₦airaland Forum

The National Youth President of Afenifere, Eniola Ojajuni, has backed Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters International Christian Centre for describing the Yoruba as “fearful” and the Igbo as “courageous.”

Ojajuni described the cleric’s comment as “accurate,” advising that Yoruba people must begin to speak up instead of clinging to the “I no wan die” mentality.

The cleric, while delivering a sermon at his church as seen in a video circulating on social media, said fear was the root problem of the Yoruba race.

He described fear as a crippling trait that had held many Yoruba people back from achieving greatness, adding that they must break free from the grip of fear.

The pastor said, “Yoruba people, there is a problem with the Yoruba race. Even the ones that are 48 years old. There is a problem with your race, and it is called fear. Life bows for the courageous. Life works against the fearful, I am saying it so that from a young age, destroy it.”

Pastor Idowu contrasted the Yoruba with the Igbo ethnic group, praising the Igbo for their boldness and influence around the world.

“That is why I love the Igbo. They are fearless. There is no country in this world where you will not see an Igbo man. But in Yoruba culture, careful, careful; what is careful, man dies only once,” he said.

He encouraged the congregation, especially the youth, to cast off fear and embrace courage as a pathway to overcoming limitations and achieving success in life.

Reacting to the cleric’s comment in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Ojanuni said the pastor was right, adding that Yoruba forefathers did well when it came to speaking for the betterment of the country.
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The Afenifere youth leader claimed that Yoruba people were afraid to come forward and openly express what they want.

He said, “If Yoruba people in Nigeria were as bold or courageous as those clamouring for a Yoruba nation in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, we would have got Yoruba nation. Why is it that we in Nigeria cannot do the same? A Yoruba adage says, ‘A man should be found in a courageous position.’

Ojajuni also backed Pastor Bolaji’s claim about the fearlessness of the Igbo people, adding that the Yoruba often betray themselves.

He said, “If you look at the Igbos, 60 per cent of them are with Nnamdi Kanu and their leaders. This is because they want Biafra. The Yorubas should come out too. The monarchs, who are the custodians of Yoruba tradition, should come out and talk at the roundtable to discuss whether the current system is working for the Yoruba or not.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos-based cleric has faced criticism over his remarks, which some have perceived as disparaging to the Yoruba race.

An X user, @temmyt007, asked if the pastor was preaching from a pulpit.

She posted, “Excessive desperation to make money and the love of money is the reason for most of our societal ills these days, including money rituals.

“As much as it is good to be fearless, the scenario above shouldn’t be used to teach fearlessness.”

Another X user, @abiaeme68581, said, “So sad that this is coming from a supposed pastor… This is one of the people who contributed to damaging Nigeria.”

https://punchng.com/afenifere-leader-backs-courageous-igbo-comment/

Mynd44 Lalasticlala Nlfpmod

Very courageous. It is difficult to see a group of people who can be so courageous in taking death sentence as a child's play all in a bid to get rich. Death sentences, a trade mark that honors their courage all around the world.

I have an interesting experience on this issue from my student days at OAU Ife.

I remember back then, my lecturer who comes from a prominent Yoruba family was sharing an anecdote with us about a fellow lecturer who was an Igbo man whose home had been attacked by an armed robber and how the Igbo man had overpowered the armed robber with the help of his wife who held down the criminal so her husband could beat him black and blue to the point where the armed robber started screaming for police to come and rescue him😂

It was a very funny story and we laughed even more when our lecturer told us that if it had been a Yoruba family, all you will be hearing is: "Eyin àrá àdugbó, é gbà wá"

It is an inherent trait in their DNA. The Aba women riot of 1942 that kick started the awareness to press for Nigeria's independence from ruthlessness of the then colonial masters comes to mind. The women mobilized themselves to mount stiff resistance culminating in the fleeing of the oppressors

Meanwhile, when the likes of the late rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, rear Admiral Ebitu Ukiwe and others were facing Abacha's bullet post June 12 1993 in Lagos, a man full of grandiosity fled to Chicago Illinois USA to engage in heroin drug running only to come back years later claiming emilokan.

Keep pressing their mumu button. Courageous indeed. Go to their States on Mondays and see how "courageous" they are.

BlackViper:
The National Youth President of Afenifere, Eniola Ojajuni, has backed Pastor Bolaji Idowu of Harvesters International Christian Centre for describing the Yoruba as “fearful” and the Igbo as “courageous.”

