Perspective.

Some Igbos can be very territorial, proud and prejudiced. They appear to be obsessed with proven something others cannot see. They revel in self-estimations and ethnic glorification and very often can be very judgemental and biased on issues and matters of their relationship with other races. Food for thoughts: But in their national comfort zone of influence and politics, we all seemingly tag along. In the immediate past PDP government, the entire financial gravy train of economic progress was mined from Finance Minister, CBN Governor, Pencon, Amcon, Stock-Exchange, Power Ministry and various economic exchangeable variables of wealth creation by Igbos. In some cases, often down to lift attendants are all Igbos.
Any surprise the wholesale, handsome and generous bulk vote of 2015 Presidential election in favour of Azikiwe Goodluck Ebele Jonathan considered their own – a disservice to the overall Igbos political fortune and wisdom cloaked in greed. I honestly think the wound-gathering pain of the last civil war should have paled or begin to fade into insignificance and our brethren of Igbo extractions should be more appreciative of other good people of Nigeria, who have honoured the no victor, no vanquished promised, almost fifty years ago.
Listen to this, as of this moment, an enterprising Igbo man is peacefully, unmolested, unrestrained, happily producing and selling, wait a minute: Gari Ijebu in the heart of Iperu-Remo, in Yoruba land – daring, impressive and amazing! That is not only enterprising but a great lesson in being accommodating and the generosity of his hosts. The good Lord knows, we (the Yoruba) are indeed very tolerant, and we need to be much appreciated. In reverse, this is inconceivable in Igbo land – a Yoruba man selling spare parts in Igbo-land?
Whereas, the Igbo people are a nation of Christmas population, that is, majority of Igbos live comfortably most often without preconditions outside their native land of origins. Yet, not a single plot of land allotted to other tribes in Igbo land. I stand to be corrected. There goes equity – an oversight or entrenched cultural practice. Whereas, the Igbos erroneously assume they are doing their hosts a favour, gloating unapologetically and often charting in coded-tongues and moves with a degree of arrogance.
They are often prone to fisticuffs at provoked moments, when noticed their interest is compromised or threatened, unwittingly, in some cases, exhibiting and displaying occupiers’ traits. Though Igbos are very hard working men and women, their survival instincts deepen and depend thriving parasites on their hosts’ goodwill and tolerance, the Igbos usually take for granted in most cases. It’s high time the truth be told; I pray somebody is listening.
Igbos are masters of their trades, funded by rich few men amongst them, exploiting legion of minions over disadvantage crowd of youths in their prime, who should be in school. They are usually being exploited, hawking and selling mostly inconsequential, expendables, procurable goods others too can import. In fact, the Igbo are notorious for substandard products and compromised prescriptions intentioned for high profit motives.
Most other tribes will not dignify such trades that Igbos revel in, feigning expertise and know-how in such trading, requiring elementary or no education. This is grand delusion that can’t build the greater Igbo nation dream state or that of our collective dream of a greater, prosperous Nigerian Union. Thriving on inconsequential imports is nothing more than enslaved-mentality of our faculties by Western or Eastern bloc producers of such goods and imports; goods we should be exporting. So, where is the pride? I reasoned.
The best prognosis on these facts: Let the Igbo merchants call the bluff of their host communities for just a year or two in the nation’s metropolis, nooks and crannies, most especially in Lagos, Kano, Kaduna or Jos and relocate to their homestead, where infrastructure can barely sustain her true population. It will be an economic catastrophe of an equivalent of a prolonged poverty ranging war – I dare the Igbos. In my humble opinion, our fellow Nigerian’s of Igbo- extraction should go soul-searching. It’s high time they moved on, bonded and start absorbing others on merit and worthiness – neither ego-tripping nor blackmail will work. No nation can thrive in isolation, especially, the Igbo and their larger dream of Biafra.
Igbos’ hard-work and talents thrive on other’s land, a Gypsy culture. I am not unmindful of Yoruba’s excesses and recklessness too and that of other tribes, in fact, tones but in this instance. We are, pardon me, your most tolerable, understanding God-fearing hosts. I humbly submit
-Omisore wrote from Lagos. Excerpts.
NB: This article was written before the presidential election of 2014. The author thinks it is more profoundly relevant in the wake of the current Biafran agitation as food for thoughts.