eGuerrilla: @OP,
The increasing trend you identified is borne of nothing more than unresolved contradictions from our past.
It is a shame, though, that a medium like NairaLand, which owns its existence to forward-looking technology, actually serves a major enabler of primodialism rather than the sober introspection and reflection required.

chrishenzo: I think the only time Nigerians see themselves as "ONE" is during football. But if a Nigerian do something good, most people will claim the person as their son/daughter(from the same ethnic group). Likewise when someone commits a crime, people are quick to distant themselves by pointing out the ethnicity of the person.

This issue wouldn't have been happening if our leaders have make good use of Nigeria resources. Everyone will be proud of the country. Even the current situation of the country isn't helping matters.

deshclones: Dumb poster...reminiscing indeed..you..biggest bigot ever to cross this path..nansense...go tell your crap to gullible folks...you that has like 3 different i.ds you use to promote your immense and deep hatred for non Yoruba folk...tomorrow bluetooth,eko ile and that scum of the earth arole odua will preach unity..igiotas

shymmex:

The bolded part is what should be promoted on this forum - rather than the daily tribal e-fights.

shymmex: Sitting on my bed, as I inhale, and exhale my cigarette smoke - I reminisce how I used to view Nigerians as the same people. I was never raised to believe my tribe was superior to my “bredrin’s” tribe. We were all raised as Nigerians first before anything – and we all used to verbally defend Nigeria against our Ghanaian peers – and fist fight our Caribbean peers. That seems like a long time ago now – because tribalism is now rife among Nigerians in diaspora, and on the virtual World Wide Web. It seems we were all young back then, and we were living in denial – and probably tribalists on the inside, but Nigerian on outside.

I noticed every time I chat to my friends now (most of whom have never been to Nigeria) – they are always quick to point out their tribes. My Igbo friend told me the other day, that his sister got married to one of ‘my people’. I was shocked when he said one of ‘my people’ – and I asked him what he meant by that. He then explained to me that his sister got married to a Yoruba guy. My Urhobo/Edo friend has now imbibed the habit of always reminding that “those are your people” every time there are Yoruba names on TV. To be honest, I’m not comfortable with this new trend. It seems everyone in the diaspora has now been infected the tribal consciousness virus. We never used to be like this – we used to be proud Nigerians back in the days – when we used go to African parties, and jam to Sir Shina Peters and King Sunny Ade together as Nigerians. Where did it go wrong?

Today, I went on youtube to check SBTV (a UK urban music video channel on youtube) – and I saw an acoustic performance by the great Nigerian singer, Nneka. As I scrolled down to read some of the comments under the video – I noticed some youths posted comments like: “she is Igbo, that’s my tribe”, “big up Igbo, Igbo for life”, “repping Igbo hard” etc. I was baffled because this is a music video channel visited by mostly youths raised in the UK – and I was expecting the Nigerians on there to big up, Naija – and not their tribes. This new trend of tribal consciousness is becoming problematic, and we need to put it in check before it consumes us all – and destroy our future generations.

We’re all still Nigerians, pending our disintegration – which is not happening in the foreseeable future. The older folks among us need to stop promoting tribal sentiments – and start raising their kids as Nigerians. The Nigerian diaspora is already divided along class, and country of residence lines – we shouldn’t divide further – what’s already divided.

I know Nigeria is in a sorry state – but we don’t need to write the country off. I believe in the population, and the diversity Nigeria brings. I believe in the Nigerian people. If china can go from being a hellhole, to being a superpower – I believe Nigeria can also do the same. Nigerians are a unique group of people, bond together by the Confluence of Niger & Benue River – and we shouldn't break the natural confluence, which binds us together. Nigeria is Africa – and the future of Africa depends on Nigeria. If Nigeria can rise to its full potentials – I believe Africa definitely has an opportunity to turn the tide – but if Nigeria fails, Africa is going to be exploited forever.

Nigeria is Europe’s mistake – but a blessing to mama Africa. The future of the black race depends on us – we can’t let our race down.

N/B: Some may want to claim that I'm also a tribalist - but the truth is that I was infected with the bug on NL, and I have since rid myself off the silly bug.

Outstrip:

I did not know that tribalism was such an issue in Nigeria until I joined nairaland and I lived most of my teenage years in Nigeria. My mom is Igbo and my dad a bendelite. It was not only in recent years when I have asked y mom directly about the war that I even comprehended that Biafra in the minds of many was a country. My mom does not hate Yorubas. My cousins give their kids Yoruba middle names. It really pains me when I read how much we hate each other.

deshclones: Dumb poster...reminiscing indeed..you..biggest bigot ever to cross this path..nansense...go tell your crap to gullible folks...you that has like 3 different i.ds you use to promote your immense and deep hatred for non Yoruba folk...tomorrow bluetooth,eko ile and that scum of the earth arole odua will preach unity..igiotas

Jah Man: @deshclone, you are very correct in calling poster a bigot but you were very insultive.
@OP,you are unmistakably a Nigerian/Yoruba.That is the way they reason.Can you imagine that in your examples you never mentioned where a Yoruba person committed the offence of tribalism?Meanwhile, the Yorubas are the most tribalistic creatures I have ever seen.I had them as good friends back in the univ but not until I met them in droves during NYSC that I knew who they were.
I have worked in two organisations and have noticed how they shamelessly populate everywhere with their kith and kin,whether competency is sacrificed or not.In the middle of discussion in a corporate office(including multinationals) you will see them speaking.."Yoruba-Yoruba",but let your tribesman greet u in your language,they will raise alarm.Very insecured set of folks.
I hate being annoyed to write such things,but I also cannot condone hypocrisy which is what the OP personifies.
You may need to retract your post and do a balanced write-up,indicting your tribe 1st and others.This tribalism ought to stop,starting from the not-so-travelled and self-centred yorubas.

Chrisbenogor: Watch this space, even this thread will soon go down in ashes when the tribal thugs show themselves.