₦airaland Forum

SolutionsMed:
Last week’s verbal attack on the Igbo by a Roman Catholic priest, Rev. Fr. James Anelu, from Edo State, brought the issue of Igbophobia to the fore once more in Nigeria. As if on cue, the next day, a deputy commissioner of police, Mr Ibrahim Babazango, from Adamawa State, was reported to have threatened the life of one Igbo man, Mr. Vincent Umeh, for buying the property next to his residence in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State.

For Rev. Fr. Anelu, the Priest-in-Charge of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Enu-Owa, Ikorodu, Lagos State, the trigger was that the choir was singing “too many” Igbo choruses. It was reported that he stopped the choir midway and outlawed the singing of Igbo songs in the church. That was not all. He went into the usual ethnic tirade of how Igbo people liked to dominate everywhere, citing the example of an Igbo person being the bishop of his home diocese (Benin Diocese), and other stereotypical statements.

From his speech, captured on camera, it was obvious the singing of Igbo songs was not his main problem. The Igbo were his problem. Even though that parish was highly populated by Igbo people, for the sake of integration and inclusiveness, songs sung at such a church should reflect the ethnic diversity of Nigeria. A Roman Catholic head of a parish wields enormous power. He can sack the entire choir. If Anelu’s concern was truly the need for inclusiveness, he could have invited the leaders of the choir to a private meeting and explained to them the need to sing more songs from other ethnic groups and English. After that, if the problem persisted, he could apply punitive measures to the leadership of the choir or the lead vocalists with the sole aim of correcting the problem.

He could also take other practical measures to change the situation like encouraging more non-Igbo people to join the choir. He could also encourage non-Igbo to teach the choir more non-Igbo songs to deepen their repertoire. But the words of Fr. Anelu showed that his primary concern was not to promote inclusiveness but to express his views about the Igbo. The Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos quickly intervened by suspending him.

In the case of Babazango, Sahara Reporters had reported that he was caught in an audio warning Umeh to reverse the land purchase deal or face some consequences, including no guarantee of his personal safety.

“We’re a homogeneous community, I don’t want you; you can’t be my next-door neighbour, I swear. What sort of insult is this? Can any northerner move now to the South-East, say Onitsha, and just bump into any neighbourhood to buy a property just like that?” the senior police officer had allegedly said to Umeh. Sahara Reporters reported that when it contacted Babazango, he maintained his stand on the issue.

A follow-up news story by Sahara Reporters noted that the Nigeria Police Force described the accusation as false, stating that Umeh never reported such a case to them as he claimed. However, Sahara Reporters confirmed that Umeh reported the matter to Zone 3 Police Command, Yola and also the office of the Department of State Services in December 2021.

These cases only became points of interest because of the status of those involved and because they were brought to the media space. But they are not unusual. They are only part of a bigger and deeper problem. In the recent past, some prominent Nigerians like the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.); Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, etc, have been caught on camera displaying Igbophobia. However, most non-Igbo, who don’t experience Igbophobia, would easily dismiss any claim that Igbophobia is systemic in Nigeria. But that should not be surprising because they are not involved. It is said that whoever feels it knows it.

There are two types of Igbophobia in Nigeria: the brazen and the subtle. The brazenness is what usually attracts national attention. Subtle Igbophobia usually goes unnoticed. It is so deep in the system that it is taken as normal. In fact, those who engage in it do not realise that they have such a problem. It manifests in different ways like giving the Igbo a different standard or condition that is not given to other ethnicities or always believing that there is “something” wrong with the Igbo.

Many nice, urbane, educated, supposedly detribalised, open-minded Nigerians don’t even know that they have Igbophobic tendencies. They will swear with conviction that they are not Igbophobes. But once you hear someone say: “Igbos are great people but…;” “I have many Igbo friends. I have nothing against Igbos but…;” “The problem with Igbos is…,” you see a subtle Igbophobe.

If you discuss the issue further with such people, their next line is that they are speaking the truth and that one problem with “you people” is that you don’t like the truth.” Then you hear something like: “You people are too emotional.” To such people, they are merchants of truth and rationality, while the problem is with “you people.”

Whichever way the Igbo act, such people find something wrong with it. For example, if the Igbo vote for their kinsman, the accusation is: “You people are clannish.” If people from the North or South-West or South-South do the same, the music changes to: “They are politically strategic.” If the Igbo vote for non-Igbo people, the same people say: “Igbo people don’t speak with one voice. They don’t love one another.” If people from the North or South-West or South-South do the same, the narrative changes to: “They are politically sophisticated.” Then, if the Igbo vote massively for one candidate, the accusation becomes: “Igbo put their eggs in one basket.” If the Igbo spread their votes between two candidates, the accusation changes to: “Igbo scatter their votes unwisely. They are not politically sophisticated.” Head or tail, there is something wrong with the Igbo people.

