The quit notice issued to Igbos in the north stirred public outrage and elicited reactions from different groups in the country and threatened to tear the fabric of the country’s unity.

In this opinion by Femi Arbisala, he examines the role Igbos have played in the development of the country, concluding they alone have made the country what it is today.

Out of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Igbo have by far the worst politicians.

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.

In 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 Dickson Tiger; international statesman Emeka Anyaoku; and world-class artist Ben Enwonwu. Pemit 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 Jay 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.

Afonjas will commit suicide after reading this

mmmmm

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 mal-treated 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.


READ ALSO: Nigerians in South Africa get quit notice

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 Ibos 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?

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.
written by Femi Aribisala
https://www.naij.com/1110058-opinion-there-nigeria-igbos.html?uc_msg=agoo'1696216849193893888'0

Nigeria is what it is today because of Ndi Igbo believe it or not.
I believe in one Nigeria but one Nigeria with a difference

raker300:
Afonjas will commit suicide after reading this

Please stop this Afonja nonsense I'm tired of it.. I'm moving forward, give us Biafra or restructure Nigeria, I just need a country where there is peace and love, no marginalization and tribal discrimination, a good policy for my business & prosperity.. where there's true freedom of speech and expression

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.

Please the more I read all these the more I get angry.. What was the plan of Nigeria when they were fighting the people they say is part of the country? how many was the Igbo population at the time when this Civil war errupted that over 3 millions Igbos were killed? Out of 10 million people you killed 3 million, what was really the intention? and when Nnamdi Kanu is making hate speeches someone will be saying he shouldn't be annoyed for the pogrom..

The hatred for Igbo has been from the inception of the contraption and the only crime is their prosperity, his never quite attitude, what I keep asking myself does Igbo stop anyone from getting what they want? from the whole thing we are the only people that accepted this one Nigeria and went as far as putting our trust in our fellow Nigerian brothers..

Igbos its time you get wise, I know that most of you are still planning of what small business to start in Lagos and Abuja soon my advise to you is go down east and start that little business, let the new/next generation of business mogul start and build it in the East because it will soon become a conglomerate, there is nothing wrong in having your factory in the east and have depots around the world, we're making it large here in Main market Onitsha, Aba, Nnewi, Port-Harcourt, Owerri etc.. Forget the sentiments and Osibanjo meeting with Hausa/Igbo elders and leaders to foster peace. there shouldn't have been such meeting in the first place, if there was any atom of tolerance and love lost for you, Arewa youth shouldn't have issued their ultimatum to fellow citizens who were only crying out for marginalization against them in a peaceful manner..

I'm not saying we should stop being loving and accommodating but, I'm saying we're all brothers in this country but, lets face the truth for once for the truth it is and stop shouting tribal bigotry.. Hausa and Yorubas for long know this and placed limit to how far they carry this one Nigeira thing.

You as an Igbo man can never be more brother to an Hausa fellow citizen than his fellow Hausa man, or to A yoruba fellow citizen than his fellow yoruba brother.. neither would any of them be more brother to me than an Igbo man because I'll save my own first

Makana Ozu sibe-isi Enyi ka nwanne ala!

t

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.

They already have political leaders like Rochas Okorocha, Chris Ngige, Ben Akabueze, Joe Abbah, Joe Igbokwe etc who are well respected and acceptable to non-Igbos. Unfortunately, Igbos hate and criticize these guys more than any other political leader of Igbo extraction because of their nationalistic approach to their politics.

Ok

It's a shame that after 50 years of Biafra/Nigeria Civil war, the ghost still hunts us. Something urgent has to be done to lay this hunting experience of the past to rest.

Unity beggars know that this is nothing but the truth.

If you are an ethnic group in nigeria and you don't have 'Mad zealots' within you, you are finished.

The militants and IPOB exists in the South because mad people like Ango abdullahi and Arewa youths also exists in the north. Even yorubas have their own opc which some of them malign in the open but secretly support when they retreat to their brown roofs.

Nobody will be allowed to have a monopoly of madness in the zoo. We'll all keep running mad until the zoo capitulates. Shikena!

In Nigeria,president are made not really by actual voting,if Nigeria want to pacify the Igbos the two major political parties should field only Igbo candidates the same way they did for Yorubas in 1999 and about to do it again in 2019 for northerners, there is nothing like building bridges,others did build any bridge rather they took it by force,they should do it for Igbos if they are serious about Nigeria unity.

raker300:
Afonjas will commit suicide after reading this

I know one day you will get tired of this afonja menace you are spewing regularly. Kindly tell me one significance of tribalism.

seunmsg:


They already have political leaders like Rochas Okorocha, Chris Ngige, Ben Akabueze, Joe Abbah, Joe Igbokwe etc who are well respected and acceptable to non-Igbos. Unfortunately, Igbos hate and criticize these guys more than any other political leader of Igbo extraction because of their nationalistic approach to their politics.

Thanks my brother but it would be difficult to field these people as u mentioned.