! |
Re: Yoruba To Igbos: “we’re Sorry For The Civil War Atrocities” – Femi Aribisala by speedyGonzales: 4:17pm On Oct 27, 2015 |
if all the south worked for southern interest and stopped feeling sorry for the north because they are Muslims that will be great! "The Lagos colony was added in 1906, and the territory was officially renamed the Colony and Protectorate of Southern Nigeria. In 1914, Southern Nigeria was joined with Northern Nigeria Protectorate to form the single colony of Nigeria. The unification was done for economic reasons rather than political—Northern Nigeria Protectorate had a budget deficit; and the colonial administration sought to use the budget surpluses in Southern Nigeria to offset this deficit" the south still paying for the north's failures today. The north had agriculture but the threw it all away... well, in honesty I blame the leaders not the people |
Re: Yoruba To Igbos: “we’re Sorry For The Civil War Atrocities” – Femi Aribisala by doublewisdom: 4:21pm On Oct 27, 2015 |
Day don break? 4 Likes |
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