Opinion
OPINION: Igbos, Do Not Mistake Yoruba Kindness For Weakness. We’re Not Weak!
By Bayo Oluwasanmi
Churchill Okonkwo’s article “Ndigbo Will Conquer And Rule In Oduduwa Republic” published August 7, 2017, in SaharaReporters, is a figment of imagination as useless as dried-up springs or as mist blown away by the wind. His braggings about Ndigbo’s taking over in Oduduwa Republic is an empty foolish boasting with an appeal to twisted morbid desires of a lunatic.
I will not dignify the cow dung from Okonkwo by responding to the phantom of lies, probabilities, impossibilities, and pipe-dream dressed up as achievable outcomes. However, one or two comments will suffice. Okonkwo’s voice of mysterious import begins by saying “I hate to make mysteries out of nothing, but I hope I will be sufficiently understood in telling the mischievous advocates of the Oduduwa Republic like Remi Oyeyemi, Femi Fani-Kayode and Bayo Oluwasanmi that there is a limit of ethnic homogeneity as a basis for political organization.” “These apostles of ethnic jingoism,” continues Okonkwo, “should know that their obsession with seeing Nigeria destroyed by all means possible is a big waste of time and akin to waiting for the ship at the airport.” Salivating and fully inebriated with pride and arrogance, Okonkwo says “As omo Igbo, that’s not my headache anyway; all I know and care about is that irrespective of whether the Igbos are in Kabba, Otuoke, Ojuelegba, Sambisa Forest or Birnin Kebbi, we will always excel.”
Okonkwo concludes that “I sampled the opinion of Ndigbo on their fate in the new Republic. I asked whether they are ready and willing to be treated as foreigners or “slaves” in the Oduduwa Republic, and they said no. I asked if they will be intimidated by the Oba of Lagos, OPC or any other person or group and they said no. I asked if they will continue to be outgoing and fearless and they gave me a resounding, yes! These decisive answers can be summarized thus: Ndigbo will conquer, prosper and rule Yorubaland in the Oduduwa Republic.”
Okonkwo’s sweeping denigration of Yoruba people as foot-mat that will submit to the imaginary towering and overpowering Ndigbo invaders in Oduduwa Republic is a classical example of ignorance and error from a contemptuous ingrate like Okonkwo who mistakes Yoruba kindness as a weakness. His noon-day fantasy of seeing Ndigbos as the conqueror of Oduduwa Republic amounts to a blind and boring purpose. His lash out, round up condemnation of Remi Oyeyemi, FFK, and my humble self for agitating for separation from hostile, separate, unequal, divided, and ungovernable Nigeria shows Okonkwo’s wavering and halfhearted in allegiance to truth, and his choice of darkness of error and satanic delusion.
Okonkwo’s piece is a foolish distraction. Nothing is too insane to say by an ingrate Ndigbo person like Okonkwo. Do Yorubas need the validation or the acceptance of Oduduwa Republic by Okonkwo in his depraved and convoluted write-up? Do we have to go by Okonkwo’s prejudiced warped self-loathing, self-gloating rubrics of the capabilities and capacities of Ndigbo to take over Oduduwa Republic? In days like these when death is busy and loss is common to Nigerians, when hunger, joblessness and homelessness ravaged the land, when young ones are written off as lost generations, when the country is headed into the abyss, no amount of heated imagination from Okonkwo’s product of blurred vision typical of ecstatic and half-hysterical propaganda disciple can delay, detain, or derail the birth of Oduduwa Republic – it’s inevitable!
Sometimes it’s hard being a nice group. Yorubas get taken advantage off more easily, walked all over, counted off as dunces and often looked at as that group that will be okay with everything you say to them, even if it hurts or insults their intelligence. We’ve been that group that gets insulted, walked all over and counted off as ditzy, and we’ve lived to tell the tale. Yeah, it might still happen in the future, but I’m here to say this as a disclaimer to anyone who wants to take our heart for granted. Well, let’s just say I have a few words for the Okonkwo’s of the world: don’t take our kindness for weakness. Since when did being a nice group of people mean that Ndigbos could walk all over us whenever they please? Just because Yorubas are kind, thoughtful, empathetic, and mild mannered does not mean that we’re the pavement Ndigbos should stomp all over on. We might be kind, but we’re not a sidewalk. Don’t take our humbleness for a lack of confidence. Just because we’re humble doesn’t mean that we’re ready for you to put us down to pull Ndigbos up. Our repeated refusal to boost ourselves up isn’t a sign of self-esteem issue. Not at all, actually. It just means we rather not spend our time blowing ourselves up just to look good in front of other groups.
