Hegemony: What the Igbo Can Learn From The Yoruba and Fulani About Power   By Reno Omokri | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Saturday 3 June 2017

Hegemony: What the Igbo Can Learn From The Yoruba and Fulani About Power   By Reno Omokri

This week marked the 50th anniversary of the declaration of the Sovereign State of Biafra and one or more questions still linger. I will not delve into the more contentious questions, but for the sake of improving the relationship between the Igbo and their Yoruba neighbors, let me touch on one or two areas where, if the truth is brought to the fore, the relationship between omo Oduduwa and Ndi'Igbo could be improved.


Firstly, why do Ndi'Igbo still believe the false stereotype that the omo Oduduwa (Yoruba) are cowards? This is simply not true and the facts do not support this belief. 

In the history of Nigeria, only two men have returned to Nigeria to face almost certain death even when they had the option of a very comfortable political asylum abroad. Both of them are Yoruba. In 1985, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida toppled the Buhari regime while Major General Tunde Idiagbon (mixed Yoruba/Fulani) was at Mecca yet Idiagbon returned. 

In 1995, Olusegun Obasanjo (pure Owu Yoruba) was accused of planning a coup by the blood thirsty tyrant, Abacha (if you do not like that truthful description of Abacha or if you believe that 'Abacha did not loot', you can go and join him where he is) while he was away in Copenhagen. He returned to face almost certain death. 

What more example of bravery can there be than these two shining ones.

Furthermore, there is the apocryphal example of Colonel Francis Adekunle Fajuyi who chose to die with the Head of State, rather than abandon his guest, which he was at liberty to do. I am hard pressed to believe that if it was vice versa, Ironsi would have done the same for Fajuyi, but then again, I may be wrong.

I admired Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu for his guts and stubborn determination during the events leading up to and during the civil war, but I was disappointed that he fled Biafra when the end came. I wish he remained. 

I also admired the Right Honorable Nnamdi Azikiwe, but Chief Obafemi Awolowo would NEVER have abandoned his people as Azikiwe did when he defected to the federal side during the civil war. 

Awolowo was in prison because of his people and he could have been released had he compromised his beliefs but he stoutly refused. That is courage not cowardice. 

I have been in direct communication with General Yakubu Gowon whom I admire but he did not return to Nigeria after he was accused of being behind the Dimka coup. 

All things considered, Fajuyi, Obasanjo and Idiagbon are probably the bravest Nigerians ever. They are (were in the cases of Fajuyi and Idiagbon) certainly braver than Murtala Ramat Mohammed, who was safely in London waiting for Joe Garba and co to topple Gowon. 

Even with the sullying of his name as a Quisling in the pages of history, it is on record that of all the first republic politicians that were killed in the January 1966 coup, only Samuel Ladoke Akintola, the Premier of the Western Region, put up a fight. He had a rifle and exchanged gunfire with Captain Emmanuel Nwobosi and his men. Akintola, a civilian, injured the trained soldiers and was only killed when his ammunition finished. And even at that he did not cry or beg!

Ndi'Igbo may do well to remember how Wole Soyinka, at great risk to himself, traveled to Enugu during the height of the civil war crisis to persuade Ojukwu against secession. Soyinka had nothing to gain. He did what he did as a humanitarian in support of the Igbos, an act for which he was arrested by the Gowon led Federal Military Government and thrown in jail for 26 months, 22 of which he spent in solitary confinement. 

These facts of history prove that the stereotype of Yorubas as cowards is false. Every ethnicity has cowards and brave men. As we celebrate #BiafraAt50, I hope the Yoruba and Igbo can find common ground and unite as Southern Nigeria's two main ethnic nationalities otherwise the South will continue to be politically disadvantaged even when it is the most educationally advantaged part of Nigeria.

It is true that the Igbo are marginalized in Nigeria, however, I am of the opinion that a lot of the blame for this can be laid at Ndi'Igbo's doorstep. 

In my opinion, and remember this is an opinion not a fact, the major undoing of Ndi'Igbo is their misunderstanding of the term strength. 

Ndi'Igbo erroneously believe all strength is physical. They do not seem to realize that strength is your ability to assert your will on earth and that that ability may not always be physical. The proverb-discretion is the better part of valor-is not understood by the Igbo. They tend to be reactionary and consider pausing to study a situation before you respond (not react) as cowardice. One or two of them may get it, but as a race in general they do not. 

They do not consider diplomacy as a first step. To them it is weakness and makes you an efulefu! If they have an enemy, they are not able to suppress their emotions and work with those they do not like. They must make their hostility obvious to the person they do not like and being aware of the dislike, the person is armed against them. In an organization, others may be sublime and discrete in their scheming, but the Igbo are more likely to be obvious and in your face about theirs and end up causing unity amongst their enemies in plotting their downfall. 

As a general rule, Ndi'Igbo have very little humility and are very proud individually though there are few exceptions and I must single out my friend Emeka Maduewesi as one of those exceptions. An epitome of a gentleman! Another example would be Uche Chuta. May God throw up leaders like Uche in Igboland!& 

For example Since 2010, my white beard has been my trademark. In fact Punch newspapers refers to me as 'the white bearded Omokri'. Yesterday (May 30th), my grandfather called me and asked me to shave it off because he does not like it. That same day, I obeyed him. I obey my grandfather at 43 the same way I obeyed him at 3. I am very successful today and I trace my success to the upbringing and prayers I got from my father and grandfather. No money ritual is as effective as a prayer and blessing from your fathers. I may be wrong, but I am not sure that a father or grandfather can have this type of influence on an adult financially and socially successful male in Igbo land. What I did may even be construed as weakness.

In my opinion, Ndi'Igbo are also individually more intelligent than their neighbors (I call it as I see it) but they hardly use their intelligence to unite and have one leader, one goal and one destiny. Because of this, even though they are more intelligent, they are almost always doomed to serve those that are wiser than them because wisdom is superior to intelligence. 

The Igbo also appear to value leaders because of the leader's personal attainments in life and so money gives you more leadership credentials than wisdom or age. They forget that a rich man may have more clothes than an elder but cannot have more rags than him. They overestimate the power of money and underestimate the power of wisdom. 

If the Igbo can learn humility and practice diplomacy and discipline themselves to have one leader that they listen to in good and bad times not because he is always right but because he is their leader, their marginalization will end and their dominance will begin. 

These are merely my opinions which may be wrong.

Now that I have touched on Ndi'Igbo, perhaps I may also touch on the South in general.

There are four things that the South has to understand about the North. 

One, there is no such thing as Hausa Fulani. It is a myth. There is Hausa and there is Fulani. 

The second thing is that the Fulani are not our enemies. They are our rivals for power. Once we make this paradigm shift, our attitudes to seeking political power will change.

The third thing is that the Northern elite are experts at brinkmanship.

A perfect example is the recent ranting by the chairman of the Northern Elders Forum, the cantankerous Ango Abdullahi, who says that the North is prepared to split from Nigeria. 

When at Chief EK Clark's 90th birthday in Abuja, Ango Abdullahi said "I come from Kaduna State, the population according to the 2006 census puts us at 6.3 million. And if you look at the resources that come from the so called federation account to Kaduna, it is one quarter of what Delta gets", what Nigerians should understand is that he was only playing the game of brinksmanship.

Kaduna contributes only 0.1% of the funds that enter the Federation Account and gets 1.4% of the monies that leave the Federation Account. 

Who should complain between Kaduna and Delta?

The fourth and final thing is that too many Southerners are filled with hostility for the Hausa people. Unbeknownst to but a few of us down South, there are very few actual Hausa people in the North. 

Hausa is more of a language than a people. Most of those we in the South label 'Hausa' in the North are a motley crew of various minority ethnic groups who are bound together by a common lingua franca-Hausa.

For decades before Independence these minority groups had been dominated by the Fulani and when Independence came they thought that the more exposed Southerners would come and hand them a hand of fellowship and deliver them from their oppressors but to their shock we greeted them with hostility and sometimes open hatred and a wise sage like Sardauna Ahmadu Bello opened up his hands to them through his policy of One North and empowered Northern minorities like Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Sunday Awoniyi and co.

Who knows, he may have done the same with the South and created a truly 'One Nigeria', if his life had not been tragically cut short in the coup mistakenly called Nzeogwu coup but which was actually masterminded by Emmanuel Ifeajuna with Nzeogwu being slightly more than a pawn in the game.

Ahmadu Bello was not a tribalistic leader. But he was a regional leader. He was suspicious of Southerners in general and he had something akin to disdain and maybe even contempt for Ndi'Igbo. It is an inconvenient truth that cannot be denied. Even his hardcore followers cannot deny this. He is caught on video articulating this view and these videos are now on YouTube. 

