Thread by @The_Jonathanian

IGBO & IGBO DENIERS

Igbo Bụ Igbo (Igbo is Igbo) But We Have Igbo Deniers

The grandfather & one of the earliest known #IgboDeniers is the acclaimed Ikwerre Writer from Aluu – Elechi Amadi (He schooled in Yoruba land & was a Nigerian soldier during the war).

He went to the Oputa Panel in 2004 & told the whole world that Ikwerre is not Igbo.

Later day Igbo Denying apostles include a certain Henry Okelue (@4eyedmonk) who is only known on Twitter where he claims that Anioma or Delta Igbo are not Igbo.

#IgboDeniers
#Ozoemena

The question is this. If Igbo bụ Igbo, what is the motivation of these #IgboDeniers? The simple chief answer is this. “Failure is an orphan”.

#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#ozoemena

Just imagine that Biafra prevailed in the Nigeria-Biafra War.
Just imagine that Biafra turned out to be the real living Wakanda while the rest of Nigeria remained the present day Nigeria.

#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena
#Igbo

Do you think that Elechi Amadi, Henry Okelue & their ilk will be somewhere shouting that Ikwerre or Anioma is not Igbo?

#IgboDeniers
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena

So who is Igbo?

Igbo bụ Igbo.
Igbo n’asụ n’onu n’onu mana akwaa ụkwala ọ bụrụ otu (Igbo speaks in diverse tongues but their coughing sound the same).

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena

There are many sub-divisions of the Igbo. In the broadest sense, we have The WESTERN IGBO & the EASTERN IGBO.

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena
#Igbo

In the 1930s, Daryll Forde and G. I. Jones published maps of the different sub-ethnic groups that make up Igboland and some of their divisions.

Thank you @ukpuru for sharing on @Twitter

https://twitter.com/ukpuru/status/975780294342205440

The Western Igbo are Ndigbo living west of the River Niger. Collectively, they are known as Anioma.

Their heritage is defined in Delta North Senatorial Zone & parts of Edo State. Further sub groups of the Western Igbo include Ika, Enuani, Ndokwa & Ukwuani (Kwale).

#IgboDeniers

The EASTERN IGBO are Ndigbo who their ancestral territory falls east of the River Niger. The Eastern Igbo are made up of many broad sub-groups which include:

- NORTHERN IGBO (Enugwu, Nsukka, Onitsha, Mbammili, Okigwe)

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#Ozoemena

- SOUTHERN IGBO (Owerri, Isuama, Isu Item, Mbaise, Ngwa, Umuahia)

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena
#Igbo

- CROSS RIVER IGBO (Eda, Abam, Aro)

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena
#Igbo

- NORTH EASTERN IGBO (Ezza, Izzi, Ikwo, Mgbo, & other Ebonyi State subgroups)

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena
#Igbo

- RIVERINE IGBO (Ndoni, Egbema, Ekpeye, Ikwere, Ndoki)

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena
#Igbo
#IgboBụIgbo

These are a close approximation of Igbo subgroups or sub-nationalities. These subgroups share closer linguistic affinities, culture & experiences.
Anioma
Agbo
Aro
Edda
Ekpeye
Etche
Ezza
Ika
Ikwerre
Ikwo
Ishielu
Izzi
Mbaise
Mgbo

#IgboDeniers

Ngwa
Nkalu
Nri-Igbo
Ogba
Ohafia
Ohuhu
Omuma
Onitsha
Oratta
Ubani

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena
#Igbo
#IgboBụIgbo

Now that we have defined who is Igbo, why do we have Ndigbo who are denying their heritage?

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena
#Igbo
#IgboBụIgbo

1. FLAVOUR (DIFFERENCES) No two communities are the same. There are linguistic & cultural differences from neighbouring communities or villages that even share common ancestry.

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena
#Igbo
#IgboBụIgbo

Extrapolate this scenario to the fact that in the 1800s, there are Ndigbo who may never have known about the existence of other Ndigbo because of poor levels of contact.

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena
#Igbo
#IgboBụIgbo

Today, bring an Ezza man & Ekpeye man in a room, and ask them to communicate strictly in their native dialects, both may not understand each other. However both will be able to communicate in Central Igbo.

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#Ozoemena
#IgboBụIgbo

2. COLONIALISM & NIGERIA POLITICAL ADMINISTRATION The Nigerian Colonial Administration amalgamated the Northern & Southern Protectorates into Northern Nigeria, Western Nigeria & Eastern Nigeria.

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#Ozoemena
#Igbo
#IgboBụIgbo

That meant that for political administrative exigencies, Western Igbo became part of Western Nigeria while the Eastern Igbo became Eastern Nigeria.

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena
#Igbo
#IgboBụIgbo

This means that the source of Western Igbo administration became Ibadan & not Enugu with the rest of their kin. That was how Western Igbo started to be Yorubanised.

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena
#Igbo
#IgboBụIgbo

Most older Western Igbo elites grew through the Western Nigeria civil service ranks. They lived in Yoruba land. Their children were raised, went to school, contacted deep & lifelong friendships & married in Yoruba land.

#IgboDeniers

Some like Henry Okeluo (@4eyedmonk) lost their sense of heritage & started seeing their own people with the warped lenses of the Yoruba. They started to see Ndigbo the way the Yoruba see Ndigbo.

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#Ozoemena
#Igbo
#IgboBụIgbo

3. NIGERIA-BIAFRA CIVIL WAR Biafra lost the war. The Nigerian state through many state policies & unspoken maneuverings have tried to limit the rights & benefits due to Ndigbo in the Nigerian state.

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#Ozoemena
#Igbo
#IgboBụIgbo

In their attempt to extricate themselves from the backlash of Biafra attempt, many boundary living Igbo communities & sub-ethnic groups have tried to paint themselves non Igbo.

#IgboDeniers

This is their coping strategy so that they can continue to access whatever benefits they could & shield themselves from any form of negative actions meted out on Igbo.

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena
#Igbo
#IgboBụIgbo

In all these, what I know is that Igbo Bụ Igbo ma na adịghị abụ Igbo by force. It’s okay for any Igbo person or Igbo community or Igbo sub-ethnic group that do not want to be or identified as Igbo.

#IgboDeniers

Aka dị onye mma, ya fido n’isi (You rest your head on your comfortable arm). Just like my brother @ChifeDr said, “Igbos are not recruiting”. Anyị adịghị ayọ Igbo ayọ. We are REPUBLICANS like that.

#IgboDeniers

https://twitter.com/ChifeDr/status/1134787172924579840

Adịghị ama ama, Ọ chụrụ onwe ya n’ụgbọ a sịkwana na ụgbọ eruteghị ya.

The day you want to come back, we shall embrace you. But remember that you shall pay all dues & levies you did not pay over the years. Remember to add the penalties (ọmụlụnwa) to the levies.

Don’t think you can walk away & deny us & come back to enjoy after we’ve transformed our motherland into an envy of all.

#IgboDeniers
#Biafra
#BiafraRemembranceDay
#BiafraHeroesDay2019
#Ozoemena
#Igbo
#IgboBụIgbo

Special shout out to:
@julietkego
@NnamdiKanu
@IPOB
@cfmemories
#IgboTwitterCommunity
@seredecng
Every individual or organisation mentioned or not, working assiduously towards the development of #AlaIgbo; Chukwu gozie ụnụ.

Ọ ga adịrị anyị na mma.

Ka UDO chịa.