By Chimamanda Adichie
A few days ago, the Oba of Lagos threatened Igbo leaders. If they did not vote
for his governorship candidate in Lagos, he said, they would be thrown into the
lagoon. His entire speech was a flagrant performance of disregard. His words
said, in effect: I think so little of you that I don’t have to cajole you but will just
threaten you and, by the way, your safety in Lagos is not assured, it is
negotiable.
There have been condemnations of the Oba’s words. Sadly, many of the
condemnations from non-Igbo people have come with the ugly impatience of
expressions like ‘move on,’ and ‘don’t be over-emotional’ and ‘calm down.’
These take away the power, even the sincerity, of the condemnations. It is
highhanded and offensive to tell an aggrieved person how to feel, or how quickly
to forgive, just as an apology becomes a non-apology when it comes with ‘now
get over it.’
Other condemnations of the Oba’s words have been couched in dismissive or
diminishing language such as ‘The Oba can’t really do anything, he isn’t actually
going to kill anyone. He was joking. He was just being a loudmouth.’
Or – the basest yet – ‘we are all prejudiced.’ It is dishonest to respond to a
specific act of prejudice by ignoring that act and instead stressing the generic
and the general. It is similar to responding to a specific crime by saying ‘we are
all capable of crime.’ Indeed we are. But responses such as these are
diversionary tactics. They dismiss the specific act, diminish its importance, and
ultimately aim at silencing the legitimate fears of people.
We are indeed all prejudiced, but that is not an appropriate response to an issue
this serious. The Oba is not an ordinary citizen. He is a traditional ruler in a part
of a country where traditional rulers command considerable influence – the
reluctance on the part of many to directly chastise the Oba speaks to his power.
The Oba’s words matter. He is not a singular voice; he represents traditional
authority. The Oba’s words matter because they are enough to incite violence in
a political setting already fraught with uncertainty. The Oba’s words matter even
more in the event that Ambode loses the governorship election, because it would
then be easy to scapegoat Igbo people and hold them punishable.
Nigerians who consider themselves enlightened might dismiss the Oba’s words
as illogical. But the scapegoating of groups – which has a long history all over
the world – has never been about logic. The Oba’s words matter because they
bring worrying echoes of the early 1960s in Nigeria, when Igbo people were
scapegoated for political reasons. Chinua Achebe, when he finally accepted that
Lagos, the city he called home, was unsafe for him because he was Igbo, saw
crowds at the motor park taunting Igbo people as they boarded buses: ‘Go, Igbo,
go so that garri will be cheaper in Lagos!’
Of course Igbo people were not responsible for the cost of garri. But they were
perceived as people who were responsible for a coup and who were ‘taking over’
and who, consequently, could be held responsible for everything bad.
Any group of people would understandably be troubled by a threat such as the
Oba’s, but the Igbo, because of their history in Nigeria, have been particularly
troubled. And it is a recent history. There are people alive today who were
publicly attacked in cosmopolitan Lagos in the 1960s because they were Igbo.
Even people who were merely light-skinned were at risk of violence in Lagos
markets, because to be light-skinned was to be mistaken for Igbo.
Almost every Nigerian ethnic group has a grouse of some sort with the Nigerian
state. The Nigerian state has, by turns, been violent, unfair, neglectful, of
different parts of the country. Almost every ethnic group has derogatory
stereotypes attached to it by other ethnic groups.
But it is disingenuous to suggest that the experience of every ethnic group has
been the same. Anti-Igbo violence began under the British colonial government,
with complex roots and manifestations. But the end result is a certain psychic
difference in the relationship of Igbo people to the Nigerian state. To be Igbo in
Nigeria is constantly to be suspect; your national patriotism is never taken as
the norm, you are continually expected to prove it.
All groups are conditioned by their specific histories. Perhaps another ethnic
group would have reacted with less concern to the Oba’s threat, because that
ethnic group would not be conditioned by a history of being targets of violence,
as the Igbo have been.
Many responses to the Oba’s threat have mentioned the ‘welcoming’ nature of
Lagos, and have made comparisons between Lagos and southeastern towns like
Onitsha. It is valid to debate the ethnic diversity of different parts of Nigeria, to
compare, for example, Ibadan and Enugu, Ado-Ekiti and Aba, and to debate who
moves where, and who feels comfortable living where and why that is. But it is
odd to pretend that Lagos is like any other city in Nigeria. It is not. The political
history of Lagos and its development as the first national capital set it apart.
Lagos is Nigeria’s metropolis. There are ethnic Igbo people whose entire lives
have been spent in Lagos, who have little or no ties to the southeast, who speak
Yoruba better than Igbo. Should they, too, be reminded to be ‘grateful’ each
time an election draws near?
No law-abiding Nigerian should be expected to show gratitude for living
peacefully in any part of Nigeria. Landlords in Lagos should not, as still happens
too often, be able to refuse to rent their property to Igbo people.
The Oba’s words were disturbing, but its context is even more disturbing:
The anti-Igbo rhetoric that has been part of the political discourse since the
presidential election results. Accusatory and derogatory language – using words
like ‘brainwashed,’ ‘tribalistic voting’ – has been used to describe President
Jonathan’s overwhelming win in the southeast. All democracies have regions
that vote in large numbers for one side, and even though parts of Northern
Nigeria showed voting patterns similar to the Southeast, the opprobrium has
been reserved for the Southeast.
But the rhetoric is about more than mere voting. It is really about citizenship. To
be so entitled as to question the legitimacy of a people’s choice in a democratic
election is not only a sign of disrespect but is also a questioning of the full
citizenship of those people.
What does it mean to be a Nigerian citizen?
When Igbo people are urged to be ‘grateful’ for being in Lagos, do they somehow
have less of a right as citizens to live where they live? Every Nigerian should be
able to live in any part of Nigeria. The only expectation for a Nigerian citizen
living in any part of Nigeria is to be law-abiding. Not to be ‘grateful.’ Not to be
expected to pay back some sort of unspoken favour by toeing a particular
political line. Nigerian citizens can vote for whomever they choose, and should
never be expected to justify or apologize for their choice.
Only by feeling a collective sense of ownership of Nigeria can we start to forge a
nation. A nation is an idea. Nigeria is still in progress. To make this a nation, we
must collectively agree on what citizenship means: all Nigerians must matter
equally.

