₦airaland Forum

The quit notice issued to Igbos in the north stirred public outrage and elicited reactions from different groups in the country and threatened to tear the fabric of the country’s unity.

In this opinion by Femi Arbisala, he examines the role Igbos have played in the development of the country, concluding they alone have made the country what it is today.

Out of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Igbo have by far the worst politicians.

Among the different ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Igbo are without a doubt, one of the most remarkable. So remarkable, indeed, that some have even traced their ancestry to biblical Israel, as the far-flung descendants of Jacob, the Jewish patriarch.

Gad, Jacob’s seventh son, is said to have had three sons who settled in South-eastern Nigeria. These sons; Eri, Arodi and Areli, are believed to have fathered clans in Igbo-land and to have founded such Igbo towns as Aguleri, Arochukwu, Owerri and Umuleri.

Igbo genius

Even the bitterest adversaries of the Igbo cannot but admit that, as a people, they are very resourceful and ingenious. Indeed, this has often been the cause of their envy and dislike by others. However, more enlightened non-Igbo Nigerians see this as a cause for celebration. While today, the centre-point of Nigeria’s manufacturing is situated in the Lagos/Ogun axis, there is no doubt that the real locomotive of Nigeria’s indigenous industrialization lies farther afield in Aba and in the mushrooming cottage-industries of the Igbo heartland.

In one of the paradoxes of Nigerian history, the terrible civil war provoked homespun industrialization in the South-East. Military blockade left the Igbo with little alternative than to be inventive in a hurry. While Nigeria as a nation failed woefully to harness this profitably after the war, it has nevertheless ensured that the Igbo are at the forefront of Nigeria’s economic development today.

Indeed, the way we disregard “made in Aba” today is the same way we disregarded “made in Japan” yesterday. For those of us who believe against the odds that Nigeria is the China of tomorrow, we equally recognize that the ingenuity of the Igbo is an indelible part of the actualization of that manifest destiny.

Hall of fame

The Igbo have been a great credit to Nigeria. They have given us a great number of our favourite sons, including international statesman Nnamdi Azikiwe; military leader Odumegwu Ojukwu; regional leader Michael Okpara; vice-president Alex Ekwueme; mathematical genius Chike Obi; literary icon Chinua Achebe; world-class economist Pius Okigbo; world boxing champion Dickson Tiger; international statesman Emeka Anyaoku; and world-class artist Ben Enwonwu. Pemit me to include in this illustrious list even some of my very good Igbo friends: Pat Utomi, Ojo Madueke, Olisa Agbakoba, Joy Ogwu, and Stanley Macebuh.

Let us get one thing straight: Nigeria would be a much poorer country without the Igbo. Indeed, Nigeria would not be Nigeria without them. Can you imagine the Super Eagles without the Igbo? Not likely! Who can forget Nwankwo Kanu, Jay Jay Okocha and our very own Emmanuel Amuneke? Can you imagine Nollywood without the Igbo?

Impossible! Just think of Stella Damascus-Aboderin; Rita Dominic and Mike Ezuruonye. And then there are the diaspora Igbo who many are unaware are of Igbo descent, including concert singer and actor Paul Robeson; Oscar award-winner Forest Whitaker; mega-pastor T.D. Jakes; Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu; and BAFTA actor award-winner Chiwetel Ejiofor.

You may well wonder why I have found it necessary to present this small litany of Igbo who-is-who. I think it is important to emphasise how the Igbo have been very vital to the Nigerian project. They have more than represented Nigeria creditably in virtually all walks of life.

[quote author=George277 post=57415973][/quote]Scam!!!

PiuzDaniel8:
See my account balance is working for all mtn sim.

Scam!!!.. We don't need it. Just Kip enjoying it.

Gamesound:
He's not a politician I know him very well

Bro, can we talk. I am a Prosthetist. Can help him get a functional prosthesis (artificial limb)

I rate Ike Ekweremadu 7/10. He has made his mark in legislations. Also there are great testimonies back home. I travelled through Enugu recently and a great number of the passengers (mostly Enugu) had great things to say of him. The road network in his constituency, the human development & empowerment programs, ET al

Nazeren:
Rantings of a displaced person. You think your stupid biafra matters to the rest of us? It really disgusts me having your may 30 behind my back. Nobody gives a hoot if that was the beginning of the dearth of your clan. The date is senseless, hopeless and stupid at best.

For your info, I am not of the biafran stock. I don't give a hutt about biafra or no biafra. I was just skimming through the post & comments here, but your foolishness couldn't go unnoticed. I guess free mb has done more harm than good to Nigerian teenagers

Nazeren:
But why these stupid people come pick May 30 of all days. You hate Nigeria (May 29) yet you're grovelling after it? I nor get.

You must be under 18'... Your question has revealed your childish stupidity. Go ask google when biafra was declared and when democracy began in Nigeria. It will help your pediatric brain

Funny thread..... Who named the missionary style' 'holy'. There is nothing unholy in sex as long as it is between married couples

Bro run with ur money from Diamond bank.... I was charged "recklessly " over last weekend for nothing. I am closing my account today.... First bank, Access are good