Ojajuni described the cleric’s comment as “accurate,” advising that Yoruba people must begin to speak up instead of clinging to the “I no wan die” mentality.

The cleric, while delivering a sermon at his church as seen in a video circulating on social media, said fear was the root problem of the Yoruba race.

He described fear as a crippling trait that had held many Yoruba people back from achieving greatness, adding that they must break free from the grip of fear.

The pastor said, “Yoruba people, there is a problem with the Yoruba race. Even the ones that are 48 years old. There is a problem with your race, and it is called fear. Life bows for the courageous. Life works against the fearful, I am saying it so that from a young age, destroy it.”

Pastor Idowu contrasted the Yoruba with the Igbo ethnic group, praising the Igbo for their boldness and influence around the world.

“That is why I love the Igbo. They are fearless. There is no country in this world where you will not see an Igbo man. But in Yoruba culture, careful, careful; what is careful, man dies only once,” he said.

He encouraged the congregation, especially the youth, to cast off fear and embrace courage as a pathway to overcoming limitations and achieving success in life.

Reacting to the cleric’s comment in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Ojanuni said the pastor was right, adding that Yoruba forefathers did well when it came to speaking for the betterment of the country.
Related News

LASU dismisses two lecturers over financial misconduct
Abuja strike: Pupils turn hawkers, teachers beg for survival
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The Afenifere youth leader claimed that Yoruba people were afraid to come forward and openly express what they want.

He said, “If Yoruba people in Nigeria were as bold or courageous as those clamouring for a Yoruba nation in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, we would have got Yoruba nation. Why is it that we in Nigeria cannot do the same? A Yoruba adage says, ‘A man should be found in a courageous position.’

Ojajuni also backed Pastor Bolaji’s claim about the fearlessness of the Igbo people, adding that the Yoruba often betray themselves.

He said, “If you look at the Igbos, 60 per cent of them are with Nnamdi Kanu and their leaders. This is because they want Biafra. The Yorubas should come out too. The monarchs, who are the custodians of Yoruba tradition, should come out and talk at the roundtable to discuss whether the current system is working for the Yoruba or not.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos-based cleric has faced criticism over his remarks, which some have perceived as disparaging to the Yoruba race.

An X user, @temmyt007, asked if the pastor was preaching from a pulpit.

She posted, “Excessive desperation to make money and the love of money is the reason for most of our societal ills these days, including money rituals.

“As much as it is good to be fearless, the scenario above shouldn’t be used to teach fearlessness.”

Another X user, @abiaeme68581, said, “So sad that this is coming from a supposed pastor… This is one of the people who contributed to damaging Nigeria.”

https://punchng.com/afenifere-leader-backs-courageous-igbo-comment/

Mynd44 Lalasticlala Nlfpmod

See the fearless wey him generations no fit point to any war they fought. I don't want to curse this morning

Is this not the scammer who claimed that he was kidnapped few months ago?

Na true o. The kind courage way make Ojukwu tear race after misleading over 3 million of his kinsmen to their untimely deaths. No other tribe get that kind courage. Even the courage way make Obi run from APGA to PDP to LP an now to ADC. No other tribe get that kind courage o.

Truly, the Igbos are courageous .

It was only the Igbos that looked buhari and tinubu in the eyes and called them failures which is the truth, buhari and tinubu failed woefully as president. Buhari still better pass Tinubu small sha.

God will continue to be on the side of the great Igbo tribe.

TruthHurts1:
I have an interesting experience on this issue from my student days at OAU Ife.

I remember back then, my lecturer who comes from a prominent Yoruba family was sharing an anecdote with us about a fellow lecturer who was an Igbo man whose home had been attacked by an armed robber and how the Igbo man had overpowered the armed robber with the help of his wife who held down the criminal so her husband could beat him black and blue to the point where the armed robber started screaming for police to come and rescue him😂

It was a very funny story and we laughed even more when our lecturer told us that if it had been a Yoruba family, all you will be hearing is: "Eyin àrá àdugbó, é gbà wá"

Nigerians, funny people. LWKMD.

That armed robber remembered that police is his friend..

God bless the honest man of God for saying it as it is.


We have been saying this for ages and our Southwest brothers will never agree, instead they claim it's because they are sophisticated


Britain, a small country colonized the rest of the world because they were brave, fearless in exploring every nooks and crannies of the world.


