Why Must Some Section Of Media Tarnish The Name Of The Igbos?
It won't be a bad idea if the Igbos ask some sections of the media and groups on what they publish. to blemish the name of the Igbos.
On October 22, 2013 they posted a story on Premium times captioned "Enugu, crime capital of Nigeria – Survey " In the said story it was revealed that Enugu state is the ''official crime capital of Nigeria''. They made it clear that CLEEN Foundation (http://www.cleen.org/) conducted the survey. The survey carried out were robbery, kidnapping, physical assault, phone and car theft, rape and attempted rape, domestic violence, attempted murder and other crimes. It went further to disburse to readers that Ebonyi state came second in the Capital of Crime in Nigeria.
My take is how come Enugu and Ebonyi one of the peaceful states in the country will overnight be classified as unsafe? Is this not a ploy to discredit the identity of the Igbos in such a bizarre manner? They forgot to state that since the past 3years more than 5,000 Southerners has been killed in unprintable manner in the northern part of the country. Borno for instance has been the home of Boko haram. Over 50,0000 Igbos have left the Borno, Yobe, Bauchi all because of crime and peaceful unrest that those state have been known for.
Not quite long in Nasarawa we can all recall the Ombatse militia group that killed countless of Police personel. No fewer than 30 persons were feared killed in renewed skirmishes between Eggon and Alago ethnic groups in Nasarawa. Just last week some suspected Fulani herdsmen reportedly invaded Kodo Mada village in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, killing the village head, Saleh Tanko, while women were raped and others were said to have been kidnapped. The Fulanis came into the village shooting indiscriminately, moving from house to house, breaking doors, asking for money and scattering properties in the houses.
In July, Over 25 Killed In Multiple Kano Bomb Blasts which occurred at Igbo Road/Enugu Road in Kano. It was two separate bomb blasts. The same CLEEN Foundation who did the false survey failed to include that in the survey. Why must they be bias in the survey? Why must Premium times also post such fallacious survey to discredit the name of the Igbos?
The Igbos will never be treated as second class citizens. The Northerners or other section of the country should be civil with their utterances to Ndi Igbos. We have not been violent like some section would speculate rather we have been productive and friendly. The Igbos should be applauded for strengthening the economy of the country. They have contributed to the success of the country.
We have great Igbos such as Late Nnamdi Azikiwe, Mbadiwe, etc in the struggle for independence.
We have list of Igbos laundering the image of Nigeria and helping Nigeria to be respected within the international community:
Okonjo Iweala (Former World Bank VP and best finance minister), Late Prof Chinue Achebe (best Nigerian author and author of the best selling African novel), Don Jazzy (Best African music producer), P.Square (Best African music group), Prof Akunyili (best NAFDAC DG), Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Author of Purple Hibiscus and winner of multiple literary awards), Kanu Nwankwo (Most decorated African footballer of all time), Prof Soludo (Best CBN Governor). The list is endless.
The question is shouldn't Nigeria be more grateful to the Igbos? Until then, I reserve further comment on this.
Written By:
Kingsley Nduka
Editor Imo State Youths Blog
[email protected]