[dropcap]I[/dropcap]gbos are an ethnic group native to the present-day South-central and Southeastern Nigeria. Geographically, the Igbo homeland is divided into two unequal sections by the Niger River.
It’s no news that the Igbos suffered a huge loss and setback after the Civil war. They are so enterprising, not minding the unitary currency given to them as part of the war decimation, they kept sprouting and refused to be annihilated.
It took the igbos less than two decades to “rebuild the walls of their broken Jerusalem” and set out to rebuild Nigeria as a whole thereof.
In Nigeria, It’s only an Igbo man that would travel to another tribe, Northern or Western state and build a Town hall.
Now listen, it takes love, trust and believe in unity for one to buy a land and build an edifice outside his own territory.
Permit me to say that this article isn’t to ignite any form of ethnic bigotry or segregation but to give honour to whom honour is due.
Using lagos state as a point of reference, the Igbos have so developed lagos that you would literally think it’s their own state. They would go ahead to build their respective massive Town halls where they hold their town meetings. Thus; Igbo-Ukwu hall, Ozubulu hall, Nnewi hall, Osumenyi hall, Nnokwa hall, Et al.
The aforementioned Towns are all in Anambra state. Nothing prevents them from coming together to build a common hall, Abambra hall, but never did. It’s due to their resourcefulness and their staunch believe in One Nigeria.
Not trying to exaggerate, in every beautiful 10 houses, companies or buildings you’d see in Northern and Western Nigeria, Igbos would own 7 out of it if not more. What could that possibly mean? Utter believe in One Nigeria, hence, they see every part of the country as home and develop it unequivocally.
Do other tribes see it as thus? Do they also believe in one Nigeria as professed?
Would you possibly tell me a single house, mansion or industry built by a Yoruba man or an Hausa man in any part of the Igbo land? If any, it would be so little to count. It could only translate to people not believing in the purported unity of Nigeria.
Does it also surprise you that only the Igbos speak all the languages in Nigeria fluently? They don’t only build and develop other tribes but speak their languages even better of their native speakers.
Have you visited the Northern part of Nigeria? Would you be able to differentiate the Igbos from the Hausas whilst they speak Hausa language? Never….
Have you visited any part of the Western Nigeria? Igbos speak Yoruba language so fluently that one begins to ask if they are native speakers…. It would only take love, believe and faith in oneness for one to learn and speak your own dialect and language.
Hausas are found in every part of Nigeria but would always be secluded. In their usual gregarious manner, would live together in a piece of land known as “Ógbé Awụsa”. Pay little or no tax and add practically nothing to the development of that state. Moreso, never would they learn or speak Igbo language or even associate with the Igbos aside on business relations. Same would be said for Yorubas who barely travel outside the confines of their place.
Not minding the vicious victimisation meted to “Ụmụ Igbo” by the central government, they still manage to have faith in the oneness of Nigeria. No wonder they suddenly started agitating for secession.
However, the resilience and resourcefulness of an average Igbo man is enviable. I only wish Other tribes would emulate the Igbos and together make this nation a great one rather than capitalise on their few weaknesses to victimise them.
Ibezim Echee Jk