Without knowing it, these nice people who harbour unconscious Igbophobic feelings regularly set different standards for the Igbo, standards they don’t set for their own folks or other ethnic groups: “You guys must come together and present one presidential candidate with integrity.” If you ask them which ethnic group has ever done that, they bring up another blackmailing line about “you people ‘’ not liking to hear the truth and then jump to another topic.

The biggest challenge facing the Igbo is their large numbers in other parts of Nigeria. They are usually the second largest population after the indigenous people. They usually control the retail business wherever they are. Therefore, if the indigenous people want to buy a malaria drug, it is an Igbo person they go to. If they need a spare part for their motorcycle or motor vehicle, it is an Igbo person that sells it to them. If they need a shirt, an electric bulb, a tin of milk, a loaf of bread, a bowl of rice or a mobile phone, it is an Igbo person that sells it to them. Consequently, the Igbo unconsciously assume the image of an army of occupation, which attracts resentment towards them. This is compounded by the aggressiveness with which the Igbo buy parcels of land and erect houses wherever they are. It creates a convincing narrative that the Igbo have a long-term agenda of taking over the communities where they reside, which worsens the resentment towards them. Being a loud and proud people does not help the case of the Igbo. Therefore, if the economy tanks and prices of goods go up, the Igbo get the blame for that because they sell most of the goods the indigenous people use. If there is a riot, their goods and investments become easy targets.

The Igbo are not saints or angels. They have weaknesses and strengths like any other ethnic group. But the problem lies in always concentrating on their weaknesses or using the bad acts of individuals to judge the entire ethnic group or setting an impossible standard for them. Nigerians have an Igbo problem, which they do not realise, but which they need to solve, if the claim of national cohesion and unity has any sincerity in it.

Twitter: @BrandAzuka

https://punchng.com/igbophobia-runs-deeper-than-we-think/

Igbophobia is real.

Coolbreeze1988:
And we troops here in the northeast are suffering. No water no food sometimes, no armor. There's God though. Na to resign sure pass. I can't do this anymore

You can see where the money for your water and food is going. God save Nigeria

yemite100:
Good day Nairalanders,

I work as a security officer in a community, I usually work from 7:00am - 3pm in a secondary school, and also resume night duty by 7pm in a community close to my house
The landlord association gave us a warning that we must check all cars coming in and going out of the estate and we have been performing our duties in a polite way..
About 11:35pm last night, we heard the horn of a strange car requesting that we should open the gate, I switch on my touch to check those inside the car, it was three abled young men and lady inside the car, in a polite way I ask them where they are heading to and they mentioned a popular rich man in the community, as usual, I told them to open the booth of there car which they refused to open, I told them to drive back to where they are coming from but before I could know what's happening,. They got down from the car and threathing to deal with us if the gate is not opened...they forced the gate open and drove inside the community,my colleague we're just watching the whole scenario as I drag issues with them...
I don't know the report they gave the chairman of the landlords association, they just got to our checkpoint this morning and told me I have been fired without paying me off, I told them I haven't done anything wrong and was just carrying out my duties,I was told never to come close to the area again or else I will be arrested.
I left there in annoyance, I was only carrying out my duties but now I have been Sacked for carrying out order...
I don't know what this country is turning to again...

Bros tell yourself the truth, you were not polite. Obviously you must have been notoriously harassing visitors and residents traversing the security post. This must be the reason you were singled out for sack.

Unruly7:
Is it the Hausa don't can't even buy normal bus ticket to travel they only follow tomatoes truck to east are the ones that will buy properties
People that hate renting house?

Imagine you transfer someone like this to SE he will kill and jail innocent Igbo men and women


That's why their unprofessional soldiers and DSS are in East killing innocent people in the name of unknown men gun and Ipod


God will judge y'all las las




Northern Nigeria can not take half of evil they dish out to others in this country

Soon everything will turn around sha

These are the people who go about burning Igbo communities in the guise of chasing criminals.

zedman1:
There's a comma after her name, before the 'late'....
Modified; Ok, others have pointed it out already.

Noted. Thanks

SwissMass:
Who is aliyu Abdullahi

Who is Deji Adeyanju?

Privatepart00:
She didn’t said Onyeka Onwenu is dead . If you looked closely there’s a comma after her name. The (late) is for Fela and Osadebe.

Ok. Seen.

Which one is Onyeka Onwenu (late)? When did Onyeka Onwenu die?

Pappyxar:
To calculate your tithe , you need to have removed your Monthly expenses, your saving and petty cash, then the rest you can divide by 10%.
if your total cost for a month is 90k, Your salary is 10k and your tithe is 1k.

I don't need you to quote me to talk rubbish, read your bible well and stop following all what this yahoo pastors that can't even interpret a bible are saying.

You pay your tithe based Net income not Gross

"Personally, I tithe on net rather than gross because many of the services provided by the Levites are covered by taxes today.
The Levites provided judicial services. They were the judges, lawyers, law enforcement agents, and even managed the penal system. They also provided educational services throughout Israel and organized all the festivals (which were religious in nature but nationally observed).

They even took care of medical services. For that reason, I also deduct medical expenses (insurance, consultation fees, medical procedures, and prescriptions) before paying tithes."

