Those that call me a tribalist and an igbo-hater are simply
misguided and ignorant. Perhaps they do not know the meaning of those words or
the true import of their meaning. Those that know me well like you can confirm
the fact that I am not a racist or a bigot and that I consider such sentiments as
being unworthy of a man of class, good breeding and culture. I am however a
firm believer in the propagation of truth and I, like you, appreciate the value
and importance of history. Sadly many of our igbo brothers and sisters do not
believe in that. History for them consists of only one thing-how other
Nigerians have always marginalised them and treated them badly.
misguided and ignorant. Perhaps they do not know the meaning of those words or
the true import of their meaning. Those that know me well like you can confirm
the fact that I am not a racist or a bigot and that I consider such sentiments as
being unworthy of a man of class, good breeding and culture. I am however a
firm believer in the propagation of truth and I, like you, appreciate the value
and importance of history. Sadly many of our igbo brothers and sisters do not
believe in that. History for them consists of only one thing-how other
Nigerians have always marginalised them and treated them badly.
If only they knew their
own history, where they are coming from, what they used to be and where they
were 100 years ago and what their forefathers did to the rest of Nigeria over
the last 80 years they would know why they have always had such a hard time in
this country. Sadly because they dont know any of these things they cannot
learn from it. And if they cannot learn from it they will continue to make the
same mistakes. That is why they can come to another mans land and territory and
call it their own and when we say ”no” they tell us to shut up and call us
tribalists.
own history, where they are coming from, what they used to be and where they
were 100 years ago and what their forefathers did to the rest of Nigeria over
the last 80 years they would know why they have always had such a hard time in
this country. Sadly because they dont know any of these things they cannot
learn from it. And if they cannot learn from it they will continue to make the
same mistakes. That is why they can come to another mans land and territory and
call it their own and when we say ”no” they tell us to shut up and call us
tribalists.
I was not a tribalist
when I wrote a tribute to Ojukwu after he died or when I condemned the ’60′s
pogroms that took place in the north in which their people were slaughtered
like flies. I was not a tribalist when I wrote against Yarima and child
marriage in the north. Yet now I am a tribalist because I spoke the truth about
our history and who we the yoruba are. I was not a tribalist when I had a
long-standing and intimate relationship with Miss Bianca Onoh, an igbo lady,
who later married Colonel Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu the leader of Biafra and who is
now our Ambassador in Spain. I was not a tribalist when I had a long-standing
and intimate relationship with Miss Chioma Anasoh, another igbo lady, who I
almost married. I was not a tribalist when I had a long-standing and intimate
relationship with Miss Adaobi Uchegbu, another igbo lady, who was exceptionally
close to me and who is now a leading figure at the National Headquarters of the
ruling PDP.
when I wrote a tribute to Ojukwu after he died or when I condemned the ’60′s
pogroms that took place in the north in which their people were slaughtered
like flies. I was not a tribalist when I wrote against Yarima and child
marriage in the north. Yet now I am a tribalist because I spoke the truth about
our history and who we the yoruba are. I was not a tribalist when I had a
long-standing and intimate relationship with Miss Bianca Onoh, an igbo lady,
who later married Colonel Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu the leader of Biafra and who is
now our Ambassador in Spain. I was not a tribalist when I had a long-standing
and intimate relationship with Miss Chioma Anasoh, another igbo lady, who I
almost married. I was not a tribalist when I had a long-standing and intimate
relationship with Miss Adaobi Uchegbu, another igbo lady, who was exceptionally
close to me and who is now a leading figure at the National Headquarters of the
ruling PDP.
I was not an tribalist
when I wrote essays defending the rights of the igbo and every other Nigerian
nationality to exercise their right of self-determination and leave Nigeria if
that is what they wanted to do. I was not a tribalist when I consistently wrote
that Nigeria must have a Sovereign National Conference where the rights and
obligations of all its various nationalities will be clearly defined and agreed
upon. I was not a tribalist when I employed more igbo people as a Minister of
the Federal Republic than even my own yoruba. I was not a tribalist when I
wrote an essay, just two years ago, extolling the virtues of igbo women. I was
not a tribalist when I condemned the bombing of predominantly igbo and catholic
churches and the killing of the igbo and others by Boko Haram in the north over
the last three years.
when I wrote essays defending the rights of the igbo and every other Nigerian
nationality to exercise their right of self-determination and leave Nigeria if
that is what they wanted to do. I was not a tribalist when I consistently wrote
that Nigeria must have a Sovereign National Conference where the rights and
obligations of all its various nationalities will be clearly defined and agreed
upon. I was not a tribalist when I employed more igbo people as a Minister of
the Federal Republic than even my own yoruba. I was not a tribalist when I
wrote an essay, just two years ago, extolling the virtues of igbo women. I was
not a tribalist when I condemned the bombing of predominantly igbo and catholic
churches and the killing of the igbo and others by Boko Haram in the north over
the last three years.
I was not a tribalist
when I risked my life by consistently writing against Boko Haram even though I
live in the north. I was not a tribalist when I wrote against political sharia.
