Between Tribalism and the real change
By Imabong UMOH
‘I am a Nigerian’ I replied firmly when someone asked me three days ago where i was from. I wasn’t asked this question by a foreigner but a fellow Nigerian. I didn’t know if i was trying to be patriotic or i was just trying to prolong the conversation because I knew what he truly meant by that question and I knew I had given him an answer he wasn’t expecting . As expected he took a dim view of my answer saying that I should mention my state of origin but I bluntly refused. I guess I was just in the mood for argument or maybe I was simply fed up with the whole tribalism issue that has been “trending” in the past week.
As I sat on my couch later that day, my mind travelled several years back in my history class in high school when we were taught topics like-slave trade,scramble and patition of Africa ,slave trade, neocolonialism and all those other topics that connected us with our root.
I never really understood why my history teacher taught with so much passion and enthusiasm , gesturing and making vivid examples. Now I fully understand what she was trying to teach us, our history of non-peacefull existence, why the British were able to colonize us and how we stood divided .
I never really understood why my history teacher taught with so much passion and enthusiasm , gesturing and making vivid examples. Now I fully understand what she was trying to teach us, our history of non-peacefull existence, why the British were able to colonize us and how we stood divided .
With over 250 ethnic group, Nigeria’s diverse culture is one that makes the country more beautiful but the constant issue of tribalism cannot be put aside. It had set us back, making us progress slowly. It controls how we think and talk, it determines what we support and what we oppose.
It is heartbreaking that tribalism is carried from generation to generation, blinding us from thhe sense of unity, patriotism and oneness. It is like a plague that has refused to leave its host, eating deep in into our system, affecting all aspect of our lives. It sometimes affects the people we befriend and do business with.
I have always questioned the use of of ‘state of origin’ instead of state of residence when filling out official forms. It is like a person is being judged by where he comes from, not minding his personal trait.
I have always questioned the use of of ‘state of origin’ instead of state of residence when filling out official forms. It is like a person is being judged by where he comes from, not minding his personal trait.
Ethnic conflit is rooted in tribalism and if we truly want a change we should change the way we see ourselves, we should change the way we treat ourselves..we should respect our differences and love one another.
Real change will not happen unless we keep setiments aside,unless we embrase one another in the spirit of brotherhood, seeing ourselves as a nation and not a geographical entity filled with different sub-groups.
Real change will not happen unless we fully understand our interrelatedness, appreciate our diallectical relationship and use it to our advantage.
Real change will not happen unless we stop those greedy politians from warping and desenitizing of our spirits against one another. Real change will not happen unless we are transformed, re-developed and renew our attitude towards one another
Real change will happen only when we begin to stand in a truly grounded solidarity and extend our hands towards one each other. We must face the severe but beautiful fact that we must either re-build ourselves an a nation or be forced into some unpleasant difficulties.
We shouldn’t repeat our history,we should rather change it. We should build a system of communication and interrelatedness that bring about much potential for the establishment of a new Nigeria free from bias,ethical barriers and marginalization.
Real change will not happen unless we fully understand our interrelatedness, appreciate our diallectical relationship and use it to our advantage.
Real change will not happen unless we stop those greedy politians from warping and desenitizing of our spirits against one another. Real change will not happen unless we are transformed, re-developed and renew our attitude towards one another
Real change will happen only when we begin to stand in a truly grounded solidarity and extend our hands towards one each other. We must face the severe but beautiful fact that we must either re-build ourselves an a nation or be forced into some unpleasant difficulties.
We shouldn’t repeat our history,we should rather change it. We should build a system of communication and interrelatedness that bring about much potential for the establishment of a new Nigeria free from bias,ethical barriers and marginalization.