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It is very unfortunate how we indulge in ethnic profiling at the drop of the hat in this country most especially when we claim or want to be seen to be neutral and detrabilized.
I find it difficult to see how Charlie Boy’s personal comment can be construed to represent the voice of all Igbo against the Yoruba. Are we implying that any Yoruba that airs any personal opinion against the Igbo is speaking on behalf of all Yoruba?
I also find it irreconcilable how we seldom see the specs in our eyes but elect to remove the logs in another’s eyes. There are many Igbo bashing opinions and Yoruba bashing opinions flying around in this political season. And it will be deliberately divisive if we fail to see them as personal opinions of individuals and generally color them with tribalism.
For instance, why do we always think that all of Obi’s supporters are Igbo, or that it is Obi or the Igbo that is instigating his supporters to unleash verbal attacks on BAT, the Yoruba or anyone else for that matter? Yet we are silent and cannot call out only the Yoruba when there are verbal attacks on Obi? Are we forgetting that there are many Yoruba and non Yoruba supporters of BAT from other ethnic groups especially Igbos bashing Obi?
Why is it hard for us to appreciate the fact that individuals are wired differently and as such should be expected to act and react differently to any given situation?
I have said this before and I want to say it again.
1. In every contestation especially politics there are bound to be factions and divides because politics is a game of ideological convictions based on individual or independent identities.
2. Politics is a vociferous game, and modest or immodest use of words lies within the powers, the rights and the capacities of those in the game and their supporters. More often than not the louder you are the more attention you attract.
3. It is a zero sum game achieved through subterfuge, treachery, deceit, obfuscation, grandstanding, clever tactics, accusations and counter accusations just to sway, win public sympathy and support which is why in most cases the honest, the righteous, the Holy, the principled and probably the best ideological programs do not win elections.
4. Those who play the ethnic, tribal or religious cards are the basest of men who have no meaningful program to offer the people.
5. Politics all over the world is “war” for the soul of a nation and every non violent arsenal is permited to be deployed to win in an election. And genuine politicians see all of these we call “war” as a games, after all they know that in a war situation all is fair.
5. As there is no monopoly to ethnic profiling, so can no side in these political divides claim innocence of abusive words.
6. There are good people in every ethnic group or political persuasions, and there are also bad people in every ethnic group or political persuasion.
Let us see politics for what it is – a game of wits and words without resorting to violence, bitterness, hate, blanket verbal attacks and divisive comments.
Okey Ogunjiofor