I was not a tribalist when I wrote in defence of the igbo when it came to the
abandoned property issue. I could go on and on.These people have very short
memories and anyone that does not agree with them all the time or that says one
word against them at any point in time is labelled a tribalist for life.
when I risked my life by consistently writing against Boko Haram even though I
live in the north. I was not a tribalist when I wrote against political sharia.
I was not a tribalist when I wrote in defence of the igbo when it came to the
abandoned property issue. I could go on and on.These people have very short
memories and anyone that does not agree with them all the time or that says one
word against them at any point in time is labelled a tribalist for life.
They called Chief Obafemi
Awolowo a tribalist, a genocidal maniac, a child-killer and an igbo-hater
simply because the man refused to join sides with them in the war yet they
forgot that when Awolowo ran for the Presidency his running mate was from the
east and not from the north. They called Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, Chief S.L
Akintola and Sir Ahmadu Bello as igbo-haters and tribalists simply because they
saw through the igbo agenda at a very early stage and they killed them for it.
They called General Yakubu Gowon a genocidal maniac, a child-killer, an
igbo-hater and a tribalist simply because he stood up to Ojukwu and insisted on
keeping Nigeria together and even though he declared that there was ”no victor
and no vanquished” after the war.
Awolowo a tribalist, a genocidal maniac, a child-killer and an igbo-hater
simply because the man refused to join sides with them in the war yet they
forgot that when Awolowo ran for the Presidency his running mate was from the
east and not from the north. They called Chief Festus Okotie-Eboh, Chief S.L
Akintola and Sir Ahmadu Bello as igbo-haters and tribalists simply because they
saw through the igbo agenda at a very early stage and they killed them for it.
They called General Yakubu Gowon a genocidal maniac, a child-killer, an
igbo-hater and a tribalist simply because he stood up to Ojukwu and insisted on
keeping Nigeria together and even though he declared that there was ”no victor
and no vanquished” after the war.
They accused President
Olusegun Obasanjo of being a tribalist and an igbo-hater even though he
appointed an igbo man as the first GOC in the Nigerian Army since 1966 and even
though he appointed more igbos into key positions in his government than any
President before him. They accused President Shehu Shagari and the northerners
of being tribalists and igbo-haters even though he pardoned Ojukwu and allowed
him to return back home after the civil war. They have accused the Nigerian
people of being tribalist and igbo-haters simply because we have not had an
igbo President since 1966 forgetting that Nigeria was magnamonious in victory
and that she not only gladly welcomed them back into the fold after the civil
war but that she also gave them the Vice Presidency only ten years later.
Olusegun Obasanjo of being a tribalist and an igbo-hater even though he
appointed an igbo man as the first GOC in the Nigerian Army since 1966 and even
though he appointed more igbos into key positions in his government than any
President before him. They accused President Shehu Shagari and the northerners
of being tribalists and igbo-haters even though he pardoned Ojukwu and allowed
him to return back home after the civil war. They have accused the Nigerian
people of being tribalist and igbo-haters simply because we have not had an
igbo President since 1966 forgetting that Nigeria was magnamonious in victory
and that she not only gladly welcomed them back into the fold after the civil
war but that she also gave them the Vice Presidency only ten years later.
They have labelled the
yoruba as tribalists and igbo-haters simply because we have refused to accept
their claims to our land and territory and even though we were more charitable,
hospitable, accomodating and generous to them than any other nationality in
Nigeria after the civil war. We have been too kind and gentle with them. That
is the problem. They see our liberal and accomodating nature as stupidity and
weakness. That is why they always like to go around calling the yoruba cowards
forgetting that the history of the yoruba proves otherwise. It is now time to
tell the truth. They despise the yoruba and they only pretend to believe in one
Nigeria as long as they can always have their way and laud it over others.
Worst of all they have no restraining factors because money and the acquisition
of wealth is their sole objective and purpose in life.
yoruba as tribalists and igbo-haters simply because we have refused to accept
their claims to our land and territory and even though we were more charitable,
hospitable, accomodating and generous to them than any other nationality in
Nigeria after the civil war. We have been too kind and gentle with them. That
is the problem. They see our liberal and accomodating nature as stupidity and
weakness. That is why they always like to go around calling the yoruba cowards
forgetting that the history of the yoruba proves otherwise. It is now time to
tell the truth. They despise the yoruba and they only pretend to believe in one
Nigeria as long as they can always have their way and laud it over others.
Worst of all they have no restraining factors because money and the acquisition
of wealth is their sole objective and purpose in life.