Yorubas will rather complain that Igbos want to take over their region, but in reality, Yorubas have a lot of wealth and even federal political influence they can use to invade Southeast and take over with massive investments and residing in Southeast, but fear will never let them do so, and still they will stay in Southwest and claim Igbos don't sell land to strangers but I have a lot of lands in Owerri, Awka, Enugu and Asaba that I am looking for buyers, if I see a Yoruba man, why won't I sell to him if he offers me a good price?



Yoruba youths please wake up, be brave, be courageous, it was you guys fear fear that made Bola Tinubu to become a kingkong from Lagos state and today he has become Nigeria's nightmare

This is the most fallacious statement of the 21st century


Yoruba people are the bravest in this contraption called Nigeria even though we are not perfect, during the time of Abacha there wasn't a single Igbo among those that fought for our return to democracy, that alone should tell you a lot about them even during the Biafra war the success of Biafra forces in the war was led by a Yoruba man but not all Yoruba are wise some are ignorant like this pastor.

He is mistaken being loud with a lot of chest beating for being brave.

SoftSport:
Keep pressing their mumu button. Courageous indeed. Go to their States on Mondays and see how "courageous" they are.

We don't have to respond to those clowns? Courageous but yet can't keep off Yorubaland

PureFace1:
This is the most fallacious statement of the 21st century


Yoruba people are the bravest in this contraption called Nigeria even though we are not perfect, during the time of Abacha there wasn't a single Igbo among those that fought for our return to democracy, that alone should tell you a lot about them even during the Biafra the success of Biafra forces in the war was led by a Yoruba man but not all Yoruba are wise some are ignorant like this pastor.

Political activism does not portray real braveness young man.


It's a selfish endeavor done in expectation of high political gain and relevance.

We are talking about general braveness and fearlessness in general life not just in political activism

franchasng:
Political activism does not portray real braveness young man.


It's a selfish endeavor done for and expected future gains.

We are talking about general braveness and fearlessness in general life not just in political activism

So suddenly Igbo are saints that don't like money and future gains?

If it is so easy why wasn't there a single Igbo among those that opposed Abacha regime? Igbo is at least the third largest tribe in Nigeria oh not a minority oh but not even a single one of you participated in such a big event in Nigeria that had people from even the minority.

You want to talk about real life bravery the only war success you had in the Biafra war was also led by a Yoruba man before OJuwku killed him out of Jealousy.

You think opposing a military regime that could shoot and kill on sight wasn't a real life display of bravery ?that alone says a lot about you and mean your words are just empty talks

PureFace1:
So suddenly Igbo are saints that don't like money and future gains?

If it is so easy why wasn't there a single Igbo among those that opposed Abacha regime? Igbo is at least the third largest tribe in Nigeria oh not a minority oh but not even a single one of you participated in such a big event in Nigeria that had people from even the minority.

You want to talk about real life bravery the only war success you had in the Biafra war was also led by a Yoruba man before OJuwku killed him out of Jealousy.

I don't think any of you understand the degree of braveness Igbos displayed from 1966 to 1970.


Do you know what it means to challenge over 30 tribes supported by Britain, USSR, Egypt and all Arab countries and they still held the war for 3 years and only got defeated through economic/hunger policy than military defeat?


And you still expect Igbos to lead any other political activism that could lead to national crisis after coming out from a brutal war some years back? Then you are a joker.



Honestly no other Nigerian tribe can dare what Igbos did and come out stronger like the Igbos. You know this truth but dishonesty about Igbo matters in most of guys won't let admit it

Clerics in the SW are fast becoming a nuisance!
The fact that he has a pulpit to preach is thanks to Yoruba warriors! If not he would have been preaching about Islam with a towel on his head

franchasng:
I don't think any of you understand the degree of braveness Igbos displayed from 1966 to 1970.


Do you know what it means to challenge over 30 tribes supported by Britain, USSR, Egypt and all Arab countries and they still held the war for 3 years and only got defeated through economic/hunger policy than military defeat?


And you still expect Igbos to lead any other political activism that could lead to national crisis after coming out from a brutal war some years back? Then you are a joker.



