Truth be told: Before the name Nigeria ever came out from the white man’s lips, we were either Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa or any of the other minority tribes there are in Nigeria. This is who we were. As such, the expression, “I am a Nigerian,” still struggles to stick many decades after independence and the colonial masters’ departure from our lands. I do not aim to exert that tribalism is sensible in the way it is being peddled these days. All I wish to do is remind us all of our roots and what history knows us as, not what the white man told us we are.
Nonetheless, it goes without saying that Nigeria is in the disastrous position it is today because many of her citizens have hung on to their tribal identification rather than common sense. On one hand, people complain of bad leaders at almost every level of government, but, just wait till election period nears and see how people forget all about that and select incompetent fellows into public office because of tribal affiliation. In fact, Nigerian politics largely toes tribal lines more than true manifestoes. No wonder the country is the mess it is today.
There are very few people (if any) that will say they have not, in one way or the other, benefitted from tribalism. I have and I am sure that you have as well. I remember my first sojourn into journalism. I walked into the office of the CEO of the media outfit and received audience by virtue of being from the same tribe as he is. It was a cake walk as I skipped all the interview processes and went straight to work. Honestly, it felt good.
On the flip side, I remember, years later, when I went to fill an important form in the local government area close to me. I arrived early and watched in pain as indigene after indigene got attended to before me despite haven arrived earlier than they did. All they had to do was speak their language and get attended to. I cursed and cursed at the gatekeepers that day till I left in anger. On my way home, while still reminiscing on what just transpired, I recalled how I had enjoyed tribalism at my first workplace and a sense of guilt hit me at once.
The thing is, tribalism is like two sides of a coin. When it favours you, you smile and call it, “grace,” or whatever else you choose to justify it as but, when it doesn’t, you start cursing and condemning it. The fact remains that, we are selfish beings and until we become selfless and realize that, tribalism will hurt you more times than it will benefit you, only then will we make headway.
In a bid to not be a victim of tribalism anymore, I went to great lengths to learn the language of my state of occupancy in addition to that of my origin. This has helped me blend seamlessly well and not be overlooked because of language and tribe. Still, must that be the route? Why must factors like the language you speak take priority over what is right and sensible. That’s a questions that begs to be answered.
Personally, I am immensely greatly for how well my exposure and education has given me the perfect attitude towards issues of tribe. I endeavor to make sure that my selection of friends and business associates are not impacted by tribe. I choose competence and if you do not possess that, same tribe or not, it just won’t work between us. Still, how many Nigerians can say they have adopted this attitude? Very few, I assume.
One time, I had watched, with great dismay, an interview involving the then Sarduana of Sokoto, Ahmadu Bello, wherein he expressed, quite clearly, his hatred for the Igbo tribe. In no minced words, he insisted that competence had no place in his book when making sure he fixed his tribesmen in areas of office. This was in the 1950s or 60s and sadly still, his tribal approach reigns till date.
I would have suggested a solution—that parents should lead the reorientation of their young ones in steering them away from tribalism and into inclusiveness—but, alas, the so-called parents are chiefly involved in inculcating tribal sentiments in their wards. Do we turn to the government? Haha! Tribalism favours them and they will be damned to change it. The school? No way. ‘History’ as a subject has been abolished and many teachers are, now, even pioneering tribalism. Who then to lead the change? I see no one in sight.
The only solution I see to this old age scourge of tribalism are the Gen-Z generation. Hilarious, right? I know. But think about it this way. Their generation are the new. They are fresh and brimming with new ideologies and philosophies, a far cry from those of the old. They might be rash in their style and seemingly hardheaded, yet, in all that lies a generation ready to break from the old norms. I think the hope of ending tribalism might start with this new breed.
Whichever ways, something has to change. This tribal discord and approach has eaten deep into our moral fiber for way too long. What has it gotten us, the masses? Absolutely nothing. That change we seek starts with you and I. Let’s make it happen.
