WHO IS AFRAID OF THE IGBOS? A Raw Reflection on the Rising Tide of Tribal Bigotry in Nigeria — By Dr Ope Banwo, The Mayor of Fadeyi

⚠️ NIGERIA IS DANCING WITH TRIBAL FIRE — AGAIN.

Once again, Nigeria finds herself flirting with the flames of tribal bigotry. And once again, the target of suspicion, ridicule, and outright hostility is the Igbo people.

From renaming streets with Igbo origins in Lagos…
To subtle voter suppression…
To digital dog-whistles and hostile online commentary…

A dangerous tribalism is creeping back into our national bloodstream. And its name is Igbophobia.

So, let’s ask the question that everyone else is too afraid to ask out loud:

Who is really afraid of the Igbos?

And more importantly… why?

🩸 A FAMILIAR FEAR WITH A BLOODY HISTORY

This isn’t just about today’s headlines.
It’s a resurrection of old ghosts.
Ghosts that carried machetes in 1966.
Ghosts that laid siege to Biafra in 1967.
Ghosts that fed the flames of a civil war that consumed over 1 million Nigerian lives.

The Igbos were targeted in the pogroms not just because of politics, but because of perception:

• “They’re too rich.”
• “They’re too bold.”
• “They want to take over Nigeria.”

The same whispers are now back—this time disguised as tweets, WhatsApp broadcasts, and selective legislation.

💥 THE BACKLASH OF TODAY

Following the 2023 elections, anti-Igbo sentiment exploded in parts of Lagos.
The city they helped build.
The city many of thme call home call home.
The city many of them were born in
The only city many of them have ever known.

• They were accused of “colonizing Lagos.”
• They were warned to “respect the land.”
• Entire communities were scapegoated for the political choices of individuals.

This isn’t democracy.
It’s tribal persecution in a suit and tie.

🔎 7 REASONS WHY SOME NIGERIANS FEAR OR RESENT THE IGBOS

To be honest, I understand the underlying emotions. You can’t fix tribalism without understanding it. So let’s face the uncomfortable truths:

1. ECONOMIC DOMINANCE

The Igbos don’t just trade—they own the trade.
From Alaba to Ariaria, they run markets across Nigeria.
This dominance breeds admiration—and ultimately resentment.

2. AGGRESSIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP

They move into any town, buy land, build stores, and reinvest profits.

The Igboman will rent property form you, and within a couple of years he is making a bid to buy the property from you, and then buying the next properties adjacent

For some locals, this feels like a takeover, not integration but I don’t see why people should be hated for their ambition. At least they don’t steal it from their landlords and the Landlords always had a choice not to sell.

But you don’t sell to them, collect the money, then resent them for ‘taking over your house’. That’s not fair in any sense you look at it.

3. POLITICAL FRANKNESS

Igbos speak plainly, especially when they feel oppressed.
In a culture addicted to silence and sycophancy, this boldness offends..

4. LACK OF STRONG TRIBAL ALLIANCES

Unlike the Yorubas or Hausas, the Igbos appear politically fragmented.
This makes them vulnerable—and easily scapegoated.

It annoys many, when they say ‘Igbos bow to no one’ but their worldview should not be a matter for hatred.  Afterall, they keep suffering democratically for their determination not to bow or align strategically with any tribe. We don’t need to add Igbophobia to it

5. PERCEIVED POLITICAL DISLOYALTY

Igbos are often accused of “not voting with their host communities.”
This creates friction during elections—even when it’s based on free choice. Host communities unfairly want to limit their choices to the candidates of their  host communities even if they felt other choices are better to guarantee their happiness and investments.

6. THE 1966 COUP MEMORY

Despite the coup being military-led, and not tribal by design, the fact that Igbo officers were prominent still haunts the psyche of some tribes. The Nzeogwu led coup continues to be the flashback argument though there is nothing to suggest Nzeogwu was an Igbo Irridentist. In fact, the unproven rumor was that they intended to hand over power to Chief Awolowo, a Yoruba man if they had succeeded.