Honestly no other Nigerian tribe can dare what Igbos did and come out stronger like the Igbos. You know this truth but dishonesty about Igbo matters in most of guys won't let admit it

Check online Biafra also had support from many countries even some small minority groups joined Biafra forces even the only success Biafra had in the war was led by a Yoruba man, if OJuwku wasn't greedy and just defended the East he could have succeeded.


No Igbo was brave enough to oppose the military regime of Abacha in this country but you want us to believe you are brave. Imagine if the opposition was dominated by Igbo instead of Yoruba I'm very sure you wouldn't stopped gloating and bragging about it till now.

PureFace1:
No Igbo was brave enough to oppose the military regime of Abacha in this country but you want us to believe you are brave. Imagine if the opposition was dominated by Igbo instead of Yoruba I'm very sure you wouldn't stopped gloating and bragging about it till now.

I don't think any of you understand the degree of braveness Igbos displayed from 1966 to 1970.


Do you know what it means to challenge over 30 tribes supported by Britain, USSR, Egypt and all Arab countries and they still held the war for 3 years and only got defeated through economic/hunger policy than military defeat?


And you still expect Igbos to lead any other political activism that could lead to national crisis after coming out from a brutal war some years back? Then you are a joker.

Is the SW still not dominated by the Fulani oligarchy?

The christian leaders you have are political nuisances. They don't even know themselves.

As regards Wars...

All your war stories are propaganda. Where are the relics and monuments of the said wars? The colonialist saved your region as the SW was the only region exposed to attacks from all corners.

Fulani conquered you
Dahomey women warriors conquered you
OBA of BENIN warriors conquered you

So where are your artifacts of war or historical ornaments to show your so called wars?

Fem abeg...

StaffofOrayan:
Clerics in the SW are fast becoming a nuisance!
The fact that he has a pulpit to preach is thanks to Yoruba warriors! If not he would have been preaching about Islam with a towel on his head

franchasng:
I don't think any of you understand the degree of braveness Igbos displayed from 1966 to 1970.


Do you know what it means to challenge over 30 tribes supported by Britain, USSR, Egypt and all Arab countries and they still held the war for 3 years and only got defeated through economic/hunger policy than military defeat?


And you still expect Igbos to lead any other political activism that could lead to national crisis after coming out from a brutal war some years back? Then you are a joker.

Blame OJuwku he should have known what he signed you up for and why are you not speaking about Countries that support Biafra ? France that supported Biafra was not smaller than UK that supported Nigeria.

It was even confirmed that there were foreign mercenaries that operated the Biafra Air Force in the war.

Western Nations supported NIGERIA and African Nations that just became independent supported BIAFRA, with relief supplies and food. Not Military hardware..

Based on the above, can you compare that to the Fulani tribe that conquered your region with BOWS and ARROWS on horseback?

I dare you to reclaim lost lands overtaken by the Fulani. Moreover, after the BIAFRAN war, all IGBO lands are still intact.

So who is the coward..

PureFace1:
Blame OJuwku he should have known what he signed you up for and why are you not speaking about Countries that support Biafra ? France that supported Biafra was not smaller than UK that supported Nigeria.

It was even confirmed that there were foreign mercenaries that operated the Biafra Air Force in the war.

I'm still searching for Osu equivalent of Fela anikulapo

Any Osu man that can help me should signify.

PureFace1:
Blame OJuwku he should have known what he signed you up for and why are you not speaking about Countries that support Biafra ? France that supported Biafra was not smaller than UK that supported Nigeria.

It was even confirmed that there were foreign mercenaries that operated the Biafra Air Force in the war.

Do you even have understanding at all? Are we here to argue about Biafra war and if Ojukwu made mistake? Before I continue, let me enlighten you, Ojukwu did not declare war or invaded Nigeria.


Ojukwu was the Military Governor of Eastern Nigeria as at that time, and the responsibility to defend and protect Eastern Nigerians then was his responsibility. So when Gowon failed to stop the genocide (Northern Pogrom) against civilian Igbos living in the North, Ojukwu admonished Gowon and offered solutions to bring back peace in Nigeria. He warned Gowon that failure to stop the genocide of Igbos would lead to Eastern Nigerians breaking away from Nigeria. In the process they landed at Aburi Ghana in what was dubbed "Aburi Accord" to negotiate for peace and they agreed that each region of Nigeria should control their resources, Police and Army and remit an agreed percentage to the central government controlled by Gowon, Gowon agreed. They went back to Nigeria.