Tell me now what is the difference between Yorubas and their ab0ki masters?


The Begining of the end is here.

the yorubas have now adopted threat of violence in place of dialogue and debate just as they now see education as worthless prerequisite to leadership.

The oba is a tout.

Ok

a heroine she is

Nice one
I will say it again

Middle finger to the Oba

Oba Akiolu is an ediot

Are people not tired of this topic yet?

richol:
a heroine she is

Firstly,dat oba is high on some ikorodu weed


Dat girl is saying that bcoz she fear say if den pursue her enter lagoon her musical career sef go follow her jump

Jk

I don't know whether the oba is remorse for what he said. This whole problem started because the SE voted massively for Jonathan. Since then, the Igbos are now seen as anti progress.

We need to learn to live in harmony with each other. This is democracy and everyone should be free to air his or her views.

That being said, this Oba stuff should be long forgotten. We just need to be careful with our utterances.

When the bloods of the Igbos start turning the rivers and lagoons of Lagos red, it is a pity your sorry ass will be hiding in New York.

If only your parents taught you decorum and commonsense, you will know it is idiocy and stupidity to talk back at elders even if they erred not least an OBA. The fact you wake up your father's in the East with Karate kicks doesn't equate that Respect and commonsense is lost elsewhere.

The Hausa/fulanis have taught your people generational lessons that have kept your tribe in place and know when to keep quiet and not drag political relevance and authority with them in the North. The lesson here is for the Yorubas that the Hausa/Fulani treatment is the best way to treat these ungrateful and uncultured animalistic bigots and they shall surely get it either Agbaje wins or Ambode does, it really does not matter. They hold political powers the real powers of the sea and the forces of Lagos lie solely with the OLOWO EKO, THat Lagos flourish is due to the benevolent of OLOKUN and the ADIMULAS of Lagos. You will be taught the lesson of RESPECT AND WISDOM VERY SOON, AND IT IS SO VERY SOON.

The same cheatbeating and empty boast that earned your forefathers massive slaughtering and carnage in 60s is same path youre toiling today and surely you will get it.

