₦airaland Forum

It hurts me so much to say this, but sometimes I feel that we, the Igbo people, do not support our own people the way we should. Many of the problems we face come from ourselves. We often think only about our own lives and our families. Some of us can be easily tempted by money. Because of greed, people can lie, betray, or even hurt one another. I am not saying this because I hate my people. I am saying it because I am hurt and I want us to change.
When I lost my father, who was a top police officer, life became very hard for us. After he died, the money and benefits that belonged to him were almost taken by his Igbo colleague at work. Even the house the government gave to our family was almost taken from us. My mother was called a witch and many bad names just because she was fighting for her children’s future. Whenever she went to ask about my father’s pension and gratuity, they sent her away because she could not read or write well. She did not know how to speak big English, so they took advantage of her. There was a time we started begging for food. People laughed at us in our area. Losing my father was already painful, but the way we were treated made it worse.
Today, my family is surviving because of one kind Hausa man who helped us. He did not know my father. He was not related to us. But he stood up for us and helped my mother until she received most of my father’s money. His kindness showed me that good people still exist.
The reason I am saying all this is because I don’t even know how to defend my tribe when arguments start. It hurts me deeply. Some of my friends from Delta State even get angry when I call them “Igbo brother.” They call us betrayers. The funny thing is that they still answer Igbo names. It confuses me and makes me feel ashamed and sad at the same time.
I am sharing this not to insult anyone, but to ask for change. Money should not make us wicked. We should not destroy our own people because of greed. We need to support one another, especially when someone is in pain. If we want a better future, it must start with us. Let us love each other more. Let us stand for what is right. Let us help our brothers and sisters instead of fighting them. Only then will things truly change.

Stop this attitude of hasty generalization,what happened to you is a person experience and is evident in every other part of the world,tribe,race.

Brothers,sisters,friends sometimes fight each other every now and then EVERYWHERE…everyone else is also guilty and have done worse of whatever they accuse Igbo of,they just don’t wash their dirty linings in the public like you are shamelessly doing!

Thank you for saying exactly what is on my mind.
His Statement or post was generalisation in entirety,
I have lived in the north for long, The northerners prefer to even do business and trust non Northerners more than their people,
So what happened to you and your family happens every where in the world its not a tribe thing.
Just be strong and be successful and you will see the dramatic change towards you and your family

Thewrath:
Stop this attitude of hasty generalization,what happened to you is a person experience and is evident in every other part of the world,tribe,race.

Brothers,sisters,friends sometimes fight each other every now and then EVERYWHERE…everyone else is also guilty and have done worse of whatever they accuse Igbo of,they just don’t wash their dirty linings in the public like you are shamelessly doing!

Thewrath:
Stop this attitude of hasty generalization,what happened to you is a person experience and is evident in every other part of the world,tribe,race.

Brothers,sisters,friends sometimes fight each other every now and then EVERYWHERE…everyone else is also guilty and have done worse of whatever they accuse Igbo of,they just don’t wash their dirty linings in the public like you are shamelessly doing!

I hear you. Truly, I do. But please understand something, I wasn’t trying to attack my tribe. I was speaking from a wound that hasn’t fully healed. When someone has lived through betrayal and hardship, their words may sound strong, but they come from pain, not hatred. I am proudly part of the Igbo people. That will never change. But loving your people does not mean you can’t question certain behaviors. It doesn’t mean you must stay silent when something hurts you deeply. What happened to my family shaped how I see things. It confused me. It hurt me. And sometimes I struggle during tribal arguments because my experience wasn’t a beautiful one. That’s just my truth. I’m not generalizing. I’m not condemning everyone. I’m simply sharing my story. And sharing your story is not shameful, it’s human. If we can’t talk honestly among ourselves, then how do we grow?

hopeforcharles:
Thank you for saying exactly what is on my mind.
His Statement or post was generalisation in entirety,
I have lived in the north for long, The northerners prefer to even do business and trust non Northerners more than their people,
So what happened to you and your family happens every where in the world its not a tribe thing.
Just be strong and be successful and you will see the dramatic change towards you and your family

I understand that what happened to my family is not something that happens only among the Igbo people. I know betrayal and injustice exist everywhere in the world. Maybe my earlier words sounded like I was generalizing, and if they did, that wasn’t my intention. I was speaking from deep pain and personal experience, not from statistics or hatred. You’re right about one thing, success changes how people treat you. But I still believe we shouldn’t have to become powerful or wealthy before we receive fairness and support. I’m learning, healing, and growing. And I appreciate different views, even when we don’t fully agree.

oliverhenry660:
I hear you. Truly, I do. But please understand something, I wasn’t trying to attack my tribe. I was speaking from a wound that hasn’t fully healed. When someone has lived through betrayal and hardship, their words may sound strong, but they come from pain, not hatred. I am proudly part of the Igbo people. That will never change. But loving your people does not mean you can’t question certain behaviors. It doesn’t mean you must stay silent when something hurts you deeply. What happened to my family shaped how I see things. It confused me. It hurt me. And sometimes I struggle during tribal arguments because my experience wasn’t a beautiful one. That’s just my truth. I’m not generalizing. I’m not condemning everyone. I’m simply sharing my story. And sharing your story is not shameful, it’s human. If we can’t talk honestly among ourselves, then how do we grow?

You can’t claim to be sharing your story while generalizing it,the title alone gives room for attack on the igbos..remember it’s what you say here that uninformed peope will use to judge the entire Igbo race tomorrow….again,you need to understand that a lot of people from other tribes/race have done far worse then you experienced,when you are home,you can share your problems/concerbs to people who have solutions,not on a public forum where it will be used against you or an entire tribe will get dragged because of your personal experience.

Avoid the band wagon effect of believing the stereotype on Igbos,it’s a systematic war against Igbos.