A socio-political commentator, Eze Chikwelu, says there is no evidence backing insinuations that Igbo people hate National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
He said that the reverse appeared to be the case because Igbo people admire entrepreneurs and powerful politicians, two boxes Tinubu checks.
According to him, Tinubu has also not done anything to add to the marginalisation of the Igbo race which could draw hatred.
Chikwelu stated this in an opinion piece published by Vanguard on Friday.
“There is a popular notion that the Igbo people, collectively, hold some sort of grudge against the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This conception is almost laughable because it shows a contempt for the intellectual capacity of the average Igbo and a lack of awareness of our cultural values.
“We are a people of rich heritage belonging to an ancient history.
“Self-sufficiency has been at the core of our cultural philosophy and traditional upbringing.
“We are not the type to look to outsiders for solutions to our problems, neither are we quick to pass blame to others for our problems; certainly not to persons who have never been responsible for any overt act of marginalisation towards our people.
“Why, therefore, would any Igbo person hate Bola Tinubu in Lagos?” he said.
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He explained that some Igbo persons might be indifferent to Tinubu but that could not be translated to mean hatred.
“However, even at that, the man is an entrepreneur and, of course, a powerful politician – characteristics that are far more likely to elicit feelings of admiration rather than contempt from the average Igbo man.
“But to call him a bigot, a tribalist? I am yet to see the evidence. In fact, if anything, the evidence of his political career suggests a man who favours competence over tribal or religious considerations.
“The Igbo prize industriousness and enthrone accomplishment. In the days of yore, before colonisation, Igbo men and women could only earn titles after displaying great feats of personal achievement. A master hunter, for example, known as a “Dinta” would not be called Ogbuagu (Leopard killer) until he defeats a Leopard and wears the skin or teeth to prove it.
“This is the kind of people the Igbo are.”
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