We are in democracy not theocracy. There are no levites in Nigeria bro. Give to the needy and support the expansion of the gospel by donating to missionaries. Christ who was a high priest in the order of Melchizedek NEVER collected tithe.

Let Christians be Christians.

Myzubby:
nawa o
may be he is a traditionalist
you can park out bro





he formally printed the letter lol.
Maybe the tenant get money.

I don't thinks the tenant is living in a rented apartment. Obviously the man sold the land to him.

Truthisunique2:

What's that?

donbachi:
Na still politicians own those accounts.wen most nigerians account balances na 0.00naira.

Some of them may be owned by dead people. I have 4 abandoned bank accounts

paulolee:
q
I swear....na e type de summerize dt big ababio biology textbook for small paper enter exam hall

Ababio na Chemistry textbook-New School Chemistry by Osei Yaw Ababio.

nitt:
Guy propose shaparly mek him get legitimate opportunity to travel overseas.

I see u

Read again. The guy is already residing abroad where they met.

Osagyefo98:
Dilapidated Nature of Primary School in Ezinifite Aguata, Anambra State

Watch Video:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=388056526457216&id=102914378304767&fs=1&focus_composer=0&m_entstream_source=feed_mobile

Soludo is from Aguata. He will take care of this.

Michelle70:
u should check it, he is saying minus 100/100

Ok. Now I see

MALIGNANTGuest:
RATINGS OF ABIA GOVERNORS since 1999:

Orji Uzor; -20/100
T.A.ORJI; -100/100
IKPEAZU; -50/100

TA ORJI 100/100? Is this a joke or what?

logicalman:
Are you sure that you have said the whole truth because I know that Yoruba do insult other tribes unless when they want to gain something from you or take advantage of you.

They are the first to mention Igbos, but will complain when Igbos react. I tire

360degreess:
Bad news to ipob online miscreants

Is this a good news to you?

Emyogalanya:
Just few weeks ago, I made a thread on these Co defendants of Kanu. After I posted it I silently said to myself: watch as that will soon be arraigned. And now this. This government can be very funny. I'm sure they are on nairaland

They are here. But they keep embarrassing themselves with incompetency. Even Justice Binta don dey vex for them.

Deceit

SportsHD:
Avoid banks that are prone to fraud, banks like Access, uba, first, gtb, eco, zenith and the rest. Go and open you a union bank. Buhari's share in that bank is making it one of the best and still standing banks in Nigeria.

Which Union bank?.

slawormiir:
Damnnn niggar
I saw this news yesterday

I think her ATM was swapped

Maybe she needed the assistance of someone at that ATM machine...then the person swapped the ATM card...inserted the swapped one and entered the pin....so the machine swallowed the card

Whereas the real ATM card is still with the person....after that the person walked to the nearest pos and withdrew all the money

Because you can't use ATM machine to withdrew more than 150,000

This is what happened

sazzyyarns:
My husband flogs me with cane and belt whenever we have an altercation. We are not newly weds and by now we should have understood each other.

He never apologizes when we reconcile instead he says i should stop doing things that provoke him (which doesnt include me going physical, so its not even in self defence). At this point im really just frustrated!!!
He flogs me in the presence of the kids, sometimes he flogs them and then flogs me too.

You married a disciplinary master. Congrats dear.

flokii:
This is why South West leaders be it traditional, religious and political need to act fast, think outside the box and put up a kind of periodic town hall meeting for our youths..

Stop giving out positions meant for Yorubas to outsiders.. Yoruba offsprings deserve to be gainfully employed in their own region, not to be engaged as thugs, agberos, internet fraudsters etc. Enough of the charity to outsiders while Yorubas are being neglected. Go to Abia state, they don't employ Imo indigenes or involve Enugu people in their state affairs. So why should people be travelling long distances to come and take up jobs from our youths?

Yoruba ronu!
We must wake up from this deep slumber we have fallen into.

Who told you Imo or Anambra people are not in Abia State Civil Service? Your good advice to Yoruba leaders was ruined by your tribal sentiments.

wirinet:
How can we have a functional family system when what is promoted is quick or instant acquisition of wealth and not strong family values like love, honesty and integrity.

God help us.

obi4eze:
If they like let them approve grade 20. They will still leave for the UK and US which offers them better opportunities. Afterall a band 5 nurse in the UK will earn more than a Director of Nursing in a Nigerian hospital.

But will not be richer than a Director of Nursing in Nigeria.

Anazp:
Hello everyone. FOR a man with his wife and four kids, is 12 million naira a year enough? Thanks

No

Serious

Police waiting for logistics before visiting a crime scene for investigation. How true is this?

Beebah2000:
I no understand this news ooo.
Who be the seller and who be the buyer??
Who start to dey beat who??
What is going on here?

The story and headline are contradictory.

MARS1:
It's obvious you're just a keyboard warrior without a tune of reality. Our boys played better, just that in the end, results are all that matters.

Played better for which match? The one I watched or another?