IGBOZURUOKE FORUM

The recent controversy surrounding Allen Onyema’s choice of dress code for his air hostesses at Air Peace has once again brought to light the deep-seated prejudice and double standards faced by the Igbo people in Nigeria. While Onyema’s decision should be a matter of personal choice and business prerogative, it has inexplicably sparked outrage among some people, particularly the Yoruba ethnicity, raising questions about the underlying biases and discriminatory attitudes that continue to plague Nigerian society.

What is particularly baffling is the selective outrage displayed by some individuals, especially the Yoruba people, who seem to be more concerned about Onyema’s choice of attire than addressing more pressing issues of inequality and marginalization faced by the Igbo people. This selective outrage is evident in their silence over the presence of Arabic signs on the Naira currency, a symbol of cultural imposition and erasure of indigenous identities. It is also evident in their failure to acknowledge the lopsided nature of Nigeria’s political, economic, and social structures, which consistently favor certain ethnic groups over others, particularly the Igbo.

The recent Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast AFCON 2023, the team was dressed in traditional Hausa attire, yet there was no backlash or criticism from the Yorubas. Similarly, in Globacom’s adverts featuring Yoruba dress codes, there was no outcry from other ethnic groups. This selective outrage only serves to highlight the underlying bias and discrimination faced by the Igbo people in Nigeria.

The question then arises: why the hostility towards the Igbo people? Why the constant belittling and marginalization of a people who have contributed immensely to the development and prosperity of Nigeria? The answer lies in a deep-seated fear and resentment towards the Igbo, Igbophobia, which is rooted in historical injustices and prejudices.

Assuming it’s owned by a man from the North, will they have such evil plans? This Air Peace lifted most of their kids from Sudan even when their government couldn’t lift them. The same Air Peace freely evacuated Nigerians who were left stranded by the Russia-Ukraine war. None of this made serious headlines. The Igbo people have long been seen as a threat to the status quo in Nigeria. Their enterprising spirit, strong sense of identity, and quest for self-determination has often been met with suspicion and hostility from other ethnic groups, particularly the Yoruba and the Fulani. All these are the reasons why Igbos wants their nation. They want a nation where they will develop on their own without anybody seeing them as a threat.

The recent incidents involving Onyema’s dress code and the backlash from some Yoruba individuals are symptomatic of this underlying Igbophobia. It is a manifestation of the deep-seated prejudices and biases that continue to divide Nigeria along ethnic lines.

The hatred and bigotry towards the Igbo people in Nigeria are deeply rooted and continue to manifest in various forms. Despite the Igbo people’s desire for self-determination and independence, they are met with resistance and hostility from other ethnic groups, including the Yorubas. Why not allow the Igbo to go their ways?

Family Writers Press International