Don’t take our silliness for dumbness. When did quietness mean that we’re dumb? Nah, we meant what we said, and we said what we meant concerning the inevitability of Oduduwa Republic. I’ve been through many debates, side eyes, disagreements and conversations on the break up of Nigeria that go on for an unnecessary amount of time, I’ve stuck to my opinions not caring what people like Okonkwo feel or how they interpret them and there’s no changing them. Let’s be real, what’s it to you what my opinion is? I don’t really care about yours, so why care so heavily about mine?
Don’t take Yoruba leniency as being a pushover. We’ll always give someone the benefit of the doubt, just because it’s our nature. But when you keep pushing us down, questioning our opinions, making it seem like we don ‘t know what we’re talking about, don’t know what we’re doing, and make sly insults, do you expect us to simply roll over? Don’t take our kindness, humbleness, silliness, quietness, and leniency as a means for you to diminish us as a group. Because if you have the urge to tear us down, seem more superior than us, get mad for advocating Oduduwa Republic, and try to make us feel dumb, then henceforth you really don’t deserve any of these characteristics in us where Ndigbos live in Yoruba land. Honestly, if you take advantage of our hearts, but refuse to accept our inalienable right to self-determination as a people, you really deserved to be treated as ingrates.
I’ve been a radical truth-teller in my writings more so whenever I sit at my desk to build another cathedral of paragraphs in stubborn support for Oduduwa Republic. I’m not subjected to the whims and caprice of the Okonkwos of the world who are against Oduduwa Republic for telling the inconvenient truth about the soon to be born Oduduwa Republic because it’s our own words that validate our voice. Also, over the course of writing, I have realized that ingrates like Okonkwo who are always after other voices for the creation of Oduduwa Republic for daring to express their opinions unequivocally, boldly, and courageously, want artificial human beings to manufacture narratives that will go along with their own prejudices, biases, and beliefs. To put it mildly, this is an ugly self-flagellation.
No one ever went broke overestimating the ungratefulness of a shameless proselyte like Okonkwo the pathetic crybaby and an embarrassment to Ndigbo. Okonkwo’s article not only reads like the field notes of an oddly lyrical skid-row ethnologist, but a lurid prose devoid of reason and intelligent thinking full of heresy and hoopla.
Op–ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Oriental Times
Nicky Bellz
August 23, 2017 at 10:52 am
No apart from joke, you guys are not weak. ‘Cowards’ is the word. People that Don’t know what they want, can’t speak up about where they stand, is that one tribe?
Uwadileke C Collins
August 23, 2017 at 9:34 am
Some of d yorubas r pusies and snitches. They r weak
Success Abel Emmanuel
August 23, 2017 at 8:39 am
Gentleness of a lion shouldn’t be mistaken to be cowdice
Adeline Josh
August 23, 2017 at 7:31 am
They should tell that to the gods…. Always putting mouth in what is none of their business… How is Biafra agitation the problem of the yorubas. If they aren’t weak they should come out and confront the rubbish going on in this government just as Wole Soyinka and some gullible Yoruba leaders openly confronted GEJ. Or have they suddenly turn blind? If you pocket evil it will go with you everywhere you go just like MTN. Divide and rule people… They are at it again. Hausas wil perpetually use Yorubas to destabilize south Nigeria , Always use them to divide and rule… Look at it nao. Hausas knows that at anytime they can use the yorubas as tissue paper… Why do you think Igbo and Hausa don’t agree? Because igbo is the only tribe that can stand and resist and disagree with their Nonsense, yorubas Na anywhere belle face. Thankfully even the Hausas knows yorubas too well to be two faced people. I don’t hate yorubas but I hate it when you are indecisive not knowing what you stand for… When in the north Mallam make jest of Yoruba saying “Yorubawa ma su kwolo kwolo” you see? Ur grievance shouldn’t even be with the igbos… You should just know your stand and in your standing stand for the truth. FFK & Mr FAYOSHE these two men are Yoruba decent but IGBOS at heart, is that not why they are widely hated by their own and the Hausas? If you want to flex your muscle to show your strength first go and emancipate your state of ilorin from the enclaves of Hausa fulani then come back and talk. How can you just sit and watch and fulani from nowhere seize kwara/ilorin? Cross boundaries finish Waka come ona middle collect ona state? And you people are here talking about strength and weakness? Taaaaaaaa!!!
