LETTER TO NDIGBO AROUND THE WORLD :By Dr. Bọ́lá Adéwará:

LETTER TO NDIGBO AROUND THE WORLD

Yoruba people, kindly pay attention

By Dr. Bọ́lá Adéwará:

Ethnic profiling is a cancer to national unity and global coexistence. It breeds suspicion, fuels discrimination, and undermines peace among peoples. As it is wrong and dangerous to stereotype all Fulani as violent herdsmen or killers, it is equally unjust, and profoundly reckless, to label all Igbo people as criminals. Criminality has no tribal identity; it is an individual moral failure, not an ethnic characteristic.

I am compelled to raise this alarm because of the increasing global tendency to associate the entire Igbo ethnic group with crime, particularly in international spaces. Reports from countries such as Malaysia, China, Vietnam, South Africa, Kenya, and others often highlight the troubling actions of a few misguided individuals of Igbo origin. Sadly, these isolated incidents are now being weaponized to brand an entire race, one of Nigeria’s most industrious and accomplished ethnic groups, as inherently criminal. This is not only false, it is a tragic injustice.

Let it be clear: no race or ethnic group is immune from bad eggs. Every community has its share of lawbreakers. But to elevate the bad behaviour of a few individuals into a global narrative of condemnation against an entire people is not just unfair, it is dangerous.

I therefore call on Ohanaeze Ndigbo, all South-East governors, federal lawmakers of Igbo extraction, Igbo traditional rulers, community leaders, and cultural custodians to rise swiftly and boldly. This is no time for silence or strategic avoidance. When people remain silent in the face of public condemnation, that silence begins to sound like consent. If this negative profiling is not checked, the consequences for future generations of Igbos in the diaspora will be devastating, from visa restrictions to job discrimination, surveillance, exclusion from leadership opportunities, and even outright harassment.

There is a disturbing trend in some parts of the world, where law enforcement agencies and immigration officers openly target Nigerians of Igbo origin with suspicion and contempt. A recent video circulating online features a Malaysian police officer publicly declaring that "the people bringing drugs into Malaysia from Nigeria are the Igbos." This is a damning statement, true or false, it is a public relations disaster for Nigeria and for the Igbo nation. What is even more painful is that I have yet to hear a single response, condemnation, or strategic rebuttal from any respected Igbo leader or body. This is silence where there should be outrage.

Some of the cultural practices being exported to foreign countries by certain Igbo groups—such as the unregulated installation of Eze Ndigbo in foreign cities, may make sense within the context of Igbo culture and tradition. But when presented to people of other cultures, they can appear confusing, intimidating, or even threatening. Culture must be contextualized. It must be explained, engaged with humility, and lived with dignity, not with arrogance or braggadocio.

To every Igbo father and mother, to the sons and daughters on the Internet, this is not the time for ethnic chest-thumping or the exchange of insults. This is the time to own the narrative, to reclaim the name and dignity of your people. Explain your culture. Apologize for the excesses of the few. Denounce criminality boldly. Name it and shame it. Support efforts to identify and discipline those tarnishing the image of Ndigbo at home and abroad.

TO MY YORUBA BROTHERS AND SISTERS:

I urge restraint and wisdom. Do not join voices, whether from Ghana, South Africa, or elsewhere, in demonizing the Igbo race. The rivalry between Peter Obi and Bola Tinubu during the last elections must not be allowed to poison ethnic relations in Nigeria. Political disagreement should never become a tool for ethnic disintegration. Today it’s the Igbos; tomorrow it could be the Yorubas or the Hausas. If we allow ethnic division to fester, the enemies of peace and progress will consume us all. Unity is not optional, it is the lifeline of our fragile republic.

Let us not sell our brothers cheaply to external critics because of local politics. Let us not delight in the demonization of any Nigerian people because of past grievances or electoral defeats. Let us stand for truth, balance, and justice. Ghanaians, like every other nation, have their share of citizens involved in criminal activities abroad. Yet, they are not collectively condemned. Neither should Nigerians, especially the Igbos, be.

To the Federal Government of Nigeria: this is also your responsibility. Ethnic profiling against any group of Nigerians abroad must be met with swift diplomatic and legal response. Embassies must be proactive. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must take ownership of Nigeria’s image abroad and demand respect for the dignity of all Nigerian citizens, regardless of tribe or origin.

But more importantly, Igbo leaders must not outsource this responsibility. You must not pretend it is not happening. You must not defend the indefensible. The legacy of your fathers, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chinua Achebe, Cyprian Ekwensi, Flora Nwapa, Chukwuemeka Ike, Phillip Emeagwali, and countless other luminaries, calls for action. These men and women gave the Igbo race honour on the global stage. You must not let that legacy be drowned in silence and shame.

The time to act is now. Speak up. Stand up. Clean up. Reclaim your name. Defend your legacy.

Nigeria cannot rise when one of her pillars is broken. And Ndigbo cannot remain silent when the world begins to whisper, then shout, that their name is synonymous with crime. May it never be said of this generation that they allowed such a lie to take root.