Some of Sir Ahmadu Bello's successors have built upon the foundations he laid and have matured to be great patriots. 

For instance, despite what the media has written about him to exaggerate his faults, the fact remains that former President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida is one of the most patriotic Nigerians alive. Only President Olusegun Obasanjo can be said to be more patriotic than General Babangida in contemporary Nigerian history.

How do I mean? Consider this; In 1998 after Abacha died and Babangida's protege, General Abdulsalami Abubakar became head of state, President Babangida engineered the shift of political power from the North to the Southwest and specifically to President Olusegun Obasanjo.

For those who think that he had to do this let me ask you a question: What would have happened if the 1999 Presidential election had been thrown open to all and sundry, and not just restricted to the Southwest, and a Northerner like Atiku Abubakar or some other credible Northerner had won? 

Would the Southwest have seceded? Would there have been war in 1999? Would Nigeria have gone the way of Rwanda? No, no, no!

There would have been a great discontent in the Southwest, but as long as the results were free and fair, there would have been little the Southwest could have done to change the situation.

Now let me ask a hypothetical question: Placed in that same situation, with Igbo dominance in the military and in government, would an Igbo leader have ceded power to the Yorubas to compensate them for an event like June 12 knowing that even if he did not there was little they could do by way of taking the power from him?

Even an Igbo man would agree with me that this is very unlikely.

I do not need to ask the question of whether or not a Yoruba man would do this because General Olusegun Obasanjo had already done it in 1979.

It is this statesmanly humility, (having the power to do something that would favour yours and your people's cause, yet having the conscience and discipline not to do it because it is against the principles of natural justice), that Ndi'Igbo lack in sufficient quantity at their leadership levels.

The above reason is why power continues to elude them. It is more than physical. It is spiritual. As James 4:10 says "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."

This humility is ingrained into Yoruba and Northern youths from infancy. In the North, youths squat to greet their fathers and their male elders. In the Southwest, children are taught to prostrate for their elders as a form of greeting. Banky W, is an international star but when he met Dele Momodu, he prostrated before him. Long before him, Sir Shina Peters did that to King Sunny Ade. I doubt that an Igbo man can even muster enough humility to prostrate before his own father how much more an elder! He would consider that as foolishness.

And there is nothing unGodly about this. It is not idolatrous. Many Igbos like to claim Jewish ancestry. Maybe they are right maybe they are not. But Abraham is the father of the Jewish nation. In Genesis 18:2 the Bible records that "Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground."

Look at that "bowed low to the ground". Abraham prostrated! 

That act of humility does not take anything from you. But it gives everything to you. You see, a man's greatest pleasure and need is not money or sex. It is to feel important. It is to be respected. 

Both religion and science support this position. In Genesis 1:28 God gave man a charge and said "Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion". 

It is God Himself that put the desire in man to want to dominate, to want to be respected.

According to Sigmund Freud, man is dominated by two urges, the sex urge and the urge to be important. This goes back to Genesis 1:28 'be fruitful' and 'have dominion'.

Women by and large influence men through the first urge which Freud named 'Eros'. Men influence other men through another part of the male personality that Freud called ego.

Because every man has an ego (the only difference is in size) it is very difficult, if not impossible to influence another man without massaging his ego. Refusal to do so can only end in two ways:

  • Conflict: which arises when two egos collide and one refuses to bow to the other, or
  • Frustration: which arises when one person refuses to work on the ego of a man who has power over him.

And let me say that no one can have power over you except he was given that power by God which is why Romans 13:1 says "there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Reno Omokri is a Christian TV talk show host and founder of the Mind of Christ Christian Center and the Helen and Bemigho Sanctuary for orphans. He is the author of three books, Shunpiking: No Shortcuts to God, Why Jesus Wept and Apples of Gold: A Book of Godly Wisdom. His upcoming fourth book, Facts Versus Fiction: The True Story of the Jonathan Years: Chibok, 2015 and Other Conspiracies, is set for release in June.

197 comments:

Anonymous said...

We need Co-existence to strengthen unity and development.

For Nigeria Startup, Learn to write your business plan.

Anonymous said...

I never thought omokri was an Igbo man. I thought he was south south. You have said it all. An Igbo man lacks humility, respect, just too proud, selfish and really greedy, highly undiplomatic, all using foul obscene language to botress a point, you can't even communicate with them a lot of times. It's so sad. Even our Igbo tenants told us igbos would not help them at all except they could be enslaved to them. Even they can be quite rude to us but we look beyond that and think of the school stability of their little children at the moment. It does not make us in anyway weak. It makes us wise and diplomatic.
Look at Kanu leading people astray. Who wants to leave with traitors?
We love Nigeria as one country and do not want a break up but if they seriously want that they all need to leave Nigeria. Sell up their houses, close their businesses, take their children out of schools in Nigeria and move. Every last one of them. People have accommodated you and your excesses as we are all humans but you turn around and bite them. Then you are no longer welcome. The ones that have inter married would also need to take their families to Biafra because even you know it will be an extremely hostile environment for them to stay as they will be seen as traitors

Anonymous said...

Thank you for speaking up.., thought there were no more real men not ruled by cheap sentiments again. But watch how Igbo fire you with insults now

Anonymous said...

Well said masterpiece. I have complained severally about the pride and zero humility of we igbos, but they will say you are not right (over a bottle of beer in pride). Thats the problem. I assure you, Reno, that even after reading this your flawless article, some igbos will still attack you instead of learning,articulating and listening to advise ( someone may even ask you.'how much does Reno have that he is talking') and we expect to move forward. The problem is that the wise,intelligent and well educated igbos have been overshadowed by the uneducated,brash,proud,rich and reactive igbos who act before they think.

Anonymous said...

The captain of a ship never abandons the ship, crew and passengers. He stays to the end. Awolowo stayed. Obasanjo stayed. Idiagbon came back from his pilgrimage to certain death because he could never abandon his cause. Fujuyi opted to die with the leader not run away when given the chance.
Ojukwu started a struggle, got many people killed, then ran away when the heat got to much for13 years. Came back only when pardoned by shagari. Allowed to set up his own party contested but lost due to numbers of people who trusted him drastically reduced. He even denounced Biafra before he passed saying it was a lost cause and should not be pursued by his kinsmen. He asked for one Nigeria. His beautiful beloved wife even accepted an ambassadorial political appointment afterwards withNigeria. If she believed in the cause she would never have taken up that appointment with Nigeria.
A half baked man who claims to be a Jew is now wiping up sentiments for his own benefit and you'll can't be smart enough to shut him up..,, hmm

Anonymous said...

Jus for the wise ...

Anonymous said...

Jus for the wise ...

Anonymous said...

Im igbo, but im afraid you are right. The problem is the good ones have been overshadowed by the bad eggs.

Baba Ibeji said...

For the first time ever you made sense with facts!!!

Anonymous said...

All this regional and tribal politics and way of reasoning is holding Nigeria back. Why all this undue emphasis on tribes or regions controlling power? Shouldn't the president of Nigeria be the president of all Nigerians and develop the whole of Nigeria based on their individual strengths? Why should one group, be it Igbo or Yoruba or Urhobo, feel the need to "produce a president" in order to be looked after? Ok, look at the core states in the regions who have produced, apart from the present and former Federal Capital Territories, how different are they from the rest of Nigeria? If a foreigner lands in Ibadan or Kano, would they be in any doubt that they are one of the poorest places on earth similar to places like Enugu and Benin?

What do these regions have to show for producing presidents? I'll tell you what they have to show - a small proportion of extremely rich people who conspire to selfishly control everything in Nigeria. Their families enjoy the best of what this world have to offer while their ordinary kinsmen, and the rest of Nigerians suffer untold hardships and die from all manner of preventable things on a daily basis. These people encourage and perpetuate this sort of reasoning to their own personal advantage. I have never understood the reasoning behind how some Nigerians will feel proud (and even put their lives on the line) that their kinsman is the president of Nigeria or richest man in Nigeria, while they themselves are dying in poverty; it beggars believe. We have been successfully brainwashed into putting ethnic pride over national pride, to our own general disadvantage. So much so that many Nigerians cannot get themselves to feel proud about a fellow Nigerians international achievements unless the person is their kinsman.

This type of reasoning has to be banished. We need governments that will work for everybody in such a way that no tribe or group will feel the need to control power. If you follow Mr Abati's reasoning to its logical conclusion, it means that Nigeria can only survive as a country with a true regional federal structure.

Tunde ariyo said...

Reno this is enough to stir up celebral activity in the wise.

Mr 47 said...

Thank you Reno for educating your ignorant brothers who keep labelling the Southwest as coward, You earn my respect with this post. The problem igbos have is they want what they cannot give. You cannot dominate if you cannot accommodate.

