The Igbo Conscience, an emerging Think Tank for the Igbo nation, has noted
\nwith grave concern, the increasing negative fallout of the last general
\nelection, which, if not checked, may lead to much more unsavory
\ndevelopments for the country. Of particular concern to us, as a fledgling
\nIgbo think tank, is the increasing spate of hate messages and hate actions
\nthat have now taken over the once cordial and fruitful relationship
\nbetween Ndigbo and the Yoruba. We note that the cordial relationship
\nbetween the two great races has been greatly soured by the process leading
\nto and the outcome of the last general election.<\/p>\n
The Igbo Conscience notes that the negative politics that attended the
\nlast political campaigns have accounted for the degenerating relationship
\nbetween Ndigbo and the Yoruba.\u00a0 We note that the events that are
\ntragically spiraling into a dangerous exchange of hate messages have now
\ngone to the extent of some Yoruba groups mobilizing some Yoruba to mount
\nanti-Igbo protests in Lagos. Equally, we note the concern of these Yoruba
\ngroups to the continued picketing of a Yoruba, Dr. Ayo Ariyo in Dallas,
\nUnited States, by some Igbo\u00a0 over some comments he allegedly made for
\nwhich he had been reported to have made sufficient clarification and show
\nof remorse. We condemn both actions and we see these as very dangerous and
\nwarn that no one, either Igbo or Yoruba will gain from a degeneration of
\nthis situation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Igbo Conscience will not want to join issues with any group in this
\nneedless altercation but we want to warn both the Igbo and Yoruba groups
\nfurthering the ends of hate, division, anarchy, hatred and acrimony that
\nwe will gain more from sustaining, and indeed building, the age long
\ncordial relationship that has sustained and nurtured our collective goals
\nand interests as well as those of the larger Nigerian nation for several
\ndecades. We want to appeal to both Igbo and Yoruba to give heed to reason
\nand end this disturbing needless warfare that will not benefit any one at
\nthe end of the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Igbo Conscience wants to state that we are not and will not agree to
\nthe destruction of the cordial relationship that had seen Igbo and Yoruba
\nrecording the highest level of inter-tribal marriages in Nigerian history.
\nIf this is not a solid instance of common bonding that automatically broke
\ndown the barriers of hate and rancor, we wonder what else will.\u00a0 We
\nbelieve that soon, both ethnic nationalities will be overwhelmed by a
\nhybrid of culture that does not tolerate the petty quarrels and unfounded
\ntantrums that are gradually taking over the relationship between both
\nnationalities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to state that we will not pander to any issue that will hurt the
\nmutual understanding and good relationship Ndigbo have enjoyed with their
\nYoruba hosts either in Lagos or any other South West State by either
\nmaking hollow demands that have no real practical value or igniting a hate
\ntendency as a reaction to such demand. We want to state emphatically that
\nwe share common bond of unity and understanding with the Yoruba, either in
\nLagos or any other South Western state or even any other tribe in Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Igbo Conscience wants to put it on record that in the process leading
\nto the election, one of our affiliate groups, the Association for the
\nDefence of Igbo interests in Lagos (ADIL) came out strongly to disavow the
\nhate politics in Lagos that brought about this worsening situation and
\naffirm the willingness of progressive Igbo to work with Yoruba in Lagos
\nfor a common political goal of advancing progressive politics in Lagos. We
\nremain committed to that goal, which does not support the rancor marking
\nthe relationship between Igbo and Yoruba today.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Igbo Conscience therefore calls for a cessation of hostilities in the
\ndegenerating war of attrition between Igbo and Yoruba, either in Lagos,
\nDallas or any other state in and outside Nigeria.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Igbo Conscience will, in conjunction with equally concerned Yoruba
\nprofessionals and leaders, work to mend the frosty relationship between
\nIgbo and Yoruba as well as other Nigerians. We call on all Igbo and
\nYoruba, either in Lagos or elsewhere, to cease forthwith from issuing or
\ncausing to be issued, damaging hate speeches, inciting write ups and
\ninsinuations in any forum or platform that will further endanger the peace
\nand unity between Ndigbo and the Yoruba. We demand equally that the
\nleaders of Ndigbo and Yoruba commence immediate actions to foster peace,
\nunity, understanding, tolerance among Igbo and Yoruba, as well as among
\nother ethnic groups in Nigeria.\u201d<\/p>\n
Barr. Onyekachi Ubani
\nInterim Chairman<\/p>\n
Peter Claver Oparah
\nInterim Secretary<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Igbo Conscience, an emerging Think Tank for the Igbo nation, has noted with grave concern, the increasing negative fallout of the last general election, which, if not checked, may…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":39742,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39741","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-exclusive"],"yoast_head":"\n