The hospitality and accommodative nature of the Yorubas is now term cowardice but we will teach you lessons that the Operation wetie of the 60s wasn't a filmtrick.

You all on the Island and idumagbo/idumota axis will start feeling the new initiative from next week that the OLOWO EKO truly own LAGOS, If you think the title of OBA OF LAGOS is like the inconsequential and stupid AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY ward leaders you CALL IGWES AND EZES in your undeveloped and erosion ravaged villages that are not fit for human habitation then you all will know what depth of destruction Ifeanyi ubah and his co travellers have taken you.

A NEW LAGOS HAS BEEN BORN, WATCH IT UNFOLD VERY SOON

pendicle:
[s]When the bloods of the Igbos start turning the rivers and lagoons of Lagos red, it is a pity your sorry ass will be hiding in New York.

If only your parents taught you decorum and commonsense, you will know it is idiocy and stupidity to talk back at elders even if they erred not least an OBA. The fact you wake up your father's in the East with Karate kicks doesn't equate that Respect and commonsense is lost elsewhere.

The Hausa/fulanis have taught your people generational lessons that have kept your tribe in place and know when to keep quiet and not drag political relevance and authority with them in the North. The lesson here is for the Yorubas that the Hausa/Fulani treatment is the best way to treat these ungrateful and uncultured animalistic bigots and they shall surely get it either Agbaje wins or Ambode does, it really does not matter. They hold political powers the real powers of the sea and the forces of Lagos lie solely with the OLOWO EKO, THat Lagos flourish is due to the benevolent of OLOKUN and the ADIMULAS of Lagos. You will be taught the lesson of RESPECT AND WISDOM VERY SOON, AND IT IS SO VERY SOON.

The same cheatbeating and empty boast that earned your forefathers massive slaughtering and carnage in 60s is same path youre toiling today and surely you will get it.

The hospitality and accommodative nature of the Yorubas is now term cowardice but we will teach you lessons that the Operation wetie of the 60s wasn't a filmtrick.

You all on the Island and idumagbo/idumota axis will start feeling the new initiative from next week that the OLOWO EKO truly own LAGOS, If you think the title of OBA OF LAGOS is like the inconsequential and stupid AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY ward leaders you CALL IGWES AND EZES in your undeveloped and erosion ravaged villages that are not fit for human habitation then you all will know what depth of destruction Ifeanyi ubah and his co travellers have taken you.

A NEW LAGOS HAS BEEN BORN, WATCH IT UNFOLD VERY SOON[/s]

Internet warrior you can only punch ur keypad with anger...#lazycoward

I'm igbo but i am very thankful to the yorubas fior their support and accommodation. For God's sake even if it is impossible for the oba to drown us all in the lagoon there are other ways of frustrating us through tribalistic means. These guys didnt retaliate when a poor performing state government like Abia sacked all non indigenous civil servants some time ago but no one shouted, they reserved our jobs and abandoned properties for us even after we lost the civil war unlike our so called brothers in the south south who developed profound hatred against us .After the war we still overzealously tried to take over the south east but were stopped in Ore by Colonel Benjamin Adekunle (Black Scorpion)and his men Yet they did to us the opposite of what our brothers from the north would have done.
Yet in appreciation for their kind gesture we called them cowards and their land 'A No Man's Land' and 'A Colonial Settlement'. Forgetting that they existed and were flourishing economically eve before the arrival of the colonial masters.
My people please be wise

.

I'm Igbo but i am very thankful to the Yorubas fior their support and accommodation. For God's sake even if it is impossible for the Oba to drown us all in the lagoon there are other ways of frustrating us through tribalistic means. These guys never retaliated when a poor performing state government such as that of Abia sacked all non indigenous civil servants at a point in time and no one shouted ;but we took up the defensive shield when destitutes were deported forgetting that indigenes of Osun Ogun Oyo states indigenes were also casualties of this program . They reserved our jobs and abandoned properties for us even after we lost the civil war unlike our so called brothers in the south south who developed profound hatered against us .After the war we still overzealously tried to take over the south east but were stoped in Ore by Colonel Benjamin Adekunle (Black Scorpion)and his men Yet they did to us the opposite of what our brothers from the north would have done.
Yet in appreciation for their kind gesture we called them cowards and their land 'A No Man's Land' and 'A Colonial Settlement'. Forgetting that they existed and were flourishing economically eve before the arrival of the colonial masters.
My people please be wise