Anonymous said...

...so true. We enlightened igbos should start speaking up and guide igbo leadership with wisdom whether for a specific coarse or not. We are tired of traders and drug dealers speaking for us.

Anonymous said...

There are times I have not liked your rhetoric, but on this matter u cannot be more correct.

iubenjamin said...

Who would want to disagree with Mr Reno on this? Pls don't try. This is apt!

iubenjamin said...

Who would want to disagree with Mr Reno on this? Pls don't try. This is apt!

iubenjamin said...

Who would want to disagree with Mr Reno on this? Pls don't try. This is apt!

Anonymous said...

Igbos are very smart people in business and education(if dey put dere mind) but am sorry to say re not wise politically, dey re very close to Nigeria Presidency dan ever but will dey av d patience n humility to let oda people trust dem? Dey all abandon dere region n put businesses in oda people region yet complain abt undersevelopment in dere land , dey believe dey re superior to oda region, n even carving out oda people land as part of Biafra , wen it is 101 % sure Niger Delta will never be Biafra

olsouljah said...

Reno has gained my respect with this.

4567delight said...

I'm in agreement with this article. I hope it's published in a more visible settling like a popular newspaper.

Unknown said...

Please mind how u speak in public. How can u say if they want to leave they must sell all their properties carry their children, one can still relocate and still maintain his property in another man's land.

4567delight said...

I agree

Anonymous said...

"I doubt that an Igbo man can even muster enough humility to prostrate before his own father how much more an elder! He would consider that as foolishness"

Yes, and the Igbo man will never prostrate before anyone unless it's done as a token, for example if marrying a Benin or Yoruba lady. It is not our tradition to prostrate, that is why most of us are appalled by that picture of people prostrating to Nnamdi Kanu. Peoples from all over the world do not prostrate too and it hasn't stopped them from developing their countries into world powers.

Anonymous said...

This man is talking rubbish, but I don't blame him. "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man will become king".

Mekito said...

All these anonymous hausa and yoruba claiming Igbo...#smh

Balhader said...

Prostrating, bowing down, kneeling down and being trampled upon are signs of humility. Hmm. I now know better

AFOLABI said...

iam a yoruba man that lived all my life in the east until recently.Reno you have stated the facts simplicita and these facts can not be controverted.i will ensure this write up is printed out and given to any iboman that i come across.i must say this write up is well researched.Reno i can only thank GOD for your life.this APC government would have pocketed all of us if not for your highly researched alternative views to counter their propaganda.no opposition party would have done any better.thank GOD for your productive and resourceful life.

AFOLABI said...

iam a yoruba man that lived all my life in the east until recently.Reno you have stated the facts simplicita and these facts can not be controverted.i will ensure this write up is printed out and given to any iboman that i come across.i must say this write up is well researched.Reno i can only thank GOD for your life.this APC government would have pocketed all of us if not for your highly researched alternative views to counter their propaganda.no opposition party would have done any better.thank GOD for your productive and resourceful life.

Unknown said...

Flesh and Blood has not revealed this to you Reno!!

Unknown said...

I totally agree with reno, and this piece is on point.

Anonymous said...

Nice piece sir...but the marriage between the north and the west can never be broken...it is an eternal marriage...

Anonymous said...

For the first time I agree with Reno. I knew you have sense hiding somewhee.

James Chelsea said...

Fools, Real Anu ohia, We can't be the same, u can not tell me that Hausans and Yorubas behaved the same, we are not ZOMBI, go and fall into ocean, we all agreed, that is why we Need Biafra, Omokiri, u are still a student that refused to learn, come back to Nigeria ur country and enjoy with Nigerians, Idiot Ewu

Anonymous said...

Reno, you can only improve relations with people who are prepared to improve relations with you on an equal basis. I'm Igbo but I have several Yoruba cousins and relatives. I can tell you one thing; deep down the Yoruba believe that they are superior to Igbo. They believe they are more civilised and very better tradition, history and language. They cannot understand why Igbos cannot acknowledge this and act accordingly. The Igbo man is proud (and rightly so) and will not ingratiate himself like that. You can see it as us being proud or not humble, but that is he we are and nothing will change it. I personally don't believe any particular tribe has special attributes, good or bad. But a lot of Yoruba people will argue with their last breath that Igbos are GREEDY and I don't see you addressing that issue even though we are inundated with evidence, on a daily basis online.

Anonymous said...

when you give respect to only your tribesmen...will you say you have respect?just like Christ died for all...respect should be for all and not for only people from my tribe...the west and the north dont have true respect since they only respect people from their tribe...

Anonymous said...

James it can never work that way. People who want to pull out cannot eat their cake and still have it. Why not speak out now for one Nigeria instead of trying to gain from both ends. It would be too hostile for them if they stay behind and you know it. It is well

Manuel Kunmi said...

Collect 🏆🏆🏆

Anonymous said...

God bless you anon 7.35
Love you igbos

Anonymous said...

Of course Yoruba people, who are obviously a faultless tribe (rolls eyes) are falling over themselves to declare that this article is a masterpiece. We also have so called "Igbo anonymous people" (who are obviously mostly Yorubas on the low) chiming in to agree. No surprises there.

I sincerely hope this article gets published in a newspaper, so that I can use it as toilet paper.

Anonymous said...

The west can never unite with the east and people of nigerdelta...the last election was a second civil war but only few noticed...just like the first civil war the west and north united against the east...i bet you 99% of yorubas and fulanis that worked with gej betrayed him.

Anonymous said...

Wowww you cannot dominate if you cannot accomodate ... Word!

Anonymous said...

Niger delta can never ever be biafran

Unknown said...

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Anonymous said...

Kanu is a nobody.. They are bowing down to him because they think one day he may be their president and would land them some juicy post.. All hypocritcy.
But tribes prostrate or kneel for elders out of true respect. Nothing wrong with that. Even the British kneel for the queen of England and that includes the prime ministers. Give respect to whom respect is due.

Anonymous said...

When I greet elderly Igbo men and women, I greet then with ultimate respect. I don't disregard or disrespect them and I am Yoruba so what are you on about.

Anonymous said...

When you want to break up a whole country for your own selfish reasons and still work and own properties in the country you detest so much and speak against so much ie Nigeria then yes you are extremely greedy and this is the point Patriotic Nigeria would say NO YOU CANNOT EAT YOUR CAKE AND STILL HAVE IT

Anonymous said...

Godson you managed to finish reading the article from top to bottom and what did you do swear at him and use obscene language at him. Can you not speak without insults? How do you communicate with normal people on a daily basis.. I tire for you oh

Anonymous said...

Bow to who? Who is this man sef, we are all kings here,if my parents see me bow to anyone na big wahala be that...O
We only bow to God not man.

Ladun Liadi said...

A very informative piece. As for the part about respect, it's a cultural thing. In Igbo land, it is earned, you must have distinguished yourself in business, war, oratory or other worthy pursuit. You can come from the dunghill to to rule the roost. Yes we have our faults like every other tribe but they are greatly exaggerated.

Anonymous said...

Bow wow, so I should come and bow to you? Who you be sef? we only bow to God not man.the igbos aren't slaves. We are born free, only a free man knows what freedom is. Or you might as well tell us to cover our faces in shame like slaves do

Anonymous said...

U blessed Mr 47,they can't accommodate how many yoruba's has a house in igbo land? Yet they have houses & businesses all over Nigeria most expecially in yoruba land that they even have streets name after them.

Anonymous said...

U are the blind one ode

Anonymous said...

U are blessed Mr 47,they can't accommodate how many yoruba's has a house in igbo land? Yet they have houses & businesses all over Nigeria most expecially in yoruba land that they even have streets name after them.

ary said...

Stop man!!!

Anonymous said...

Anon 9.06 did you not see the igbos Bowing to Kanu hypocrite. No one said bow, what you need to learn is respect your elders

Anonymous said...

Whilst I rarely comment on any issue on social media, I am particularly impressed and blessed by this wonderful piece by Reno. Your piece are becoming more fascinating with unbiased views out of a sincere mind.

Coming to this issue of the Igbos, one can only hope they'll for once take a reflection and prayerfully ask God for the spirit of humility to curtail their ego, in order to achieve true success. I am not Igbo but have worked in all of South East for years. They are very wonderful, interesting, enterprising with great sense of humour typically - they are (in my opinion) fantastic asset to the project called Nigeria...

Proverb 22:4 says "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honour and life". Our Igbo brethren can not be adjudged the worst set of people in Nigeria however, I am of the opinion that they will do better if and only if they can be more humble and less egoistic. God bless Nigeria!

Anonymous said...

