Editor's note: The announcement of withdrawal issued to Igbos in the north provoked public outrage and raised reactions from different groups in the country and threatened to tear the fabric of the country's unity.
In this opinion of Femi Arbisala, she examines the role that the Igbos have played in the development of the country, concluding that they alone have made the country what it is today.
Of the three most important ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Igbo have by far the worst politicians.
Among the different ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Igbo are undoubtedly one of the most notable. So remarkable, indeed, that some have even traced their ancestry to Biblical Israel, like the distant descendants of Jacob, the Jewish patriarch.
Gad, the seventh son of Jacob, is said to have had three sons who settled in southeastern Nigeria. These children; Eri, Arodi and Areli, are believed to have engendered clans in Igbo-land and to have founded such cities of Igbo as Aguleri, Arochukwu, Owerri and Umuleri.
Igbo Genius
Even the most bitter adversaries of the Igbo can not but admit that, as a people, they are very resourceful and resourceful. In fact, this has often been the cause of their envy and disgust for others. However, Igbo's most unenlightened Nigerians see this as a cause for celebration. Although today Nigeria's production center is situated on the Lagos / Ogun axis, there is no doubt that the true locomotive of indigenous industrialization in Nigeria is further afield in Aba and in the multiplicity of home industries Heart of Igbo.
In one of the paradoxes of Nigerian history, the terrible civil war brought home industrialization in the Southeast. The military blockade left the Igbo with little choice but to be inventive in a hurry. While Nigeria as a nation unfortunately failed to take advantage of this post-war profitability, however, it has ensured that the igbo are at the forefront of Nigeria's economic development today.
In fact, the way we ignore "made in Aba" today is the same way we ignored "made in Japan" yesterday. For those of us who believe that Nigeria is tomorrow's China, we also recognize that the Igbo's ingenuity is an indelible part of the actualization of that manifest destiny.
Hall of Fame
The Igbo have been a great credit to Nigeria. We have been given a large number of our favorite children, including international statesman Nnamdi Azikiwe; Military leader Odumegwu Ojukwu; Regional leader Michael Okpara; Vice-President Alex Ekwueme; Chike Obi mathematical genius; Iconic literary Chinua Achebe; World-class economist Pius Okigbo; World champion boxing Dickson Tiger; The international statesman Emeka Anyaoku; And world-class artist Ben Enwonwu. Pemit to include in this illustrious list even some of my very good friends Igbo: Pat Utomi, Ojo Madueke, Olisa Agbakoba, Joy Ogwu and Stanley Macebuh.
Let's make one thing clear: Nigeria would be a much poorer country without the Igbo. In fact, Nigeria would not be Nigeria without them. Can you imagine the Super Eagles without the Igbo? It is not probable! Who can forget Nwankwo Kanu, Jay Jay Okocha and our own Emmanuel Amuneke? Can you imagine Nollywood without the Igbo?
Impossible! Just think of Stella Damascus-Aboderin; Rita Dominic and Mike Ezuruonye. And then there are the Igbo of the Diaspora that many are unaware of are of Igbo ancestry, including concert singer and actor Paul Robeson; Oscar Winner Forest Whitaker; Mega Shepherd T.D. Jakes; Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu; And the award-winning BAFTA actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor.
You may wonder why I have found it necessary to present this little litany of Igbo who-is-who. I think it is important to emphasize how the Igbo have been very vital to the Nigerian project. They have represented more than Nigeria with credibility in virtually all walks of life. This makes it even more absurd that these same people have constantly been denie
In this opinion of Femi Arbisala, she examines the role that the Igbos have played in the development of the country, concluding that they alone have made the country what it is today.
Of the three most important ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Igbo have by far the worst politicians.
Among the different ethnic groups in Nigeria, the Igbo are undoubtedly one of the most notable. So remarkable, indeed, that some have even traced their ancestry to Biblical Israel, like the distant descendants of Jacob, the Jewish patriarch.
Gad, the seventh son of Jacob, is said to have had three sons who settled in southeastern Nigeria. These children; Eri, Arodi and Areli, are believed to have engendered clans in Igbo-land and to have founded such cities of Igbo as Aguleri, Arochukwu, Owerri and Umuleri.
Igbo Genius
Even the most bitter adversaries of the Igbo can not but admit that, as a people, they are very resourceful and resourceful. In fact, this has often been the cause of their envy and disgust for others. However, Igbo's most unenlightened Nigerians see this as a cause for celebration. Although today Nigeria's production center is situated on the Lagos / Ogun axis, there is no doubt that the true locomotive of indigenous industrialization in Nigeria is further afield in Aba and in the multiplicity of home industries Heart of Igbo.
In one of the paradoxes of Nigerian history, the terrible civil war brought home industrialization in the Southeast. The military blockade left the Igbo with little choice but to be inventive in a hurry. While Nigeria as a nation unfortunately failed to take advantage of this post-war profitability, however, it has ensured that the igbo are at the forefront of Nigeria's economic development today.
In fact, the way we ignore "made in Aba" today is the same way we ignored "made in Japan" yesterday. For those of us who believe that Nigeria is tomorrow's China, we also recognize that the Igbo's ingenuity is an indelible part of the actualization of that manifest destiny.
Hall of Fame
The Igbo have been a great credit to Nigeria. We have been given a large number of our favorite children, including international statesman Nnamdi Azikiwe; Military leader Odumegwu Ojukwu; Regional leader Michael Okpara; Vice-President Alex Ekwueme; Chike Obi mathematical genius; Iconic literary Chinua Achebe; World-class economist Pius Okigbo; World champion boxing Dickson Tiger; The international statesman Emeka Anyaoku; And world-class artist Ben Enwonwu. Pemit to include in this illustrious list even some of my very good friends Igbo: Pat Utomi, Ojo Madueke, Olisa Agbakoba, Joy Ogwu and Stanley Macebuh.
Let's make one thing clear: Nigeria would be a much poorer country without the Igbo. In fact, Nigeria would not be Nigeria without them. Can you imagine the Super Eagles without the Igbo? It is not probable! Who can forget Nwankwo Kanu, Jay Jay Okocha and our own Emmanuel Amuneke? Can you imagine Nollywood without the Igbo?
Impossible! Just think of Stella Damascus-Aboderin; Rita Dominic and Mike Ezuruonye. And then there are the Igbo of the Diaspora that many are unaware of are of Igbo ancestry, including concert singer and actor Paul Robeson; Oscar Winner Forest Whitaker; Mega Shepherd T.D. Jakes; Olympic champion Christine Ohuruogu; And the award-winning BAFTA actor, Chiwetel Ejiofor.
You may wonder why I have found it necessary to present this little litany of Igbo who-is-who. I think it is important to emphasize how the Igbo have been very vital to the Nigerian project. They have represented more than Nigeria with credibility in virtually all walks of life. This makes it even more absurd that these same people have constantly been denie
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