Why Igbos Are Nigeria's Chosen Tribe

By Dr. James C. Agazie

Frightening statistics are arriving. Remove the Igbos from the country, and Nigeria will collapse like 1-2-3, like a flimsy deck of cards. Despite all their travails, the Igbos are the tribe chosen to bear the burdens of Nigeria. Throughout the 50 years Nigeria has masqueraded as an independent nation, Igbos have been credited with making meaningful strides to maintain Nigeria’s membership among the league of civilized nations. What the Igbos garnered with picks the other tribes scattered with spades or embezzled or sold off with when no one was looking, And the Northern oligarchies, long known for their aversion to Western education, are rarely stakeholders in Nigerian affairs. The Bedouins have siphoned off all they could to Saudi Arabia and other clandestine places. Now, tell me. What have the oligarchies done with the zillions of Naira sunk into Northern abyss? Nothing. An absolute zero. Zilch. Nothing was accomplished unless you want to determine the numbers of the blind, leprous, and beggary citizenry neglected by their state governments. The Igbos are the only tribe to possess the semblance of modernization and patriotism that translates to patriotism or desperately needed love of country. Can one say the same thing about the other tribes?

Statistics proves the Igbos are becoming the fastest growing ethnic group in the world, making up 75-80% of Lagos, 40% of Northern cities such as Kano or Jos; and flocking to Ghana by the hundreds everyday. The ubiquitous Igbos are migrating to America, UK and Canada by the millions. Why? First, the Igbos love to lead; they love education and they love progression, as opposed to regression (defined as weakening, failure, decay, deterioration, waning, drop, or degeneration). The Igbos hate stagnation in all its ramifications.How else can the Igbos duplicate themselves but through education and regeneration (defined as renewal, revival, renaissance, rejuvenation, or restoration)?

The Igbos believe in taking care of their children. Contraception is a taboo in the Igbo culture where madu ka eji aka (we win by sheer numbers). Advocating sterilization or abortion in the Igbo community is considered the enemy’s ploy to wipe out the tribe, much as the boko harans, a group of violent, illiterate, nihilistic disaffiliates attempting to express political ambitions camouflaged as diabolical religious views. Fourthly, the physical Igbo child is sublime (defined as inspiring, inspirational, sensational, awe-inspiring, moving, transcendent or simply motivating). Who doesn’t know that Ahamefula (my name shall not be lost) and Nwakaego (the child is more valuable than money) are popular names for Igbo boys and girls, respectively?A child provides the mechanism through which society continues to exist. So, what do the Igbos do to maintain the leadership Nigeria desperately needs? ( Continues below..... )


Let Igbo brains spring forth and excogitate ways to maintain the leadership Heaven has thrust upon them, particularly leadership in agriculture, business, education, politics, and medicines. There are sore difficulties involved in leading Nigeria by way of increased agricultural production because the Igbos have not much arable land, as you have in Benue State and other states in Northern Nigeria.And if the Igbos manage to buy some arable land, good policies will have to be put in place to prevent people squabbling and committing crimes as inhabitants in the Western Nigeria do with body parts. Try confiscating Izza land in Abakaliki, and you risk of having disgruntled men come after you with machetes, and blunt implements. Entrepreneurship won’t do it because the Northern Nigerian oligarchies, as hosts, do not usually allow the visitor free purchasing power in land . Case in point: Igbo visitors in Northern Nigeria are chased out after developing the land.

With the level of economic power the Igbos have, they can easily electrify Nigeria, build roads, and usher in massive industrial development to make unemployment a thing of the past. Will non-Igbo tribes whose faces are contorted by murderous jealousy allow this to happen? Please reread my essay on Nigeria being the burden of suffering Igbos: the Igbos must develop Nigeria and be willing to die in the process. Since agriculture and education are not viable tools in Igbos hands to develop Nigeria, could one consider entrepreneurship as an alternative? But my homeboy Silas stopped me with a reminder: “Remember the Ebenato man from near your mother’s village and how he placed his medical degree from India in the toilet and went into business like crazy?”

What of education? Because the Igbos have been lovers of education long before Nigeria achieved independence as a sovereign nation, they had become successful community developers, city planters, and managers of schools.Igbos went to school with intensity and acquired all types of skills that kept Nigerian in good stead as the country prepared for self government. There are Igbos with expertise in all fields Nigeria needs to develop as a nation. It is unfortunate that tribalism, nepotism, and greed do not permit full exploitation of Igbo talents. After working for 2- years as so at jobs under dangerous, unfriendly conditions, the Igbos are packing their bags and heading into business, Silas comes again: “Remember that young doctor from your village with engineering doctorate who served as commissioner for the environment in the North and how he quit and went into self employment at Abuja?” Yes, I remember this man and once spoke with him.

“Dr O (real name), Sir, what are you doing at Abuja?”

“Environmental consulting with Federal Government.”

“Ehe, damn. Why’s that so, homeboy?”

“I just don’t see myself working for someone in a hostile environment or being in some political appointment.”

How do the Igbos measure up in politics? There are rumors the Igbos arenot temperamentally suited for politics; they are too inflexible, impatient, proud, self aggrandizing, and possess a convoluted theory of tribal superiority (just as the Jews do).Many Igbo friends decry corruption, downright thievery and piracy of national treasury. Yet, give the some Igbos power over some important entities such as the Central Bank, and see what happens. From the body parts traders to the West and the cattle herdsmen in the North, the Igbos must not learn to rob motherland literally blind. Success in politics requires you learn by association and play wuruwuru games with the Hausas, Fulanis, Yorubas, Oyibo, armed robbers and kidnappers, all of whom you hold dear as bosom friends. Besides, politics isn’t about progress or love of country. The Igbos must be chameleons that change colors to match the environment? Successful Igbos are those who understand how to accommodate the other Nigerian tribes. Why Accommodation Is Not Enough is a topic for another essay.

http://nigeriamasterweb.com/blog/index.php/2012/10/14/why-igbos-are-nigeria-s-chosen-tribe

lol...written by an igbo man....of course...

ogologo akukwo here for nothing.
There is nothing like Biafra. This article just confirmed that Ibos are doing well in Nigeria not in spite of it. Let us use our IQs abeg.