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The Igbos and their unifying factors (4)

By Patrick Cole
03 April 2015   |   4:29 am
THE Igbos, who live in these areas, have amongst themselves, the richest individuals in Nigeria. Orifite has over 10 billionaires; the best known of which is Sir Emeka Ofor.

Niger BridgeTHE Igbos, who live in these areas, have amongst themselves, the richest individuals in Nigeria. Orifite has over 10 billionaires; the best known of which is Sir Emeka Ofor.

The Anambra State Governor the other day called a meeting of 50 people and 25 of them were billionaires. The rest were no slouches. The Igbo sometimes are too polite for their own good.

Each time a politician goes to Anambra State, he makes the promise to build a second Niger Bridge or to dredge the Niger. The Igbo feel that people say these things because they think they are fools.

They ask whether the Federal Government built the ports of Lagos for Lagosians? Was the 23 kilometres Third Mainland Bridge built for Lagosians? A bridge across the Niger is a development of infrastructure that would yield benefit for all Nigeria.

Why does the Federal Government need a special loan or bond to build the bridge? That they do not openly say this in public is perhaps an element of the sublimation of their persecution complex. Culture The Igbos are proud of their culture.

But are also willing to participate in other people’s cultures, and more importantly, to adapt foreign culture to their own. For many years, the black people in the United States had been insulted by being regarded as having no culture.

Many changed their names in the belief that this would identify them with Africa; they preferred to be called African Americans, and took names like Kobe, Jamal, Hussein, etc, little realising that these were Islamic names, not African names. No matter, the point had been made that Mr. X was African American and his name was Jamal Juba. About 15 years ago, two cultural trends burst out on the African scene – a distinct music genre, distinct dancing genre and distinct theatre genre.

The U.S. has always been open about its debt to Africa in term of music – jazz, pop culture, ghetto dancing and music etc. The Yoruba and other Africans contributed to this, not only Igbos. But in the past few years, the young African musicians had taken on world pop culture and Africanized it, dominated it and now own it. There is no Igbo mega star like Fela – so massive was his genius.

However, young men and women are hitting the world stage with beats that cannot have grown from anywhere else than in Nigeria, and a lot of it, due to Igbos. Hand in hand with this musical explosion.

African drama was re-born but this time, using new techniques to attune old theme – the advent of Nollywood – which in 10-15 short years – is now the third largest movies industry in the world. Igbo influence, both in new music and in Nollywood, is substantial.

It was generic, and should remain so. But it may die if it imbibes government contagion. Nearly everything shown in Nollywood about Igbo Kingship, Princesses and Princes, etc., is an exercise in the producers’ imagination.

The cultural basis is there; but the manifestation is poetic licence of the producers, and rightly so. Nollywood is not a cultural course: it is entertainment within the imagined context of Igbo culture.

The Biafra War It is impossible to write about the Igbos without writing about the Biafra War. It is futile to go into the pros and cons of the war. The war affected Igbos, as it did other Nigerians.

The Igbos felt that they had something precious to contribute to Nigeria; but the Civil War deprived them from contributing, and Nigeria from accepting, Igbo contribution. They lost a war they felt was unjust.

They lost property everywhere, especially in Port Harcourt. But they learnt how better to handle other Nigerians. They channelled their sense of loss into more productive avenues. They now believe in Nigeria; but also believe anything can happen and hedge their bets and build large houses in their villages should any other war break out.

They have a mixed feeling for – yet believe that it is now their turn to rule Nigeria. Some Nigerians, including some Igbos, believe that the eventual break-up of Nigeria is a matter of time, unless some fundamental changes are made soon in the political arrangement.

The Igbos believe in meritocracy because they are supremely confident that they would prevail.

An apocryphal story goes something like this: If you do an examination with an Igbo man and he has a better result and beats you, he will nod as if to say that is natural, that is as it should be. But if you beat him, he would ask you whether the examiner is your brother or who leaked questions to you.

The Igbos lost a lot of houses in Port Harcourt. Lately an old wise Rivers man seeing the Igbo contribution to Abuja and Lagos wondered whether the Rivers State Government should not invite Igbos back to Port Harcourt to do their magic on housing and the economy in Rivers State. Young men and women living together before marriage is unknown in all African cultures including Igbo.

Hollywood’s portrayed of this practice is non-Igbo and due more to western acculturation than any thing, traditionally, a girl may go to the husband’s house after the payment of dowry and the consent of her parents, herself. Inheritance, even “kingship” and property legally does not go to the children but to the eldest brother of the deceased who by custom is now supposed to look after his brother’s wife and her siblings. • Concluded. • Dr. Cole (OFR) is Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Brazil.

