I don’t know about you, but I’ve heard many people say a lot of things about my dear Ibo brothers (And sorry if that was supposed to have a g, some of us need education on the difference – I hear its a pre or post biafra thing). Our Ibo brothers have been called many names, some good and some outrightly derrogatory. They have been labelled “industrious”, ” the chinese of the african race”, “black jews” and many more. They have also been said to be too aggressive, too money concious and fetish. I don’t know how many of these things you take sides with, but behind every smoke, there is often fire.
While i’ve heard people say all sorts of disuniting things about the Ibos (Igbos), I have always found an interesting perspective in telling people that of all the people we see as role models in society today, the Ibo people are most (perhaps number 1). From awards of African Banker of the Year, to Time 100 influencial people list, to “Madam due process” and more, the aggression, industry and money values of the Ibos have proven to be an asset to the One Nigeria. Don’t get me wrong, I know what happens in South Africa, I have seen some of my brothers in some of the oddest places in the earth, but I’m not one to look too long at the ills that can be perpetrated by any race, not to look at the obvious good sides. As a sign of solidarity, my daughter bears the name Uzoamaka, thanks to my friend Ogemdi.
When we step outside the shores of Nigeria, we are no longer hausas, Ibos, Yorubas, tiv, calabar, ebira or what have you, we are all Nigerians. When I look at these whose pictures have made it into our hall of fame, I’m reminded, that greatness, significance and goodness is not a matter of tribe or flair, it’s a matter of choice. I am also reminded that in the New Nigeria I see emerging within the next 15years, we need each other. What do you think?