Igbo enwegi Eze - Igbo do not have king. They prostrate to nobody and do not allow anybody to control them. They enterprise individually and independently and look up to no self centered leader/elder but only to their Chi. For this reason, the average Ibo man is more enterprising than his contemporaries from other tribes. And this is exactly the behaviour of the developed world.

Anonymous said...

Up Bendel
.

Anonymous said...

Anon 08.39, the British kneel before the Queen when carrying out ceremonies. If the Queen is visiting a hospital, for example, she only shakes hands with people. The British do not bow or prostrate to elders.

Anonymous said...

No man can overthrown man,only coup deter

Anonymous said...

Anon 08.54, it is not for you to decide if Igbos keep property or not, the law will decide that. The Biafran movement is for secession, not breaking up Nigeria. Stop peddling rubbish.

Anonymous said...

The problem of man is Man. Leave the issue of tribe. Gen. Obasanjo did not give power to Alh. Shehu Shagari, the latter won election keenly contested. Yoruba also contested. General Babangida created the problem in the first place. Again, he did not give power to Obasanjo. If all Nigerians did not want the West, all regions would have fielded candidates. And a different person would have won. What is important is unity. Let's see ourselves as one. Nationalism is the answer. We have to see ourselves first as Nigerians before our various addresses. For me no tribes exist as we marry across the tribes. Where you reside today is your home/ state of origin. If there is an outbreak of an infectious disease, will it kill by tribe. Our compatriots are dying daily for our sake and the unity of this country and people are busy talking about our differences which are natural.

Huxxein said...

Godson I'm not insulting u and technically I don't like ds Reno guy cuz a lot of his articles are biased and one sided but for the first time he wrote about what I have enlightened a lot of my Igbo friends about. Plus his article are backed with facts and names. Listen to ur argument, no facts or whatsoever... everything u said here are abusive words. The kind of school of tot he referred to in dis article. God help us all.

Unknown said...

I disagreed with the writer,i expected him 2 talk about what led to Igbo refering yoruba's as coward.Awolowo is regarded a the father of the west,his role of reneging from the intial understating or agreement he had with ojukwu before the Biafran war,was what gave birth to the assertion that yoruba's are coward.coming to the issue of respect & humily among the igbo,omokri is equally bias,is he is a student of culture,he'll appreciate the fact that culture can never be uniform,that the act of respect & humility is not eyeservice,rather from a sincere heart.looking at the Bible account of mordecai vs Haman,it taught us that people have their own way of showing respect & humility.i also remembered it was the same mordecai that saved the kings life.Nothing shall stop the establishment of the state of Biafra

Huxxein said...

Nicely said, this is the first opposing argument that made sense... no abusive words or whatsoever. @Godson ßhld learn from you sir.

Huxxein said...

@Reno... whr av u been keeping this unbiased article? I will agree with u on this, if only u can remain neutral like ds... I might actually like u.

Anonymous said...

The reasons we are here is that yorubas dominated and refuse to decentralise the economy system. They want everyone to come to lags to buy fuel. The ships that bring in the goods are here. They refuse to allow other seaports to operate effectively. They are good in dominating when it comes to economic interest. I like them for that but if u want to see lags detoriate. Allow international seaports and airports to operate effectively in the south south and south east. You will be surprise how lags and most yoruba land will be deserted. Like Reno said, Igbos should learn how to play politics like yorubas and fulanis . I will now ask, have they been given opportunity to rule. The presidency is powerful, yorubas hAve been there likewise fulanis and they used it to make there decisions stand with their people. If u want to see how Igbos operate , give them presidency.

Anonymous said...

Mr James,different countries with different policies. You cannot secede and still want to dictate what the other country will do. If nigeria says they will take over your properties there is absolutly nothing you can do about it. You asked to leave.

lavie said...

Salutation is not love. we don't pretend,Hence we are not diplomatic, well said. Please if I bow down to you, what will I do for my Almighty Jesus.

Anonymous said...

As an Igbo man, I see nothing wrong with other tribes bowing and prostrating to their elders. What I see as wrong is when those other tribes tell me that my culture is wrong or that I'm not "respectful" because we do not bow or prostrate in my culture. HOW DARE YOU JUDGE MY CULTURE!

Unknown said...

I'm an igbo man. Reno is so truthful about us. We need to change from our crazy mentality. May your day be long" man of wisdom.

Anonymous said...

Im afraid Godson is also one of our igbo brothers that needs to be enlightened.

Anonymous said...

Someone insults your tribe and your culture, and cherry picks some people for comparison? Of course he'll get insults. A summation of Reno's article is - you Igbos calling Yorubas cowards, from the examples I've given, you are the one who are cowards. What about all the insults that Yorubas level at Igbos? I can only conclude that he believes they are true because he didn't address any other of them. Not even one single one!

Of course such a one sided unbalanced article will draw insults.

Anonymous said...

You should be writing about restructuring Nigeria.Once nigeria is geographically and economically fairly restructured,every nigerian will feel belonged.Dont you think that the easterners are mostly aggressive and defensive because of injustice melted out to them over the years?Well,most of your points are not correct with the exception of not been diplomatic enough in their operational environment.Your write-up dont have the ability to impact hence shouldnt be supported by well meaning nigerians.Thanks

Anonymous said...

Igbos can not even cooperate an present one MAN for president. Tell them to come out now, every Tom, Dick and Harry will come out from Igbo land.

Anonymous said...

I really hope they read, understand, digest and reflect on this piece. It's absolutely nothing but factual truth!

Anonymous said...

Omokri is not igbo. He is maternally Yoruba and Paternally Delta (Urhobo)

Anonymous said...

You have said it all when you Said : If the Igbos can learn humility and practice diplomacy and discipline themselves to have one leader.
Prostration is not an abomination but it's not in Igbos culture. And please do not use it as a must do for the Igbos in order to show humilty. The Americans that you are in their country do not prostrate and yet things are working over there.
CHUKWUJEKWU.

Anonymous said...

You have said it all when you Said : If the Igbos can learn humility and practice diplomacy and discipline themselves to have one leader.
Prostration is not an abomination but it's not in Igbos culture. And please do not use it as a must do for the Igbos in order to show humilty. The Americans that you are in their country do not prostrate and yet things are working over there.
CHUKWUJEKWU.

Anonymous said...

And you conveniently forgot that Gej Chief spokes man for the election campaign is a yoruba Man FFK.

Anonymous said...

You have said it all when you Said : If the Igbos can learn humility and practice diplomacy and discipline themselves to have one leader.
Prostration is not an abomination but it's not in Igbos culture. And please do not use it as a must do for the Igbos in order to show humilty. The Americans that you are in their country do not prostrate and yet things are working over there.
CHUKWUJEKWU.

Anonymous said...

@ james brosco. How can you maintain your property in a land you are so eager to leave,you will still be governed by the Nigerians you so much despise and still be paying land use and tenement rates to develop Nigeria. It will be better to pay those money to Biafra for development of that region,its called common sense. Most Nigerians live abroad cos its developed and they want to be under that govt.not so far Biafra. Common sense will suggest to leave Nigeria totally and go develop Biafra.

Anonymous said...

Anon 10.31 there is a seaport in the east, you cannot force shipping companies to take their goods to any seaport if they don't want to. They would first check if it is economically viable. There are airports in the east. Why don't igbos fly straight to them rather than via Lagos? The same reasons Yorubas don't fly straight to Ibadan airport but would rather go through Lagos. When stella oduah was at the helm of aviation affairs under GEJ and she was laundering seriously instead of ensuring growth in the east as well as other areas of Nigeria, what did your lot say, she is our faithful Igbo daughter and you even rewarded her with chieftancy titles. You should have made her accountable big time.
The presidency is not anyone's right, we have a democratic election and whoever wins the most votes becomes president. You don't hand over presidency to people or anyone just because they demand it. Stop blaming everyone else for your woes. Sit back and look inwards

Anonymous said...

Are you sure an Igbo man will respect an Orator with zero account balance?

Anonymous said...

Anon10.46 no one is judging your culture, I am just saying you should not condemn people who prostrate or kneel to greet elders and call them cowards or slaves. Everyone has a right to their culture

Anonymous said...

Anon 10.49 I dey tell you

Anonymous said...

I beg to disagree, where you live is your home. Your state of origin however is passed down by your father not where you live.

Anonymous said...