42 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    You have done a great piece about the Ibos, no doubt. It is also well-researched. Perhaps you are trying to be polite and accomodating which is good. But as a historian you know your greatest pursuit is the discovery of the truth- ‘ how it happened.’
    There are vital things missing in your series and which is crucial for national integration.
    1. Why, for instance, does the Ibo man display so much hostility- even hatred- against other major tribes like Hausas and the Yorubas especially.
    2. Why, almost fifty years after the Civil War, has the Ibos not forgiven Nigeria and Nigerians the same way Nigerians have forgiven them? Are you aware that some Igbo intellectuals are still filing claims against Nigeria and Nigerians before ICC and UN?
    3. You spoke of persecution complex. The reality today is that Ibo man still suffers from that complex and, contrary to your assertion, it is yet to be sublimated.
    4. Tribalsim. Why does the Ibo man who is the first to accuse others of tribalism be the worst perpetrator of the same vice. Take a survey of any organisation or parastatal headed by an Ibo man and check the ethnic configuration and constituents of the appointments made there. Is it- as Achebe has claimed in his There Was A Country -that they are the only ‘race of achievers’ in the land?
    5. Why does the Ibo man exert stringent measure of discipline and values on others but not on their own. When Ibo persons are accused of corruption- as in Okadigbo, Stella Oduah, Arauamh Ette etc- Igbo groups are the first to support and rally round without borthering to cross check the facts. Yet they will not do the same when people of other tribes are involved.
    6. Self-centred individualism. Why does the Ibo man place his own interest above every one and is sometimes insensitive to national yearnings and aspirations? Why do they alienate other people. The 2015 election proves my case inspite of the incompetence, corruption and sloppiness of this government. Why? Because Ibos are over-represented in this government and they decided to close their eyes to its evils regardless of the ruinous effects of its policies on nigerian collectivity.
    It will take an anthropolgist to explain how the Igbos have experienced this major counter-conversion and values-change in only one generation- the same Igboland that produced worthies like Father Tansi, Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu Snr, Kenneth Dike etc

    • Author’s gravatar

      the ibo’s were persecuted. other tribes will soon feel it too. i think the people of Plateau are feeling it in small doses. just like the Kanuri and other north eastern tribe. it will soon go round.

      • Author’s gravatar

        Nothing new under the sun. People are being persecuted all over the world everyday – in the western, Asian, European, Middle East, and Africa countries. Nigeria will not be an exception. Live goes on.
        “Don’t worry, be happy.” Have a pleasant day.

    • Author’s gravatar

      All your allegations are false, baseless and rubbish, the people you are talking about is the people that still galvanize this country and make it to stand as one.. I want to let you know that the yorubas are saboteurs who are very unstable.. Take or leave it it is the case

    • Author’s gravatar

      When you said corruption i remembered Tinubu and how Yorubas are proud of him i rest my case.

      • Author’s gravatar

        you must be drunk..Yorubas are proud of him? JOKE….we are his worst critics but we voted for Buhari because of the person he is….if Tinubu has contested for the presidency…believe me….he might not get a single Yoruba vote…..

    • Author’s gravatar

      There is no record anywhere of Igbos defending Okadigbo. When he died, Igbos who are known to cater for the dead never cared about him. It was northerners that buried him. Igbos rally round Igbos accused of wrong doing only when they realize that accused Igbos are not being treated like others. Like when Obasanjo had to go to the national TV to accuse the then senate president Wabara of corruption. Why did he have to do that? The courts were there, EFCC was there. Why did he have to go NTA to humiliate the man. He ended up making Wabara look like a victim instead of the thief that he was. Shagari was returned to power in a landslide despite the fact that he was a monumental failure. There were more corruption in Shagari’s Nigeria that in Jonathans. If you don’t hear anything about the imaginary missing $20 Billion from NNPC, it is because it never happened. The Igbos voted for their interest in 2015 and that is what democracy is all about. There was no way they could have voted for Buhari who as the chairman of PTF under Abacha could not identify a single project in the SouthEast worthy of his attention. He did no cite a single project in SE despite all the Billions that were steered to PTF by Abacha. How do you think he will be any better as president.

      • Author’s gravatar

        with a thought like yours no wonder Nigeria is going to ruins….Shagari rigged the election..even a baby knew that nobody voted for him….all these monies missing under GEJ and you conveniently claimed the oposition is lying against PDP…..and I am tired of hearing that the Igbos voted for their interest..what interest??? you people should wake up…..