Chidozie Nwachukwu
August 22, 2017 at 10:45 pm
Haha haha haha haha, chaiii, y man are talking ,women they talk too abi?
Abraham William
August 22, 2017 at 8:45 pm
Fear fear set of people
Julius Nnalue
August 22, 2017 at 8:30 pm
yorubastards are not only weak but also useless
Bright Aduekwue
August 22, 2017 at 8:17 pm
If they are not weak, how about Oduduwa republic e don die?
Movingman Biafra Emmanuel
August 22, 2017 at 7:52 pm
Yorubas are weak and useless.
Ikenna Oscar
August 22, 2017 at 7:49 pm
Oduduwa Republic is it achievable?
Mack Chanchin'g
August 22, 2017 at 7:41 pm
Yorubas are really betrayal
Egojiolu Chukwunonso Ikeozala
August 22, 2017 at 7:38 pm
Giving us 20pounds after d war despite billions of pounds we hv in d. Bank is dat kindness?
Muhammad Auwal Harun
August 22, 2017 at 7:35 pm
You guys are idiots vagabonds
Edith Christian
August 22, 2017 at 6:57 pm
Oya start fighting for your rights and freedom
Diego Gabriel Nkemjika
August 22, 2017 at 6:52 pm
Useless yorubas
Marvelous Uche Mmadu
August 22, 2017 at 6:51 pm
Yorubas are weak and betrayals
Gideon Emerem
August 22, 2017 at 6:24 pm
NDI ARA WEAKLINGS IF YOU ARE NOT WEAK WHERE WERE YOU WHEN OSIBANJO BECOMES SON TO BUHARI AND NATIONAL COORDINATOR TO THE COUNTRY FOOLISH TRIBE YORUBA
MAUREEN OJO
August 22, 2017 at 6:57 pm
PLEASE OUR YORUBA FRIENDS SHOULDN’T PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT EVER THE SO CALLED OKONKWO SAID.HE MAY BE AN HAUSA / FULANI PAID AGENT.WHAT HAS THIS OKONKWO DONE TOWARDS THE BIAFRAN RESTORATION?AGAIN,IGBOS ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN THEIR FREEDOM AND NOT IN INVADING PEOPLE.I CAN ONLY ENCOURAGE THE YORUBAS TO CONTINUE THEIR STRUGGLE FOR THEIR REPUBLIC,THE SAME WAY WE ARE PUSHING FOR BIAFRA. PEOPLE SHOULDN’T GET CARRIED AWAY BY THIS OKONKWO ISSUE.LET’S GET BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF OUR FREEDOM.
Chikezie Nelson
August 22, 2017 at 5:12 pm
NIGERIA/BIAFRA: For President Muhammadu Buhari of Nigeria to say that the illusive Unity of Nigeria is Not Negotiable is HATE SPEECH. ~~~.For President Muhammadu Buhari to open his mouth and refer to Nigerians as “Baboons and Monkeys” , that’s HATE SPEECH. 1. Why is it that international air ports in the entire eastern region not working ?. 2. Why is it that all the sea ports in the eastern region not working ?. 3. Why should I have 280 score in jamb to study a particular course in the university why so one from the north will have 80 and given admission in the same course they will tell that they are educationally disadvantaged states but will those from educationally disadvantage persons as directors why those who are educationally advantaged are subordinates . 4. Why will some protesters be protected and others are attacked . 5. Why must I travel out of the eastern region before I can prepare my travel documents. 6. Why is it that in the military someone from the north will always be promoted to head those with superior papers just because they are from the east . 7. Have u seen a northern graduate riding keke . 8. Why does the government make economic laws that will always kill business activities in the east. 9. Why are we forced to live together against our will?. Nigeria is not nonnegotiable this is a hate speech and an act of terrorism. A country run with lies and deceit. NIGERIA is not One and can never be One. This Country must divide and disintegrate into pieces. No remedy. Let the International Community act Now before it is too late. Nigeria is burning Now. Thank you.