Reno this is a Very educating piece trust me i have alway love Your writing facts are strong cant arguing about it, true humility is Wen you see the truth , you Put sentiment aside you acknowledge it and act . Your points about the igbos are fact, trust me i will love to say you exaggerated on some points out of love for my tribe but the painful truth is you did not, my message to my fellow igbos are no one love the igboland like i do, so much so that i will rather come to this earth as a tree than be from any other tribe in Nigeria , i love my homeland that much so i think its a responsibity for all Who love the igboland also to acknowlegde this truth ,the point mr Reno made are vital if we have to coexist weather with other parts of Nigeria or foreigners, but we are really lacking in all these point wisdom will alway prevail over intelligent,we have got to drop that victim mentality lets regroup ourselves this is not a time for biafra this is a time to build up our next generations arm with these fact from Reno we Now know how the other parts of Nigeria feels about the igbo man lets use this information to our own advantage better ourself and the generation ahead of us and come out a shining star ,mr Reno on the ilustration you made with your bear i will like to say it Can go both ways not jos the igbos but all will either act likewise or the other way round it was on my part a Wrong instance you gave because its a personal relationship you have with a grandparent or parent and this Can not be used as a basic to judge the igboman, i know a thousand igbomen Who will act exactly the way you did.and a thousand hausa or yoruba men you will say Yes sir to their grandfather but still go ahead and carrying the white trademark bear.

Anonymous said...

It's not a problem. Reno has taken his grandfather's instruction seriously and whether you like it or not he is a blessed man. Why didn't you complain when those touts bowed to Kanu an ordinary man? You were all applauding

noel said...

So babangida & obasanjo are patriots. I now know that stealing and being corrupt is considered patriotic. What a load of stereotyping bullshit. Wake up and Smell the coffee Mr. Omokirikiri.

Anonymous said...

Okay happily think you can eat your cake and have it and face the consequences. How greedy can you get... If You don't want to be part of Nigeria, then we don't want you in Nigeria. We can't be comfortable with people who don't like us now!!

Anonymous said...

The writer should stop sewing the seed of discord among this two major earthnic of the South. Please stop using your God given intelligence to promote hate speech as you know most people are gullible not understanding that is your personal opinion but not roundly fact. Igbos can never be like yorubas or live like them, we are different pple. To an extent I believe all this animosity from people like you is envy of the igbo success not only in Nigeria but every part of the world also. Like somebody earlier said you talk with those who are ready to talk to you, it takes diplomacy to even succeed in business in business which the igbo stock has excel highly with in a very short period of wanton destruction of all he has by federal authority in civil war.

Anonymous said...

Putting people of different tribes into different boxes is a symbol of utter stereotyping and tribalism....who that one epp....why would someone humble himself to you when you have been maltreating him for over 50 years.you complain about humility and selfishness, how different has the northern and western government been ?.....they have come with the same tag written all over it.if you work with someone you don't like , you co-inhabit by doing what's right. Why can't our leaders do the same and prove the Igbos wrong by making the national development be for everyone.your agreeing to shave after your Dad said so is the best you can do to epitomise humility ? You are such a joke man.

Anonymous said...

I absolutely agree with your view sir. Indeed flesh and blood did not reveal this to Reno. Explicit and hard stuff.

Unknown said...

If a group of people feel the need to want to pull out of an organization, I personally see nothing wrong with it. Secondly I don't like people generalizing. Not all igbos are rude, disrespectful and greedy. Just like not all westerners and northerners are respectful and humble. Finally I think the igbos need to learn to be united and diplomatic

Anonymous said...

Anon 9.41, we do respect our elders. It is you guys who don't. All you do is bow robotically. It is not sincere and doesn't come your heart.

Anonymous said...

Is a man's success defined by his political power?

Is prostration the definition of humility?

How come a lot countries who don't have the prostrating culture are far humble and better than us?

If yorubas had fought that war, they wouldn't have achieved the nationwide success that the igbo people have?

Anonymous said...

You just saying this cos you cant see Jesus... If an average ibgo man sees Jesus face to face, he wont bow still... Thats exactly why he is God and not human. The Holy book made it known that God judges our regards for him by how we treat the human beings that we can see because we cant see him. You guys are just using respect to God only to disguise your arrongance to humanity. If respect is for only those that earns it in our lives then we have plenty reasons to not respect a poor elder filled with wisdom. To the igbos, money and material things are more powerful than wisdom but this articles is revealing to you that wisdom is the principal thing. Cant you just learn from this extremely rich article... Una "I too know" sef is a weakness and you wont learn. Savage

Anonymous said...

Am an igbo man n I have to say that I believe in a united strong Nigeria.. Haven said that Mr. Reno whom cowardly cannot return to Nigeria now even for all d waffles in shoprite. Generalise a whole tribe n insult them in a write up.
Hell yeah we don't bow or prostrate to any body except our Chi n we don't have apologies for dat. As far as am concerned respect is a state of mind. How dare u question our custom n traditions same that has brought us thus far. We are a free people but cannot be taken for a ride with out questions. in fact in our own little way we practiced democracy even b4 d white man came in. Just like in d movies we have d igwe in counsel where matters r debated b4 final decision is taken by d king. So u can c we r a people with our own mind.
Respect is to be given not taken. In other for u to recieve it u have to earn it by way of age,deeds etc n not necessarily by prostration to show it.
How can u insult a man like Azikiwe who preached d unity of this country even in d face of war by his kinsmen. How does dat make him week.
I belive in the sacrosanctity of d entity Nigeria and I belive dat d igbo as traders will fare better in a united Nigeria hence my not agreeing with mazi Kànu, but on his order on stay at home I totally stand with him becos about 50year ago d region lost over 2millon souls and a day should be marked out to remember them heck it should be taught in schools cos it's part of who we are not even be made a public holiday.

uniquechic said...

reno is sooo on point..
but d issue of greed I see more amongst ibo traders dan d literate ones...its d ibo traders dat can swerve u left rite and center..sell u inferior goods just to make profit. yes dey r greedy..
whoever disagrees is lying to himself we all encounter dem in markets..
but we can all live as one in ds nation every tribe has its own traits dat make us unique..patience and perseverance is d key.

Anonymous said...

Have you all forgotten so soon that Yorubas could not go to war over June 12 because they are all cowards? You couldn't muster the guts to fight for what was yours. Since you could not drag the Igbos into your struggle, did you fight for your mandate? How come you have not openly admitted your betrayals and cowardly acts? In 1999, you were pacified by the Aboki with presidency. Have you ever mentioned of stolen mandate since then? Awolowo betrayed the Igbos and also cost us the war with his wicked alliance with the British after been set free from Calabar Prison by Ojukwu to go and declare Oduduwa State. He then turn around and took all our properties and money and only gave each person #20. So what are we supposed to learn from you? Wickedness, betrayal and coward acts? Omokiri, can you tell me any other region in your called Nigeria that is militarised? Or do you want us to keep quiet in this occupation called Nigeria? Or,can you tell the world how mush this occupation has taken from Biafran Land since after this civil War till date and how must have they invested in our well being? We cannot continue to keep quiet in eyes of these oppressors.

Did your yoruba history not tell you that co-existence is not by force? I guess you should go back to your yorubaland and get more lessons from the elders on why we cannot be one. How can we be one when even traditional rulers in yoruba threatens to drown us if we do not do their bidding? Or are you scared you will not enjoy oil money again if we go?

Anonymous said...

Mr. Omokri you are wrong in a lot of ways.
1. Igbo's don't post rate to anyone is culiterally and that does not mean disrespect as you call it. The Americans and British do they lie down to great anyone and it does not mean disrespect. Have you not seen so many of your kinsmen that post rate and yet beat up their parents.

2. From time immaterial igbo's have council of respected elders who make decisions. Ojukwu only came to the fronta because of his position then.

3. If you are in the position of any igbo man you will feel the same way they are feeling. They lost over 2 million people in the Nigerian war, Thier monies-sized and propetries confiscated in so many parts of the country.my own father was working in shell-and was not taken back after the war.

I salute fajuyi for his bravery. The 1967 coup- you talk about was masterminded by not only igbo's but I blame ironsi-for the list handed to him without scrutiny. The excluded from the list now became people who stole money from this country to stupor.
I salute idiagbon-

That you shaved your beard does not make you a respectful person. You can be disobididient- in a lot of waYs-

Obama akiolu- recently disrespected the oni- bowing down does not mean abosute respect. Do not bow down to anything on earth or image. If interpreted this wayear what do you call.

The bottom line is we should have respect to for each and for the entity nigeria.

Lastly I blame the igbo governors. If they are focused even when othere govern Orsett are not in don't we should be living outside igbo land.

Why I for instance I did not support PMB which does not mean endorsing jonathan was simple both as president and Ptf- chairman did not do one single thing in the southeast- I stand to be corrected if you can show me one. My question is this? Is the civil war still on?

Anonymous said...

A splendid article devoid of bias.
Wisdom is indeed profitable.

Anonymous said...