Someone ought to tell
them that this is not a virtue but a vice. It is a cultural deficiency which is
borne out of not having any history. If they did they would be less aggressive,
more restrained and far more civil to others. If speaking these bitter home
truths and yearning and fighting for a better Nigeria makes me a tribalist then
it is a toga that I would be happy to wear. I will not sit by quietly and allow
my people, the yoruba people of south western Nigeria, to be rubbished,
insulted and cheated by anyone no matter how aggressive that anyone may believe
he is. I make or offer no apology for my views. My numerous assertions in my
two essays titled ”Lagos, The Igbo and the Servants Of Truth” and ”The Bitter
Truth About The Igbo” respectively stand.
them that this is not a virtue but a vice. It is a cultural deficiency which is
borne out of not having any history. If they did they would be less aggressive,
more restrained and far more civil to others. If speaking these bitter home
truths and yearning and fighting for a better Nigeria makes me a tribalist then
it is a toga that I would be happy to wear. I will not sit by quietly and allow
my people, the yoruba people of south western Nigeria, to be rubbished,
insulted and cheated by anyone no matter how aggressive that anyone may believe
he is. I make or offer no apology for my views. My numerous assertions in my
two essays titled ”Lagos, The Igbo and the Servants Of Truth” and ”The Bitter
Truth About The Igbo” respectively stand.
Meanwhile I have read all
sorts of strange submissions in various newspapers and blogs that have held
themselves out as rejoinders to my two articles titled “Lagos, The Igbo and the
Servants Of Truth” and “The Bitter Truth About The Igbo”. Sadly other than the
usual abuse and irreverant thrash not one of those so-called ”rejoinders” has
been able to address ANY of the issues that I raised in either of the two
articles, answer any of the questions that I posed in them or successfully
challenge my presentation of historical facts.
sorts of strange submissions in various newspapers and blogs that have held
themselves out as rejoinders to my two articles titled “Lagos, The Igbo and the
Servants Of Truth” and “The Bitter Truth About The Igbo”. Sadly other than the
usual abuse and irreverant thrash not one of those so-called ”rejoinders” has
been able to address ANY of the issues that I raised in either of the two
articles, answer any of the questions that I posed in them or successfully
challenge my presentation of historical facts.
The bellicose nature and
vulgarity of these so-called rejoinders goes to prove two things. Firstly that
those that I have descibed as being collectively unlettered, uncouth,
uncultured, unrestrained and crude in all their ways really are all those
things and a lot more and secondly that they cannot put up any reasonable or
serious arguement to discredit or refute the message so instead they are
attempting to destroy the messanger. Meanwhile the two essays have been
published in various newspapers in our country and outside and it will continue
to be published by others long into the forseeable future.
vulgarity of these so-called rejoinders goes to prove two things. Firstly that
those that I have descibed as being collectively unlettered, uncouth,
uncultured, unrestrained and crude in all their ways really are all those
things and a lot more and secondly that they cannot put up any reasonable or
serious arguement to discredit or refute the message so instead they are
attempting to destroy the messanger. Meanwhile the two essays have been
published in various newspapers in our country and outside and it will continue
to be published by others long into the forseeable future.
The message is clear and
it is already out there. It cannot be called back in. The horse has bolted from
the stable and the falcon has left the nest. No matter how hard those that are
attempting to intimidate us into silence may try it will not work and we will
not be cowed. The message is already out there and the genie is already out of
the bottle. Those that seek to continue to denigrate and belittle the yoruba
and lay claim to what is rightfully ours should desist from doing so. They
should grant us our peace and give us our due respect and they will get the
same in return. If they do not do so those things will elude them and eventually
history will repeat itself again in this country.
it is already out there. It cannot be called back in. The horse has bolted from
the stable and the falcon has left the nest. No matter how hard those that are
attempting to intimidate us into silence may try it will not work and we will
not be cowed. The message is already out there and the genie is already out of
the bottle. Those that seek to continue to denigrate and belittle the yoruba
and lay claim to what is rightfully ours should desist from doing so. They
should grant us our peace and give us our due respect and they will get the
same in return. If they do not do so those things will elude them and eventually
history will repeat itself again in this country.
Meanwhile when anyone
reads a rejoinder that addresses the issues that I raised in my essays and that
has some level of scholarship and intellectual content they should please let
me know and I may well dignify it with a response. The shameless and emotional
thrash and disjointed verbiage that have been described as rejoinders so far
are just not up to scratch. They are bereft of any scholarship and intellectual
content. They also invoke pity in me for the the faceless plebians that wrote
them and those they claim to represent. When the igbo, or anyone else, find a
real writer that can cross swords with me and give me a good run for my money
someone should please let me know. I am itching for a real debate with a worthy
adversary on this issue.
reads a rejoinder that addresses the issues that I raised in my essays and that
has some level of scholarship and intellectual content they should please let
me know and I may well dignify it with a response. The shameless and emotional
thrash and disjointed verbiage that have been described as rejoinders so far
are just not up to scratch. They are bereft of any scholarship and intellectual
content. They also invoke pity in me for the the faceless plebians that wrote
them and those they claim to represent. When the igbo, or anyone else, find a
real writer that can cross swords with me and give me a good run for my money
someone should please let me know. I am itching for a real debate with a worthy
adversary on this issue.
Like the great Achilles I
feel that I have no match. Are there no Hector’s out there? Sadly it appears
that my accusers, traducers, opposers and haters cannot find one. All they have
is their hate, their ignorance, their insults and their inbred crudity and
vulgarity.
feel that I have no match. Are there no Hector’s out there? Sadly it appears
that my accusers, traducers, opposers and haters cannot find one. All they have
is their hate, their ignorance, their insults and their inbred crudity and
vulgarity.
