Chauvinism is the big dent on Africa |
One day, some generations of Africans will remember that it was decades of unhealthy rivalry among their ancestors that made them lose their place in the committee of humans. Unfortunately, those "ancestors" will point back to you and me.
This must happen unless today's generation of Africans take the bull by the horns and walk the uncommon road. For example, they must look each other in the face and decide to unite, form a common front and fight their common enemies.
The Famous Igbo-Yoruba Rivalry As A Case In Point
Recently, many Nigerians of goodwill genuinely mourned the passing of one of the few icons ever thrown up from the Nigerian political space. His name? Professor Humphrey Nwosu.
Late Prof. Humphrey Nwosu. Image credit: USAfricaonline.com |
What makes Late Professor Humphrey Nwosu so iconic? It is the historical fact that he defied a military junta and insisted on letting basic democratic procedures be followed.
So, he announced MKO Abiola the winner 🏆 of the 1993 Presidential Elections against every pressure from the military dictatorship of the day!
Chief MKO Abiola happily casting his ballot during the 1993 Nigerian Presidential Elections. Image credit: Grassrootstoday.com.ng |
Think about this: Prof. Humphrey Nwosu (an Igbo) took such a dangerous stand in favor of MKO (a Yoruba)! That was when Nigerians still had some air of nobility and fellow-feeling about them.
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Come To Think Of It! The Man Didn't Fear For His Life For The Sake Of His Conscience!
Professor Humphrey Nwosu actually sacrificed his life to secure the future. He offered his life some 3 decades ago. Yet he didn't die then. Instead, he lived another 30 years!
Well, he didn't die then. But, that extraordinarily courageous and conscientious stand sealed his place on the brighter side of history forever. But many people who supported injustice out of fear for their lives still lost those lives in the last 30 years!
"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it," as the Truth says.
But, What Humphrey Nwosu Did Is Something Else: A Blow On Contemporary Igbo-Yoruba Rivalry
I have often said that ethnic chauvinists are failures who lack validation in personal identities and, therefore, seek that validation in ethnic identities. This is why it's only the poor Africans who are known to kill one another across ethnic, language, cultural, religious, regional, and political lines.
For instance, while a Gbenga in Ibadan might quarrel with and hate on an Emeka in Enugu, I believe that MKO Abiola (a Yoruba) would be great friends with Professor Humphrey Nwosu (an Igbo) right now in the Great Beyond.
This is not difficult to see. So, shame on all ethnic chauvinists in Africa - especially those of the Igbo and Yoruba extractions - for letting their petty rivalries hold down the Giant Of Africa as the Lilliputians held down Gulliver.
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