Lol...this one sweet dem (Yorubas) special..haha haha.
I see their comments. Salutation is not love. That u prostrate when u greet doesn't mean u are humble. Humility is far from just bowing or kneeling before your elders. That same tongue u used in saying all the greetings in the universe is same tongue u use in saying all the curses...hehehe Ogumagala!

Anonymous said...

Don't mind them

SongsOfSUSSAN said...

Reno, you have written a masterpiece as usual. Though, I will disagree with you on the issue of prostration as a sign of respect or humility. I am proudly Igbo, lived in the West almost all my life. I'll tell you for free; I CANNOT PROSTRATE TO ANYBODY EXCEPT GOD!! In my Igbo culture, it does not mean disrespect or pride( far from it), it is just a way of life. I have seen a so-called respectful Yoruba guy bashed a bottle on the head of an elderly man he just prostrated to because of #100.
In the area of politics, I think Igbos should be Re-orientated on the need for oneness because it is easy for a fellow Igbo brother or sister to join forces with another tribe to betray a fellow Igbo, just for few Dollars or Naira( sad indeed).

Anonymous said...

God bless you. Greedy people

Unknown said...

These name callings and character assassinations are uncalled for. All that Ndi-igbo want is to be left alone to pursue their destinies their own way without orchestrated repressions by inferior people who are just unproductive parasites. With all the good qualities of accorded other Nigerians as against the bad qualities of Ndi-igbo, what has the average Nigerian achieved personally more than the average Igbo person on his own? NOTHING. Ndi-igbo have the Highest Achievement Motivation and Ability of all the black race. That is the dilemma of other Nigerians and why they fear and hate Ndi-igbo because if offered level playing field, Ndi-igbo will overwhelm them. It is the reason for the orchestrated gang-up against and suppression of Ndi-igbo in Nigeria. But nobody can keep the sun from rising. For three years Nigerians destroyed the lands, lives and possessions of Ndi-igbo and believed they left their survivors mere nonentities. They thought Ndi-igbo were finished and their Igbo problems solved for ever. You can understand their chagrin that within a decade, the nonentities have, like the mythical phoenix, risen from their ashes stronger than before. Reno Omokris diatribes here mirrors the frustrations of most indolent Nigerians who are jealous of Igbo achievements despite all odds imposed on them collectively. The obvious sign of jealousy is uncharitable criticism of the successful.

Sammy said...

Reno for use Davido as example. Davido wey call Dele Momodu his boy.

Anonymous said...

Reno for use Davido as example. Davido wey call Dele Momodu his boy.

Anonymous said...

I am an Igbo man. Reno is a sage! This writing should be considered Igbo scripture

Anonymous said...

@Nnabuike, I am sorry you didn't see the bigger picture Reno was trying to paint. Nigerians need to unite, we need to ask questions of our leaders, we need to respect our neighbors, we need to start reasoning with our heads and not succumb to the dictates of our emotions all the time, We must begin to differentiate between outright lies, propaganda and truth. Fact is, all Southern ethnic groups in Nigeria related! A friend conducted an ancestry DNA test recently and started wishing he hadn't written all those vile and hateful things he wrote on the Internet to disparage a certain ethnic group to which the ancestry DNA result later showed he was more related to than the one he was e-warrioring for on the Internet for months! Let all black men unite. Let all Nigerians come together, black people all over the world are looking up to us! The time is now! Let us remember: Indifferent people don't make a different nation.

Anonymous said...

THIS IS A WRITE UP BEST FOR CHILDREN IN PRIMARY 5 @ BEST.

IGNORES SO MANY DEEP SEATED NUANCES, PROPER HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND ASSUMES TO MAKE OPINION AS FACT!! BADLY WRITTEN TREATISE THAT USES SINGULAR CONTEXTUAL EXAMPLES TO DRAW BROAD STROKES TO DEFINE PEOPLE



BY THE WAY, I AM YORUBA!!

Chukwujekwu said...

Reno for use Davido as example. Davido wey call Dele Momodu his boy.

Chukwujekwu said...

Reno for use Davido as example. Davido wey call Dele Momodu his boy.

Anonymous said...

Lol

Anonymous said...

Indians, Pakistan all touch the feet ao elders and bow down as sign of respect. Even some asian counties too. Respect and humility is key to uplifting. Even God said in the bible that he will avoid the proud but give grace to the humble.

Anonymous said...

Indians, Pakistan all touch the feet ao elders and bow down as sign of respect. Even some asian counties too. Respect and humility is key to uplifting. Even God said in the bible that he will avoid the proud but give grace to the humble.

Anonymous said...

Eze-Udemba Zuma,This your attitude is why many host communities detest Igbos..You definenely do not represent the decent and brilliant Igbo people.Unfortunately,one bad apple spoils the whole basket.

Anonymous said...

As he stated, these are his opinions. And as we all know, opinions are like arse holes everybody got one. Reno has been reading too much trash online.

Anonymous said...

As an Igbo man who is banker in a Igbo dominated int'l market in Lagos, I am always ashamed when my brothers show their unnecessary pomposity, impatience, brashness, rudeness and insultive tendencies during understandable service delays. This is always in stark contrast to the respectful and understanding manner in which the Youruba customers usually comport themselves.
Though i do not believe that bowing down is the only way of showing respect i think our cultural inclination of according respect only based on wealth and status is not good enough. This is what puts most Igbo brothers under intense pressure and desperation to be rich at all cost simply because wealth is the only way to get respect in Igbo culture unlike other tribes where a wealthy man would normally prostrate before an older poor man!
I implore my brothers to accord respect to one another without bias and learn to be more effective in our outcry against marginalization. Why should we claim we are the choicest and strongest when the so-called cowards have produced more brave and vocal patriots such as Fajuyi, Idiagbon, Fela Kuti, Fela's mother, Funmilayo Ransom Kuti, Gani Fawehinmi, Obasanjo, Even the rascally Ayo Fayose and many more.
WHERE ARE THE IGBO BRAVE MEN. We are our own betrayers and traitors. There is need for a paradigm shift.

Anonymous said...

As an Igbo man who is banker in a Igbo dominated int'l market in Lagos, I am always ashamed when my brothers show their unnecessary pomposity, impatience, brashness, rudeness and insultive tendencies during understandable service delays. This is always in stark contrast to the respectful and understanding manner in which the Youruba customers usually comport themselves.
Though i do not believe that bowing down is the only way of showing respect i think our cultural inclination of according respect only based on wealth and status is not good enough. This is what puts most Igbo brothers under intense pressure and desperation to be rich at all cost simply because wealth is the only way to get respect in Igbo culture unlike other tribes where a wealthy man would normally prostrate before an older poor man!
I implore my brothers to accord respect to one another without bias and learn to be more effective in our outcry against marginalization. Why should we claim we are the choicest and strongest when the so-called cowards have produced more brave and vocal patriots such as Fajuyi, Idiagbon, Fela Kuti, Fela's mother, Funmilayo Ransom Kuti, Gani Fawehinmi, Obasanjo, Even the rascally Ayo Fayose and many more.
WHERE ARE THE IGBO BRAVE MEN. We are our own betrayers and traitors. There is need for a paradigm shift.

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Anonymous said...

Lol, I tot gej was ijaw...I never knew he was igbo too

Anonymous said...

Either you are a kid or you don't know anything about Nigeria. Which ethnic has been working with the northerner from day 1 of the independence? Igbo. Zik was second fiddle to Tafawa Balewa. Awolowo and his action group has always be in the opposition. Zik never work with Awo in 79 cos they cldn't agree on who to be the president and V. president. Instead Zik pitch his tent with Shagari, agreed to be shagari's second fiddle..who was Shagari's vice? Alex Ekuweme. Same in 83. The first time a sw person becomes a vice to a northerner, you guys r shouting Yoruba is a slave. If Jonathan had performed, he wld the have lost the election. After all Jonathan won massively in sw in 2011; but he neglected the area due to bad advices from pple surrounding him. Even in this election it was still close battle in SW btw Buhari and Jonathan which tells u SW has a diverse view, they don't follow anyone but what they believe in.

Anonymous said...

99% of Yoruba worked for buhari, yet the result was like 53% vs 47% in favour of Buhari. It's either u r tribalistic and spread lies due your hatred of SW or you need education. If there's place pple voted along tribal line, it's in the north, SS and SE.

Chris said...

Reno is so informed and well articulated. Every single sentence was hit from back to back. May God bless you with more wisdom, Mr Reno

Unknown said...

All this aboki claiming igbos....anuofia if u are igbo and u concur to this stupid write up then u can go to hell quietly...if they had caught up with ojukwu we would hv been slaves iin this wasted country...

Unknown said...

People are just crazy who said igbo don't accommodate...who are the ones being killed during religious crisis igbos...the yeruba has been slave to the north we just don't want to be a part of it

Unknown said...