        • Author’s gravatar

          Wait, APC will soon have all the power they need to find the missing money. If we don’t hear anything 1 year from now then we will conclude that it was a wicked joke that APC bandied around to make the Jonathan government look bad. $20Billion is a lot of money and very easy to trace. The number interest of the Igbos is a level playing field for everyone. A situation where someone from Zamfara who scores 2/200 is given automatic admission into Federal Unitary school while another Nigerian from Imo state who scored 138/200 is told that his state has filled their quota does not inspire confidence in the country. This is just one very obvious example. There are many others. Buhari will accentuate the problem. It is the height of foolishness for you to think that Igbos have no interest worthy of their vote.

          • Author’s gravatar

            first..do not insult….second..the quota system I do not understand it..they do it in US too….as a black man my son will have better opportunity of attending Havard even if he scored less than some white candidates….third… APC is there now, let’s see what they will do…we have 4 years to assess them or else we vote them out….

          • Author’s gravatar

            You are comparing apples to oranges. The affirmative action in America was instituted to redress past injustices visited on Black Americans because of racism and slavery. There is no such suppression of anybody here in Nigeria. Actually it is the SE that is supposed to lay claim to such privilege because of the civil war. So you comparison is out of place.

          • Author’s gravatar

            I guess the hispanic was enslave too because they are counted as minority and they benefit from the program as well…..you know…when people googled and wanted to sound smart…it is always annoying…..affirmative action..LOL

          • Author’s gravatar

            I can monitor and follow events in Nigeria from anywhere. So don’t make premature conclusions about people you don’t know and where you think they are.

    • Author’s gravatar

      Idowu thanks for contributing but you can accuse Igbo man of everything except tribalism.

      I see fear and unwarranted suspicion of dominance. Others are very uncomfortable with Igbos around them. That is complex.

      Igbos live and die in any tribe, build real home in other tribes, name their kids other tribal names, associate and compete in social, political and economic endeavors with other tribes, marry any tribe, worship any religion (including, Budda & Jewish).

      Igbo man does all the above in Yourba, Bini, Efik (Calabar), Hausa tribes, overseas. How many Yorubas and Hausa’s owe a house in Enugu or Aba or Onitsha, Benin, Ikot Ekpene, Ogoja, or Ikom? But would rather jump to PH ….(I regret why GEJ did not declare Niger delta Federal territory and treat it like Lagos and Abuja).

      Hausa’s in owerri and Calabar and Lagos lives in one location. Igbos in Katsina does not live only on Nagogo road or Kofa Kaura. Not even only in Sabon Gari Kano.

      If we have residency law as in USA (Anywhere you live for 12 months is your home), Igbos may never go back home again.

      Of all Nigerian tribes, I claim that its only Igbos are the cement mixing the country together. Major transport business across the country, day and night are Igbos oriented.

      Anywhere on earth that you do not find Igbo man, you know that you have found real hell. Cambodian and Uzbekistan leaders agreed to this.

      Quote me wrong.

      • Author’s gravatar

        don’t you see how arrogant you sounded…what will Americans do when you gave this too much credits to the Igbos achievements in the world…this is the reason you people will only thrive in regional politics….I lived in Aba for about 7 years before I moved to USA….everywhere in Nigeria all members of the major tribes who have reason to live somewhere else do so….In US here the Ibos contributed the same way to American economy the same way everybody else does….you may be from China or Nigeria..we are just foreigners to the Americans….the Ibos should come back to earth and join the rest of Nigerians in the national politics….I WILL DEFINITELY NOT VOTE FOR A MAN WHO THE FIRST THING HE SAID IS I AM BETTER THAN YOU

        • Author’s gravatar

          Good, here you nailed yourself and supported my point.
          As you lived in Aba, give the address of where you build a house in Aba, Abia state and I will show you where many Igbos build haves in Ibadan, Benin City, Damaturu, etc.
          Igbos went to war to be free from Nigeria remember and Awo said no.

          • Author’s gravatar

            I do not live in Aba but my brother does and he owns a house over there…..I, on the other hand lives in Baltimore and owns a house here….maybe Yorubas don’t make too much noise like you people because my other brother also lives in Kaduna and also owns a house over there…..all our houses are not in Yoruba land…yet we are Yorubas….I guess I will say you people with your arrogance are the enemies of yourselves…..other tribes also do very well in other regions in Nigeria..the hausas with their money exchange are doing very well in every part of our country……yet you will not hear them say it, but not you guys..too much loud noise about how you are doing in other people’s back yard…don’t you think we are nice and accomodating hence the reason you are able to do alright in Ibadan, Lagos etc……

          • Author’s gravatar

            shharaappppppppppp

        • Author’s gravatar

          You lazy and stupid

        • Author’s gravatar
          • Author’s gravatar

            you replied to me after 8 months and the only thing you could say is’ You are a fool”, Typical Ibo bigot and what again……Arrogant

          • Author’s gravatar

            Useless coward,your mama toto

          • Author’s gravatar

            I will reply you in 8 months….definitely you do not respect your mother

          • Author’s gravatar

            Your wife toto,bastard

          • Author’s gravatar

            Reply in your momo toto

          • Author’s gravatar

            imagine the animal who raised you….