Okemini Ndi-Ehugbo
August 22, 2017 at 5:06 pm
Which kindness?
Uchenna Ossai
August 22, 2017 at 4:40 pm
They Are Weak And Lazy
Martinx Osilama
August 22, 2017 at 4:31 pm
Not weak yet Kwara state belongs to the fulanis and hausas. Una go bold talk to them? Na Ibo body una wan for get power
Chibuzo Bethram Obirieze
August 22, 2017 at 4:23 pm
Say what you want to say. Stop the child talk.
Chuks Ddon
August 22, 2017 at 4:19 pm
More than weak, people
Martin Aghanya
August 22, 2017 at 4:16 pm
I didn’t know that Yorubas has mouth. When Hausa/ Fulanis gave Southerners quit notice, i never remembered d Yaribas talking except for Fani Femi Kayode and Ayodele Fayose. Others, including d Yoruba Youths were asleep snorring .
Hear dem now warning Igbos! Lolz… Yorubas are only known for Agbero and Ritualism, nothing more!
Osumuo Chijioke
August 22, 2017 at 3:44 pm
Don’t shift the battle, fight the common enemy.
Chike Okeke
August 22, 2017 at 2:40 pm
Biafras freedom is a nightmare to hausas. Igbos call yorubas weak nt bcos they hate dem but bcos they can’t stand up for der right. So long as one wants freedom in his life, one day he must have it. Hausas don’t have a life without Biafra but yorubas do. Yorubas need freedom to establish befitting life n progress. Biafrans n yorubas have enough expatriates but hausas have none. No hausa man is known anywhere in d world for anything but igbos n yorubas do. An average non igbo person has no choice than to envy n jealous igbos. Too much success attracts jealousy. Ben murray made it clear at d senate ” igbos are d most industrious, the richest and d most educated people in Nigeria today”. Haba. I tot it’s only spare parts they sell- hw com they are d richest n most educated. God bless Biafra n Oduduwa republic!
Samuel Nwachukwu
August 22, 2017 at 2:22 pm
We understand
Chris Orogwu
August 22, 2017 at 2:15 pm
Hausa hate Igbo Yoruba hate Igbo please somebody should tell me what is going on
Nnenna Ernest
August 22, 2017 at 2:35 pm
My brother I don’t kn oo, na heavy naa, with jealousy
Auwal Kabeer
August 22, 2017 at 4:03 pm
Really we hate you igbo bcoz they idiots
Stanley Ofoedum
August 22, 2017 at 2:13 pm
Then wake up and defend your oduduwa nation. Show the world that u are men just like biafrans or else shut your mouth
Comr Ernest Favour
August 22, 2017 at 1:47 pm
My dear am a gentle man can u cover pregnancy I will leave u to answer that but I have questions for u.
1. Why is it that international air ports in the entire eastern region not working ?.
2. Why is it that all the sea ports in the eastern region not working ?.
3. Why should I have 280 score in jamb to study a particular course in the university why so one from the north will have 80 and given admission in the same course they will tell that they are educationally disadvantaged states but will those from educationally disadvantage persons as directors why those who are educationally advantaged are subordinates .
4. Why will some protesters be protected and others are attacked .
5. Why must I travel out of the eastern region before I can prepare my travel documents.
6. Why is it that in the military someone from the north will always be promoted to head those with superior papers just because they are from the east .
7. Have u seen a northern graduate riding keke .
8. Why does the government make economic laws that will always kill business activities in the east.
9. Why are we forced to live together against our will?. Nigeria is not nonnegotiable this is a hate speech and an act of terrorism.
Precious Diala
August 22, 2017 at 1:42 pm
Afonja can only kill through vudu! Physical confrontation nil…
Cowards and betrayals
Samuel Joe David
August 22, 2017 at 1:32 pm
Yeye talk.