Who is complaining of under development better get ur facts right...and for all this yeruba demons claiming igbos thumbs up

Unknown said...

Onukwu call som1 ode....anuofia

Unknown said...

Go sit ur ass in an oven lived all ur life where?

Anonymous said...

And that is why u igbos will remain there.Nobody is saying u shldnt leave but u can't eat ur cake and have it. Even if u have ur so called biafra, u will never be United. So wake up.

Anonymous said...

His examples are wrong examples. Nnamdi Azikiwe never supported the war, while Ojukwu stubbornly went ahead so Zik left the country. If you tell your son not to do something and he stubbornly does it what do you do? Go with him or to reach him a lesson by abandoning him? Zik was born and raised in Zungeru, and has an attachment with that place, like some Igbos who have investments all over Nigeria who are against the Biafra movement. All Zik wanted was one Nigeria and nothing more, that's what he had in mind when they went for independence. Reno presenting him in this light is wrong. It shows his hatred for the Igbos. Ojukwu was a spoilt child of a billionaire father, and has youthful exuberance which Zik was not in support of. Reno please retract your statement about Zik of Africa abandoning his people as an act of cowardice please, else posterity will not treat you well. Ojukwu was begged and almost pushed to exile by the Igbos who saw him as more patriotic than Zik. You are presenting Awolowo above Zik, because he was tribalistic and used the war as an opportunity to grab things for his people. Zik a detribalised nationalist who saw his nationalist movement as a waste if Nigeria is disintegrated. It's very unfair for Reno to say this. How many Yorubas have faced the Hausas to declare war in order to get the state of Oduduwa? That alone on Ojukwu's part is bravery. Didn't Tinubu run away to exile and so many others when Abacha was on his case. What Yoruba or Hausa or even you big mouth Reno will be doing what Nnamdi Kanu is doing for his people. That is why you long mouthed Reno remain in America and be through stones. Linda please post this, they're trying to relegate the efforts of Zik of Africa to the background.

Anonymous said...

Childish talk

Anonymous said...

A tribe that isn't humble and yet wants to rule. Keep dreaming ooo.

Anonymous said...

Of course it'll be a hit in your bigoted mind. Now you can die a happy man

Anonymous said...

Such a biased write up. Shame on Reno!

Anonymous said...

Reno is not Igbo he is uhrobo

Anonymous said...

Reno is not Igbo, he is uhrobo south south.

Anonymous said...

Thank you my brother or sister for your analysis of Mr Remo Omokri article which with due respect to him was not what we as a country should be focusing on now. I hope Mr Omokri will read your piece before and May be champion another panacea for our country's political problems.

Anonymous said...

Anon 16.07 my correct Igbo brother, you are on point... Even FFK as loose as his tongue can be is still yoruba to the core. He is not making too much sense at the moment because of the baby mama at the moment. He is from a highly educated family, himself highly educated... Unfortunately he has not been able to pull his children together for some reason. But trust me he is not entirely a bad man.

Anonymous said...

Thank you my brother or sister for your analysis of Mr Reno Omokri article which with due respect to him was not what we as a country should be focusing on now. I hope Mr Omokri will read your piece before and May be champion another panacea for our country's political problems.

Anonymous said...

What a biased write up by Reno. You cannot enumerate on all the faults and problems the Igbos have, a little problem about hausa, then Yoruba has no faults at all, they are saints. Why can't Reno tell you guys that ndigbo are the most detribalised people which is the reason Zik never supported the war that ignorant Reno is calling cowardice. This same detribalised nature of ndigbo is the reason why you guys say we are not united. For your information Reno, Awolowo was not in prison for his people, it was rather his own personal political survival of his rift between him and Akintola. Check your history very well. It is our detribalized nature that makes us to settle any where we are, build a house and establish businesses and equally make it home which always attracts the envy of the locals. The Igbos can come to an unknown village now establish, make friends immediately with the indegenes and before you say jack, that place is already a developed city. Your Yoruba people can't be free with any body unless that person is Yoruba. I experienced that during our national youth service corps. You can't demonize a particular tribe, and tell them that they are the reason they're beign marginalized. So it is okay to marginalize a particular tribe because of their "proud" nature according to ignorant Reno. Yoruba has their problems and faults too. They're very tribalistic and never accepts nor trust people of other tribes. They run away in the face of confrontation and go at your back to fight you which ignorant Reno calls wisdom. That is "evil wisdom" wisdom of a snake. Linda please eat this comment.

Anonymous said...

What a biased write up by Reno. You cannot enumerate on all the faults and problems the Igbos have, a little problem about hausa, then Yoruba has no faults at all, they are saints. Why can't Reno tell you guys that ndigbo are the most detribalised people which is the reason Zik never supported the war that ignorant Reno is calling cowardice. This same detribalised nature of ndigbo is the reason why you guys say we are not united. For your information Reno, Awolowo was not in prison for his people, it was rather his own personal political survival of his rift between him and Akintola. Check your history very well. It is our detribalized nature that makes us to settle any where we are, build a house and establish businesses and equally make it home which always attracts the envy of the locals. The Igbos can come to an unknown village now establish, make friends immediately with the indegenes and before you say jack, that place is already a developed city. Your Yoruba people can't be free with any body unless that person is Yoruba. I experienced that during our national youth service corps. You can't demonize a particular tribe, and tell them that they are the reason they're beign marginalized. So it is okay to marginalize a particular tribe because of their "proud" nature according to ignorant Reno. Yoruba has their problems and faults too. They're very tribalistic and never accepts nor trust people of other tribes. They run away in the face of confrontation and go at your back to fight you which ignorant Reno calls wisdom. That is "evil wisdom" wisdom of a snake. Linda please eat this comment.

Anonymous said...

What a biased write up by Reno. You cannot enumerate on all the faults and problems the Igbos have, a little problem about hausa, then Yoruba has no faults at all, they are saints. Why can't Reno tell you guys that ndigbo are the most detribalised people which is the reason Zik never supported the war that ignorant Reno is calling cowardice. This same detribalised nature of ndigbo is the reason why you guys say we are not united. For your information Reno, Awolowo was not in prison for his people, it was rather his own personal political survival of his rift between him and Akintola. Check your history very well. It is our detribalized nature that makes us to settle any where we are, build a house and establish businesses and equally make it home which always attracts the envy of the locals. The Igbos can come to an unknown village now establish, make friends immediately with the indegenes and before you say jack, that place is already a developed city. Your Yoruba people can't be free with any body unless that person is Yoruba. I experienced that during our national youth service corps. You can't demonize a particular tribe, and tell them that they are the reason they're beign marginalized. So it is okay to marginalize a particular tribe because of their "proud" nature according to ignorant Reno. Yoruba has their problems and faults too. They're very tribalistic and never accepts nor trust people of other tribes. They run away in the face of confrontation and go at your back to fight you which ignorant Reno calls wisdom. That is "evil wisdom" wisdom of a snake. Linda please eat this comment.

Anonymous said...

I do. Reno lied in most of the things he wrote.
1. Zik was nationalist, not a coward. A nationalist who fought for independence will not support war to destroy what he laboured for. He was born and bred in the North and had an attachment to it. He wanted one Nigeria.
2. Ojukwu was begged to leave, he never ran away.
3. Awolowo never went to prison because of his people rather because of his personal political rift with Akintola.
4. Igbos have their good side unlike what Reno wrote that ndigbo are bad people. They are city builders, kind hearted people, they may be proud, but are detribalized.
4. Yorubas have their own faults too. They are tribalistic. Yorubas are back stabbers that run away in the face of confrontation but fight you at your back. So they can't be trusted, watch your back!
5. Igbos are not cowards, but fight for whatever they believe in.
The only truth in what Reno said is that Igbos are proud and intelligent.

Anonymous said...

I do. Read my comments up there.

Anonymous said...

Okafor no one is a slave to anybody.
But you will never learn... What's with all the insults. I don't even feel like talking with you because like most of you you can't communicate without using insultive language.... Shutting people up in the process. Look people are entitled to their opinion including you. Did you not debate in your secondary school. Just go away abeg.

Anonymous said...

Okafor again insulting people. Please just clear off

Anonymous said...

Okaforrrrrrr and his rotten gutter mouth.. Are you educated at all?

Anonymous said...

Ahhhh Okafor intelligent people with clean mouths are talking shove off please

Anonymous said...

Imagine wishing death on another human... Can you see why if you leave, no one will want to have you close in Nigeria so you don't wish death on them

Anonymous said...

Your ibo women love our tradition that's y u see them becoming Yoruba wives. They kneel down too.

Unknown said...

Who ur like Epp? Hian...

Unknown said...

Word

Anonymous said...

Correction Reno in America "throwing" stones.