On reaching Nigeria, Gowon was advised by the British not to accept the agreement that it favors Eastern Nigeria more than other regions, so Gowon refused to announce the outcome of the Aburi Accord to Nigerians claiming he had Malaria infection. Ojukwu wished him quick recovery and waited, two weeks, three weeks, etc Gowon refused to announce, Ojukwu sent him Telegram reminding him again he ignored it and never replied the Telegram. Ojukwu went on Radio and announced the outcome of Aburi Accord, Gowon who was forming sick crawled out from his hiding and said Ojukwu was wrong announcing it instead of him the head of state and that for that, he Gowon no longer agree to the Aburi Accord, that Nigeria will remain the way it is and that instead more states will be created, meanwhile the Northern Pogrom against Igbos continued.


Ojukwu called a meeting of all Eastern Nigeria's stakeholders asking them the way forward, they told Ojukwu that they want to secede from Nigeria. Ojukwu then declared Eastern Nigeria an independent nation called Biafra.


Gowon then declared war against Biafra in what he called Police action to forcefully return Eastern Nigeria now Biafra back to Nigeria and he mobilized Nigerian soldiers to invade Eastern Nigeria from Calabar side while Ojukwu mobilized Biafra elite soldiers led by Banjo, Ifeajuna and others to head to Lagos to capture Lagos and force Gowon to call for peace and end the war and allow Biafra go.


That was what happened, so get your facts right.


Back to the topic, we are not here to discuss Biafra war, I only referenced it to let you know why Igbos withdrew from involving in national political activism after the end of the civil war cos Igbos were now seen as the number one troublemakers, so they were treading with caution before you guys spin the narrative around and blame them again for causing crisis in Nigeria in the name of political activism to rescue Nigeria again.

How can one man pocket a state and tax money, and all they could do is bow down and worship the man for crumbs instead of gathering and beating the man and taking back their state and tax money?

Perhaps they are truly fearful

He said, “If Yoruba people in Nigeria were as bold or courageous as those clamouring for a Yoruba nation in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, we would have got Yoruba nation. Why is it that we in Nigeria cannot do the same? A Yoruba adage says, ‘A man should be found in a courageous position.’

Unrealistic reasoning..

Nah by making noise? People that have been shouting since, wetin dem don gain?

The pastor never talk Wetin him dey find..

esnbrutality:
Is the SW still not dominated by the Fulani oligarchy?

The christian leaders you have are political nuisances. They don't even know themselves.

As regards Wars...

All your war stories are propaganda. Where are the relics and monuments of the said wars? The colonialist saved your region as the SW was the only region exposed to attacks from all corners.

Fulani conquered you
Dahomey women warriors conquered you
OBA of BENIN warriors conquered you

So where are your artifacts of war or historical ornaments to show your so called wars?

Fem abeg...

Oga you fought a 3 year war and was almost decimated! Thanks to people like Awolowo that made sure it didn't drag any longer!

This is more of a DNA thing than a mindset thing, the Igbo heroism and heoric mindset preceded Nigeria.

Igbos fought the slave trade , from Ebo landing to the fight for emancipation with Olaudo Equiano leading from London, Jaja of Opobo leading from Obopo and Henri Christophe led the resistance from Haiti others like Toussaint Louverture and Jean-Jacques Dessalines

No other Nigerian tribe fought against slavery like igbos


Igbos fought colonization via Aro confederacy vs British Empire war and the Ekumeku resistance.



Igbos inflicted damage on the British soldiers who invaded the Aro Confederacy's

Igbos fought for independence via the Aba women riots 1929, the Enugu ,Iva valley resistance 1949.

No other Nigerian tribe for against colonization .

Igbos resisted the capitulation of Nigeria in 1966 via a coup that was meant to liberate Nigeria from Nigeria.

Igbos fought a brutal Civil war in 1967 to teach Nigeria military how not to touch a lion tail.

Another igbo resistance started by MASSOB and peaked with IPOB was started by Uwazurike and Nnamdi Kanu to show Nigeria who was in charge. Eventhough I am yet to understand the essence of the struggle.


Now another igbo man , Peter Obi is the leading light in the war to restore Nigeria to the path of growth, stability and progress.

The Igbos didn’t just fight men they fought gods. They shattered myths, challenged destiny, and rewrote the rules. Sometimes, I marvel and tremble at the weight of what it means to be Igbo.