Moses Okafor
August 22, 2017 at 1:14 pm
We want biafran shot and simple
Moses Okafor
August 22, 2017 at 1:14 pm
Ok
Don Iyke J Stino
August 22, 2017 at 1:02 pm
It better be. So you ppl should act up and take a stand
Vincent Kaonyeasuya Ambrose
August 22, 2017 at 12:27 pm
U are what??? U think sey na bottle fight
Austineo
August 22, 2017 at 1:20 pm
If the Yorubas believe that the so called Okonkwo is an Igbo man, then you can believe anything good about Nigeria.
This write-up cannot be from any Igbo man. The mischievous writer just used Okonkwo an Igbo name to cause disaffection between the Igbos and the Yorubas but he has failed as the Igbos hold Yorubas especially FFK in very high esteem.
Kalu Destiny
August 22, 2017 at 12:16 pm
Yoruba’s are criminals
Peter Chiabua
August 22, 2017 at 12:14 pm
Why these unending ethnic sentiments, hope that is not a hate speech?????
Abuchi Peter Igwe
August 22, 2017 at 12:12 pm
Can yeroba survive outside their region , they said igbos dnt sale land to them and dnt accomodate them in igboland but my question to them is how many yeroba has land and houses in uyo.calabar,bayelsa,eket,maiduguiri,sokoto and other cities outside yerobaland , what yerobas ar suffering is inferiority complex inability to survive outside their region , yeroba should stop stop blaming the igbos for tbeir weak nature and cowardice
Prince Silverudo
August 22, 2017 at 12:11 pm
That’s the reason they want ONE NIGERIA. 50years ago Hausa were farmers , security guaeds and cow rearers. Now they are dirty millionaires and politicians benefiting from Niger Deltan oil dollars while Niger Delta people are poor fishermen and traders. President Jonathan refused to renew oil well ownership contract for the HAUSA FULANIS but the OBASANJO and TINUBU manipulated Nigerians and Jonatan chased out of power. That is ONE NIGERIA people are talking. That is the ONE NIGERA that blocked CALABAR port blocked Portharcourt port blocked sapele port and allowed only Lagow port . Blocked Niger deltan ports blocked flow of imports and exports from Niger delta sea ports only allowing Lagos port to operate. It is called ECONOMIC SABOTAGED CRIMES it is designed ground the economic development of Niger Deltan. Any intilligent Niger deltan and IGBO PERSON MUST SUPPPRT Biafra independence or Full federation power full States. This can not continue. Our youths are traumatised.
Abuchi Peter Igwe
August 22, 2017 at 12:06 pm
U people are weak
Lawrence Udeonu
August 22, 2017 at 12:05 pm
What is the Igbo business with that of the yorubas, we are not bothered you people can do it your way let’s see. Who are the weak ones? Tell that to those helding your brother hostage in aso village.
Frank Prince
August 22, 2017 at 12:05 pm
Uche Chris
August 22, 2017 at 12:04 pm
Yorubas always find ways to attack us or demoralize us, jealous and hatred is in their blood.The same Yorubas that gang up with Hausa/Fulani to attack us during Nigeria civil war are warming up again let’s see how they will succeed this time.Any Igbo success Yorubas will find a way to ridicule, abuse and condemn it.
Bonny Rossetti
August 22, 2017 at 11:57 am
And so what???
Williams Chelsea Henry
August 22, 2017 at 11:57 am
We are ready to fuck this Yoruba cowards anytime anyday well my advice to u all don’t anger us
Chukwuemerie Nnabugwu
August 22, 2017 at 11:55 am
Yoruba people naturally is not assertive,i live with them, igbos naturally are adventurous,more brave and dareful, even though u kill osibanjo Yoruba will not even challenge the killers,is der Nature they don’t take risk
Sadiq Ibrahim Sadiq
August 22, 2017 at 11:50 am
Brainless people still continue shouting for impossible things
Olaolu Babatope
August 22, 2017 at 11:50 am
Exactly ! Dat Is Their Belief, Hence U See Dem Blackmailing Yorubas With Different Unprintable Names.
Olaolu Babatope
August 22, 2017 at 11:50 am
Exactly ! Dat Is Their Belief, Hence U See Dem Blackmailing Yorubas With Different Unprintable Names.
Okerie Musa Ayo
August 22, 2017 at 11:45 am
Wetin concern igbo go tell your Hausa Fulani brothers