ValarDoharis:
Yorubas are the proliferators of tribalism the most Azikiwe of the Ibo tribe introduced tribalism to Nigeria. His boy Peter Obi took it to an higher level. Ibrahimcoomasie:
Early politicians of the 30s, 40s, Chiefs among them are mostly talented in writing and journalism and some owned media outfits, with which they laud and inflate their egos while simultaneously deflating d profile of those they disagree with in the political firmament.
Herbert Macaulay (A Yoruba man), the Father of Nigerian Nationalism, also a journalist was fond of calling dissenting voices 'imperialism agents' but ZIK took it to an elevated proportion, re-christened it to 'imperial stooges', 'Uncle Toms' and 'aunty Jememas', even those whose patriotism and Nationalism had never been in doubt were so named; minor disagreements and you are blacklisted. ZIK had a Newspaper outlet, 'the Pilot', a tool he creatively used to maximum advantage. The editors would daily eulogize him for d basics, and sometimes for the hitherto unknown and unheard of good things for Nigeria, nay, 'Mother Africa', Some of them acclaimed him as d 'Ghandi of Africa' and others declared that ZIK deeds had 'eleczik-ified' them.
ZIK was obviously very gifted, intelligent and clever which manifested in his works; however, he was regarded by many of his peers as the 1st consummate propagandist that Nigeria ever produced. In inflating his own ego or deflating that of his rivals, publications on the Pilot observed neither modesty nor reck. In this connection, he was in direct line of succession to Herbet Macaulay, but like all sons who are worthy of their parentage, in this respect, ZIK outdid Herbert Macaulay, for he took propaganda several notches higher with a slant of deep seated tribalism.
[b]For example, when the ban on Palm Kernel was imposed, the Pilot supported it and reported thus: "the measure by the Government is fair. Instead of reducing the whole country to poverty, only the Western provinces will be affected and they can switch over to other avenues, to make body and soul live." He held similar stance as to the agitation against the 'Cocoa Pool'.
ZIK brazenly supported a policy which clearly threatened the livelihood of the Yorubas. Were the East on the receiving end here, ZIK would have dipped pen in gall, and crafted a creatively worded opinion on the Pilot, denouncing the Cocoa Pool as an 'imperialist device or stratagem whose aim, object and purpose was to oppress, repress, depress and distress Nigerian Cocoa producers and dealers economically' and he would have replicated same for d ban on palm kernels in d West. He would have labeled it 'a gross betrayal of trust, an indelible stain, blemish and stigma on British imperialism; a vain attempt, a complete misfire and a palpable boner in the realm of divide et impera.'[/b] Pardon my poor attempt at replicating ZIK's creative writing genius, he many a time used such strong words.
ZIK took this tribalist venom to higher Plateau when he graced the front page of the Pilot, and entitled it 'Football Iliad, 1940 Edition' what many described as a shocker, a big step forward in an insidious campaign colored in Bigotry. A football match between 2 schools, Christ the King's college, Onitsha was hosted by St. Gregory's college in Lagos, in a match tagged 'Win the War'.
The CKC team from Onitsha defeated St Gregory's team by 5 goals to 4. Spectators had a good watch, even the host considered the match very entertaining, a bonding moment for teams made up of teenagers of different cultures, that afterall is the spirit of sport.
But how did ZIK report it? ZIK saw in the sporting exploits and triumph of the team from Onitsha the inherent superiority of the Ibos over the Yorubas and he went to very great pains to establish this in d careful choice of words and emphasis..
"And then to think of the great combination of d Spartan heroes who crossed her loudly Niger, journeyed through the good earth of Benin, hurried across the domains of the Oshemawe of Ondo, of the Atanla of Owo, of the Owa of Ilesha, of the Ooni of Ife, of the Alake of Abeokuta in their invasion of these islands!
Who, but heroes of mighty brawn and exceptionally developed brain would have dared to make this invasion and to succeed in carrying to their River Niger home, the Golden fleece of Inter-Collegiate Soccer Championship of d Eastern and Western Provinces?"
https://twitter.com/LegendaryJoe/status/1638066082652012545?t=kX5tAe6CJgjxafLLfDYiPQ&s=19 Ibrahimcoomasie:
CONT'D
...Such was the mocking tone with which ZIK described an innocent football match with a slant of superiority complex.
But the same CKC team met the Olubadan XI, an undiluted Yoruba team in another 'Win the War' match on 24 August 1940 and were roundly defeated 3-2.
It may just be a matter of coincidence that ZIK wasn't in the mood to write at the time or perhaps he suffered what we call 'Writer's Block', because for more than 2 weeks, this headline event never got reported on the Pilot. And when the paper finally wrote on it, it was only a small item on the back page, like a mistress smuggled out of the window at the arrival of the madam of the house..and was laced with excuses,
"the CKC team was already tired; some of the players were in fact limping before the match",
and other calculated efforts to avoid giving the yoruba boys their well deserved accolade, and extreme energy was exerted in ensuring the brilliance and talent of those little yoruba boys was never acknowledged.
This was but tip of the Iceberg, ZIK would go full scale Bigotry afterwards.
Shall I Begin?
The Ibos were given inordinate publicity on the pages of the paper, which I regard as appropriate and in order, to promote one's root..but at a time when other Nationalists made concerted efforts in describing citizens of Nigeria as Nigerians or Africans and celebrated their laurels and feats as credits to Nigeria and Africa as a whole, ZIK would jettison the whole for the particular and elevate Ibo over and above every other tribe and largely over Nigeria as an entity, and in a manner that smirked Ego inspired Hate.
Typical Front Page news title in the Pilot this time were;
1. 'Ibo Young man Sail to U.K.' Sept 23, 1938. Referring to Mr. Jaja Wachukwu, who later became Speaker of Houe of Rep.
2. '14th West African Student, 10th Nigerian, 8th Ibo in U.S.A.' Jan 28, 1939. The 8th Ibo was Mr. Nwafor Orizu, later became Senator.
3. 'Ibo Medical Student Passes Exam in 1st Class Honours.' June 26, 1940. That was Dr. S.O. Eguwatu.
And some weird editorials like:
'The Ibo Are Coming' Dec 31, 1938, Wondered what ZIK meant, but the title is indicative enough of some theory of domination.
These are but very few examples of deliberate actions of ZIK in portraying the perceived supremacy of the Ibos over others, for the Pilot never beamed the light on the achievements of Nigerians of other ethnic stock...
For example, when the Ph.D. degree of London University, indeed any university for that matter, was conferred on the first Nigerian ever, such historic success was only given a small space in the paper and the title read: 'Nigerian Economist passes Ph.D. London', because that scholar was Dr. Fadipe, a Yoruba.
https://twitter.com/LegendaryJoe/status/1639515371844542466?t=rKkNJdj8CJrPBPRFw_FMOQ&s=19
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