Opinion: Okota, Tribalism And Political Warlords, By Ken Tadaferua
The only reason why this flagrant rape on rights happen is that perpetrators and political oligarchs who sponsor them are ultra confident they and their thugs would not be arrested, prosecuted or thrown into prison. This reckless impunity explains why Nigeria remains a mere “geographical expression”. It reflects our inability to coalesce into nationhood…
A strange argument to justify this demand is that Igbos are “strangers” who must respect and not vote against their Yoruba “hosts”. This is absolutely obtuse. No logic can rationalise such autocratic imposition of voting preference on any Nigerian citizen in any part of the country. So too is tribalism evil. Tribalism is defined as the state of being organised by, or advocating for, tribes or tribal lifestyles. This ordinarily is not evil. But when pushed to hate and take advantage over other tribes, it triggers fear, uncertainty and violence. Tribalism, like racism, wears a coat of terror. It is exploitation of tribal sentiments for personal aggrandisement.
That said, I return to Mr. Kusa. I disagree with his views. True it is that the aborigines of Lagos are Yoruba. But does being aborigine equate to the Yoruba ownership of all lands of modern Lagos? I think not. Just as I disagree with the notion that Lagos is no man’s land or that the Igbos own all of Lagos. Every inch of the land is owned. Indeed most virgin lands and a great swathe of built up lands in Lagos belong to the Yoruba.
The politician is ruthless. He cares not a jot about the hatred, destruction and blood gore his call to tribalism generates. The Jagaban, Ahmed Tinubu is Yoruba and the most powerful politician in the city. He is easily the suspect sponsor of the criminal thug attacks on polling booths in Igbo neighbourhoods, the close down of Igbo shops and upsurge in tribal sentiments.
The only reason why this flagrant rape on rights happen is that perpetrators and political oligarchs who sponsor them are ultra confident they and their thugs would not be arrested, prosecuted or thrown into prison. This reckless impunity explains why Nigeria remains a mere “geographical expression”. It reflects our inability to coalesce into nationhood, to build core values that define the Nigerian citizen.
Although the evil of racism remains an issue in America, its legal backbone, the U.S. Constitution and its laws, ensures that the legal system and courts uphold American core values – the culture and focus on the individual, rather than the tribe or race; and the individual’s right to equal opportunities, liberty and democratic freedoms. One may attribute this to America being a nation of immigrants.
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