The only Ibos understand is violence

Thats why they never call Hausas cowards. Its Yorubas who arent violent towards them that get the tags of cowards

Oba won't throw you in the lagoon. The Atlantic will come eventually ( climate change)
I laugh at those who bought land in places like lekki and environs( whether indigen or non indigen)
That place will be under water in a few years, probably in 30 years

she try shaa

Lagos is a conquered city. A colonial settlement. No man's land. Tell me akiolu I said so

THey will put her in the lagoon

Chimamanda didn't just get the point here. Am a yoruba boy born in lagos, I grew up in lagos, did almost everything in lagos. But I will never call lagos my homeland because my ancestral home is ibadan. That's what your igbo brothers are not getting. Just because you were born in lagos doesn't warrant you to call lagos a no man's land or to falsely claim the citizenship of lagos.

The hausas in agege will never call lagos their home because they know where they came from, you never hear them call lagos a no man's land because they haven't forgotten their roots.

pendicle:
When the bloods of the Igbos start turning the rivers and lagoons of Lagos red, it is a pity your sorry ass will be hiding in New York.

If only your parents taught you decorum and commonsense, you will know it is idiocy and stupidity to talk back at elders even if they erred not least an OBA. The fact you wake up your father's in the East with Karate kicks doesn't equate that Respect and commonsense is lost elsewhere.

The Hausa/fulanis have taught your people generational lessons that have kept your tribe in place and know when to keep quiet and not drag political relevance and authority with them in the North. The lesson here is for the Yorubas that the Hausa/Fulani treatment is the best way to treat these ungrateful and uncultured animalistic bigots and they shall surely get it either Agbaje wins or Ambode does, it really does not matter. They hold political powers the real powers of the sea and the forces of Lagos lie solely with the OLOWO EKO, THat Lagos flourish is due to the benevolent of OLOKUN and the ADIMULAS of Lagos. You will be taught the lesson of RESPECT AND WISDOM VERY SOON, AND IT IS SO VERY SOON.

The same cheatbeating and empty boast that earned your forefathers massive slaughtering and carnage in 60s is same path youre toiling today and surely you will get it.

The hospitality and accommodative nature of the Yorubas is now term cowardice but we will teach you lessons that the Operation wetie of the 60s wasn't a filmtrick.

You all on the Island and idumagbo/idumota axis will start feeling the new initiative from next week that the OLOWO EKO truly own LAGOS, If you think the title of OBA OF LAGOS is like the inconsequential and stupid AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY ward leaders you CALL IGWES AND EZES in your undeveloped and erosion ravaged villages that are not fit for human habitation then you all will know what depth of destruction Ifeanyi ubah and his co travellers have taken you.

A NEW LAGOS HAS BEEN BORN, WATCH IT UNFOLD VERY SOON

I triple, double and quadruple DARE you to say that infront of an igbo man, not woman, Igbo MAN. Make sure to videotape everything and post it up here.

Internet coward. Only online you fit get mouth.

itzWarner:


Firstly,dat oba is high on some ikorodu weed


Dat girl is saying that bcoz she fear say if den pursue her enter lagoon her musical career sef go follow her jump

Jk

do ur research.......shes into writing of novels not music

OneNaira6:


I triple, double and quadruple DARE you to say that infront of an igbo man, not woman, Igbo MAN. Make sure to videotape everything and post it up here.

Internet coward. Only online you fit get mouth.

this continuous chestbeating accounts for the negative perception of Igbo's.the oba of Lagos occupies the royal stool of Lagos.the same stool that has been occupied by the dead and will be occupied by the unborn.IGA idugabran is our royal palace and it doesn't matter who becomes governor,that will never change.Lagos has never been and will never be no man's land.

Chimamanda proved her ignorance when she said Lagos was the colonial capital of Nigeria and thus belongs to all.what then do we call lokoja?igboas always play the victim.they complain of high taxes forgetting all other tribes in Lagos including lagosians pay same tax.they complain about their markets been dirty while forgetting their market unions collect more levies than even the government.

Nigeria has a constitution which is supreme.however,the constitution doesn't make it compulsory for aworis to take a backset so Igbo's take over lagos