          • Author’s gravatar

            Your momo toto,fool llike you

          • Author’s gravatar

            imagine the fool who raised you….

          • Author’s gravatar

            You mama toto again,get out of the forum

        • Author’s gravatar

          When Yorubas say they are the most sophisticated and most educated tribe in Nigeria, what are they implying? Conceitment and arrogance.In other words they are better than other Nigerians.Yorubas are frequently contending over who is the first to do anything irrespective of its success or failure. so why is the pot branding the kettle black?

        • Author’s gravatar

          8 months so late….look for fresh news to read

    • Author’s gravatar

      Useless fool i guess you are jobless

    • Author’s gravatar

      Bastard,your mama toto

  • Author’s gravatar

    This discussion is very important if we must carry on as a country. Grant it that we are naturally tribalistic as Africans, with identities by names facial arks dialects, religion etc… for identification, we cannot erase nepotism and the corruption
    that they bear on society.
    The question is how do we manage the culture of corruption and nepotism in a diverse country like Nigeria? If you are a Yoruba and has three jobs openings in the Bank, will you give all to an Hausa person even if they are well qualified than a Yoruba person whom you probably have identified by name? Unless, there is a standing policy that forbade you not to but to spread these positions among minorities tribes like the Igbiras, the Edos Ibibio etcs. Otherwise, all the positions could go to the Yoruba persons whom my not be as qualified than the Hausa.
    So the Igbo man cannot be slaughtered but must realize that Nigeria is a blessing to them..The soil is not too fertile for Agricultural productivity and must go hi-tech, the population is concentratively high and the vast North is a blessing for them The Jonathan administration was an Igbo influential years.. Ebele is an Igbo name…
    They do not have to have the Igbo president to reap the government of the best juice. Jonathan Administration though
    came by consequential means was an Igb President.
    So the Enduring question is How and by what standard can we lower tribalism, nepotism to arrest the effects of corruption. If as a Yoruba person is the hiring boss the next three persons to him are all Yorubas, don’t you think that there is a more fertile group to dupe the bank and harbor corruption?
    Nigeria Laws are too weak on corruption. Hence the scenario.
    There ought to be a “SENTENCING GUIDELINE THAT MANDATES A MINIMUN SENTENCE BY ANY JUDGE FOR ALL CRIMES. In this regard a judge cannot slap a slim token of years on any person for an offense worth 30 years.
    That Judge must not go lower on the minimum but can only go higher or get fired immediately.
    The deterrent is to cub the zeal to be corrupt and be corrupted by tribal, religious , political, and status etc…
    When found guilty,the minimum years say 30 years is not negotiable by any person
    So it’s the law, the legislatures, the Presidency and the Nigerian people that will deliver Nigeria

  • Author’s gravatar

    Silence, they say, is the best answer to a fool. In order not to make Cole look like one, I need to remind him/her or both that “Ndi Igbo” culturally are like the “broken china under the sun”. The practice of a brother of the deceased taking over his property, including his “brother’s wife or wives”, is not widespread in Igboland. Rather, it was an exception when the son of the deceased is very young to handle the affairs of his father. Even then, the uncle will hold the property in trust. I don’t want to sound tribalistic but I know you are a Nigerian, can you write a treatise on yourself rather than trying to be chauvinistic about another tribe? That will help Nigerians more than your diatribe.

    • Author’s gravatar

      Great reply, you are very correct about that assertion, it is practice in all African, NOT Nigeria alone that a deceased persons brother takes over the property when the children are young. So saying that it is Igbo culture is wrong. Another thing is the situation of forgiveness after the civil war, hope those who are talking trash and rubbish open their eyes and ears and stop playing tribal drums in accusing Ibos/Igbos and see what is happening round the whole world, it is never easy to go to war and become permanent friends in the space of 100 years, alluding to 50 years healing is stupidity. Check out all the supposed developed countries who are at war 300 years ago they are still in fear of one another, Russia as at today have about 5-6 wars within its own boarder not to talk of wanting away to Ukraine, Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia who are all still in fear of the old big bully Russia and Puttin.