Anonymous said...

I am proudly Igbo and will always be Igbo any time any day. Reno onunshi is liar Mohammed's brother. He is biased and writing from his biased sense.

Anonymous said...

I am proudly Igbo and will always be Igbo any time any day. Reno onunshi is liar Mohammed's brother. He is biased and writing from his biased sense.

Anonymous said...

Reno is a biased man writing from his biased sense. You can't enumerate on the fault of Igbo and Hausa and Yoruba is the saint here. You can't be a neutral writer. That's why you've been doing the job of criticizing Buhari forgetting that you were involved in Jonathan's very corrupt government.

Anonymous said...

Mr. Nnabuike, please go and read your history book very well and quote for me where Awolowo reneged on any agreement. Awo only said and I quote "IF NIGERIA ALLOW BIAFRA TO SECEDE, YORUBAS WILL FOLLOW" Nigeria never allowed Biafra to secede, so why will Yoruba secede? If Nigeria had allowed Biafra to leave and Yorubas did nothing then you can be right about Awo's cowardice but in this case its not.

Anonymous said...

Shame on Reno, your mother may be from Yoruba it doesn't mean that they are without fault. Take it or leave it. Yorubas are cowards and theDr people you mentioned here have not showed any sign of cowardice. A nationalist who refused to be involved in a war that will rubbish his movement and a rebel leader who lost a war and was forced to exile. Shame on Reno! Igbos should beware of Reno.

Anonymous said...

All these anonymous Yorubas claiming Igbos, listen, Ojukwu never abandoned Igbos. I will always be Igbo, will always have Okay as my hero any time, anyday.

Anonymous said...

Awolowo is a nobody.

Anonymous said...

Sharap! @anon 17:04, which Zik was Shagari's fiddle? Zik who was in NPP and Shagari in NPN, a different party are now partners and fiddle. You are a whoa!

Anonymous said...

Please, please, please people check your facts right. Reno lied so much in this article, and like always very very biased. Reno calling Zik coward is very bad and wrong and lies. This is the most biased articule I've read as an adult and as a scholar. Reno please don't write things like this again, you refuse to tell the truth and wrote a lot of surface facts that are not rooted. You will be shooting yourself in the foot if you continue like this. Don't ever call a whole tribe bad with nothing good to write about them. You used a lot of lies here to back up your biased article. Wawu!

Anonymous said...

Anon 8:19 you are yoruba, why claim Igbo? Igbos don't behave like you. You behave like Yoruba and talk like Yoruba. Reno is an ignorant man writing from his anus who has refused to get caution. He lied so much in this article,and stepped on toes, I leave posterity to judge him.

Anonymous said...

Anomalies 11.11. Who said there is sea port in the east ? Kindly name it pls. Besides, you paid for ur goods and they must deliver it where you want it. They are logistics company and they know their way . The problem is , lags are dominating everything and it's making it. Which airport de east ? Did u allow her to finish her job? They used propaganda to remove her be cos she is working. Was she proven guity? How many bullet proof car did u r senate president buy? Was he prosecuted cos he is powerful. How many international airport was certified in the easy. There is two international airports in the north, one in lagos. Anyone in the east? None.

Ella chandelli said...

Shut up! Who wan marry dirty yoruba men with their pencil like dicks. Oloriburuku somebody!

Ella chandelli said...

Who be this Anon fool... Close your rotten gworro teeth! And nchi

Ella chandelli said...

Lol.. All that bug big and English go give you mark for nyash
😂😂😂😄

Ella chandelli said...

Shut up! Yoruba slave...
See where men are talking and you want to join. C'mon runs along,when you are needed, am sure you will hear your name. Ode!!

Supermom said...

Anon 19.27, so it only yoru a people that are tribalistic? I live in houston, and most igbo people will never talk to you unless you are a fellow igbo. They will even be calling you "ofeamu" to your face.

Anonymous said...

Correction: "I will always have Ojukwu as my hero any time anyday". Thanks Reno for your useless false article. A hundred of this article will not make me wanna be Yoruba or Hausa.

Anonymous said...

Correction: "I will always have Ojukwu as my hero any time anyday". Thanks Reno for your useless false article. A hundred of this article will not make me wanna be Yoruba or Hausa.

Anonymous said...

Yoruba children are here commenting. None of these Yoruba kids are making sense. Please you kids should go and eat your mother's food and leave talk for matured minds.

Anonymous said...

The saint Yorubas are praising Reno's biased lies. Reno will always be remembered for this piece he wrote, internet never forgets. He has really opened healed wounds and made us responsible for our marginalization. Fine keep writing your biased articles, karma sure knows your address.

Anonymous said...

Sharap! You this Yorubavman. Yorubas have become Igbos and niger-delta since this week.

Anonymous said...

Yoruba man keep quiet there!

deenity sealord said...

Mko refused to giv up is mandate for freedom, he lost his wife in d battle for democracy, I remember hw d yorubas fought abacha and ibb for June 12 despite many molestation frm d military, fela nd family fought so many battles, do we talk abt ganiyu fawehimi? I dnt knw wer d igbos got der cowardice slogan frm perhaps cos pa awo was intelligent enuff nt to sacrifice his people on d pretenc of secession.

Anonymous said...

Reno is just jealous of ndigbo like most sick thinking Nigetians. When somebody is criticising you and always reminding you that he is equally successful, watch it, it is envy and low self esteem which is what Reno just exhibited. He thinks that being involved in Jonathan's govt as social media prefect and running to the US to be critiquing the govt of the day is a big achievement, nah! Reno you are a hater! And haters are not good writers.

Anonymous said...

Reno is a hater!

Anonymous said...

Not with a hater like Reno!

Anonymous said...

Sharap! You are not Igbo. You guys are doing a good job insulting Igbos. One thing is for sure, we will keep hope alive.

Anonymous said...

In your mind, are you not wishing all Igbos death? Be truthful to yourself.

Anonymous said...

Anon 3.41,I do not for one second wish death on you or your lot and that is the honest truth. That is why you are seen as a very aggressive set of people, you act aggressively before you have time to think. You speak aggressively before thinking. Why wish death on anyone, did you create the life?. I give up on you..... It is well. A simple debate and all you want is war conditions... It's so sad.

Unknown said...

Reno-For the first time,you made sense

Anonymous said...

The Reno you people have been insulting has suddenly become right. He can write whatever he likes, it's his time and space. It will never change the truth. Yoruba's are cowards and backstabbers. Even the Hausa Fulani's you people are romancing, can never trust you. You pick on one tribe and trash, it will become the trend, but when you are writing, write the truth.

Anonymous said...

Reno Omokiri, this your mentality is why the Yoruba race is well educated but perpetually enslaved and ruled by the cattle hustlers.
That is why you served in a government that looted Nigeria to oblivion. You article used the most corrupt and inept government ever know to humanity is standards of excellence.
You are one of the most celebrated pastors, who should be healing instead of dividing. I forgot that the Yoruba race houses the most corrupt, extortionate, fake pastors the world have known.
You are a self-righteous corrupt idiot to come here and castigate a tribe you know nothing about.
But we Igbos want to disengage from Nigeria. We do not want anything to do with you or your tribe. Why not let us go if you are sure we are bad

Anonymous said...

Educated Yoruba sense being ruled by Fulani cattle rearers. Useless fake Rev. Was it why you and your mentors in government looted the entire treasury.
You guys have destroyed Nigeria by your self's and for your self,s.

Anonymous said...

You failed to mention what you have achieved with the power. Are we better or worse for the power

Anonymous said...

This guy just gave me a strong reason to hate Jonathan and regret why i voted him the first time,because without him I wouldn't have known this mudafucker.How dare you hate Igbos this much?

Anonymous said...

Yes. The east may be lacking all these facilities yet, which of your leaders have u held accountable? Igbos ministers (aviation) such as Stella Oduah, Kema Chikwe... How many did u crucify for not enforcing such to be created for you? You were busy doing 'our sister, our daughter' while they did nothing for u but squandered money. Why didn't u remember that u guys lacked all these during GEJ's dispensation? You still refer to him as your hero but have u held him responsible for not contributing anything? Nope. Now the people u hate and look down on are in power and ur egos are bruised then u come up with nonsense stories about marginalisation. You never noticed marginalisation before now. YOU REMAIN YOUR OWN PROBLEM

Anonymous said...

Dont forget he shaved that white beard..that thing was his major problem..pdp has been manipulating him through it lolz #punIntended

Anonymous said...

No one is wishing you death, what he's saying is, when you're old enough,you'll die happy..

yetty k said...

For the second run,I agree with Reno on Dis piece.I like the fact that he said we Yoruba's are respectful cos it as d truth and we are not cowards

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