7. CULTURAL MISUNDERSTANDINGS

Igbo culture celebrates boldness and visibility.
Others interpret this as arrogance.
But that’s not who they are—it’s just how they express confidence.

🌍 IGBO PHOBIA IS NIGERIA’S VERSION OF ANTI-SEMITISM

Here’s what those who love to hate Igbos won’t say out loud:

The Igbo experience mirrors the Jewish experience in Europe:

• Entrepreneurial minority.
• Stereotyped as “controlling everything.”
• Blamed for political instability.
• Targeted in pogroms.
• Excluded from mainstream leadership.

In fact, Biafra is to Nigeria what the Holocaust was to Germany:

A national stain.

A warning we are refusing to heed.

⚖️ YES, I’VE CALLED OUT SOME IGBO EXCESSES TOO

As a Yoruba man, let me be brutally honest:

I’ve criticized some Igbo actions in the past—when they crossed lines in states where sensitivity was needed. And I will surely continue to do so when necessary.
I am no shy about that at all.
Some Igbo voices online can be incendiary.
Some comments disrespectful.

But painting an entire race because of the excesses of a few? That’s cowardice, not commentary.

Should we judge the Yoruba by the corrupt few who loot Lagos daily?

Should the North be judged by Boko Haram?

If not, then stop using one person’s loudmouth to tarnish an entire people’s legacy.

🔥 MY CONCLUSION – BIG UPS FOR THE IGBO RESILIENCE

Some of my less discerning brothers in Yorubaland have accused me of pandering to the Igbos or “throwing Yorubas under the bus” simply because I spoke out against Igbophobia.
Yet, when I wrote my last piece praising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the commendable work he’s doing in quietly advancing federalism, they didn’t see that as pandering—because it favored our Yoruba Asiwaju.

Only intellectually dishonest people refuse to give credit when it’s due—simply because they have issues with the person involved.

The truth is, many Igbos don’t even like me. In fact, some have accused me of being an Igbo critic or even a hater in the past.
But that doesn’t mean I’ll stop calling things as I see them—fairly, boldly, and without tribal bias.

Hateful people trying to second-guess my motives or blackmail me with tribal loyalty will never silence me. I will continue to speak the truth, even if it offends every camp.

So love them or hate them, here is a special praise for the igbos……
Despite all the hate, exclusion, and historical trauma…
The Igbos still rise and deserve their flowers.

You:

• Rebuild cities that rejected you.
• Open businesses where others fear to try.
• Celebrate success where failure is normalized.
• Raise your heads when others expect you to shrink.

You don’t just survive.
You lead.

 

🗣️ FINAL WORD FROM THE MAYOR OF FADEYI

Let’s quit pretending.

Igbophobia is cowardice wrapped in tribal insecurity.
It’s driven by fear of excellence—not real threat.
And if Nigeria does not confront it boldly, we will light a new civil fire.

Tribal bigotry is not strength. It’s national suicide.

We are all stuck in this country together—
Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Ijaw, Tiv, Fulani, and others.

We must disagree without demonizing.
We must compete without crucifying.
We must coexist without fear.

📢 CLOSING

So, who is afraid of the Igbos?

Only those afraid of:

• Excellence without apology.
• Innovation without permission.
• Greatness that refuses to kneel.

Instead of fear, let’s choose respect.
Lets judge each other by the quality of our ideas and arguments
and not by the tribal colors we earned due to our parents place of birth.

Instead of suspicion, let’s choose collaboration.
Because in the orchestra of Nigeria’s destiny, every tribe must play its part.

✍🏽 By Dr. Ope Banwo
The Mayor of Fadeyi — Lawyer. Techpreneur. Social Commentator. Unapologetic Nigerian.

🔗 CALL TO ACTION:

➡️ If this message moved you, share it.
➡️ If it challenged you, reflect on it.
➡️ If it offended you—maybe that’s exactly where healing starts.