Let truth be spoken, let wrongdoers be confronted, and let honour be restored.

REST IN PEACE:CHIEF GODFREY U. ACHI (NMKPADIGBO 1 OF NDIAGBOR).

Today the Old Awgu and Enugu state in general say farewell to one of the last of a generation; The generation of those who fought for our independence, first educationists,  post colonial community leaders, disciplinarians more especially noble gentlemen: CHIEF GODFREY U. ACHI (NMKPADIGBO 1 OF NDIAGBOR).

We thank God Almighty  for daddy’s life. A life filled with humility, dedication to humanity, sacrifice and love for all.

We shall all miss his gentleness, love and firmness in discipline.

May his soul rest in peace .

Attached below is a Special tribute  from the Chukwubikes, Family  of Nenwe

*A TRIBUTE FROM THE  CHUKWUBIKES OF NENWE TO CHIEF GODFREY U. ACHI (NMKPADIGBO 1 OF NDIAGBOR)  ON THE  DAY OF  HIS BURIAL 26TH JULY 2025*

It is with   mixed feelings of nostalgia, pride, grateful to God almighty and naturally sadness that we are here witnessing the committing to mother earth one of the great icons in our family’s (friendship) historical panorama.

The friendship between Senator M B Chukwubike  I suppose  started  when they were  young teachers more than three quarter of a century ago. We only remember  that  the stories  they told    whenever they met; and their meetings were  always often,  Right from the time Dad was  a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ,  Chief  Achis’s house  was one of the first calls (amongst a couple others in Ndiagbor) whenever  he returned  from the senate sessions in Lagos  to share his  experiences and messages from the senate. They would tell stories of their youth and enjoy them to our amazements. 

We always looked forward to visiting his family . He and his wife were very generous, kind   and entertaining though we were always able to see in him that air and command of high discipline that most Partents’ of that period and level impacted. He communicated patriotically in a pure Ndiagbor dialect.  I remember he loved  tennis and would always visit Nenwe for a tournament or play one with Dad at St Georges’ court (I suppose ) when we visited Ndiagbor

This friendship, mutual respect and alliance continued even in the dispensation of the local administration of the Division then (Awgu Division obviously) and the Igbo-etiti which later became our present Aninri .He was once described by MBC  as a very good  Peace mediator and an astute negotiator. If you asked our Dad of a sincere and trustworthy person, Godfrey Achi or GU  (as he used to call him would come up first.

When our mother died in 1999 my father was so desperate, inconsolable  and  Chief Achi promptly came to our house ,stayed and even slept in the same room with Dad giving him a great solidarity and psychological support you can only get from a loved one or someone who lived growth stories with you . Throughout the burial period  he  appeared in the pictures and video always behind Dad ,reassuring him and tapping his shoulder always like a boy .He continued to visit intermittently. His cajole and stories of girls both of them  would have married are still reminiscent in my memory. These are actions and stories of friendship that are priceless. 

Daddy  and you nurtured and assured   the friendship was passed on and  continued, thus   in 1971 when your son Emmanuel and Cousin Tobias  came to school in Awgu County Secondary school  Nenwe. He (Emmanuel) automatically became my best friend till date and was  also  adopted by my parents  for  the  5 years stay in Nenwe. I can also say the same of  your daughter Christy who has continued to be in great contact with me and  all my sisters.

As we bid  you farewell we  solemnly promise  to continue  with this solid foundation of love and friendship laid  by you people many  decades ago.

May you noble soul rest in peace.

 From;

Chief (Senator) M.B Chukwubikes'  Family

NIGERIA (IGBO) MUST GO : GHANA,THE MANIPULATION

THE GATHERING STORM

GHANA,THE INTRIGUE TO HATE & HARM

Many Ghanaian groups are inflaming the social media especially TikTok  with incitements to  hate & violence against Igbo people of Nigeria  and their businesses in Ghana because  of a miscommunication of ideas in a 13 years old video made by an Igbo businessman resident in Ghana!

Ironically these cries of violence against Igbos and the general igbo-phobia  are fuelled  and amplified by many Yoruba platforms who have become the proverbial "mourners crying more than the bereaved" and  are vigorously transforming Tik Tok to radio RTLM & radio Rwanda that we all know fanned the  embers  of the genocide in Rwanda .

Tik Tok should  be more proactive  in stopping being used  as ugly agents  or by anyone to cause  harm. 

The Government of Ghana we are sure will not permit the attack on anyone or any form of breaking down of law and order in Ghana. 

The Igbo community is also advised  to 'lower their voices' be humble as usual and use correct languages on their hosts at all times :  a must in the Igbo cosmology, culture  and way of life. 

One asks : is it not curious that a video made in the public glare 13 years ago resurface this year to cause this issues? Ask yourself again: Are there things we don't know?

We ask Ghanaians to pardon  whatever misunderstanding or wrong communication etc  with their  Igbo guests and  to as always use civil dialogue  as brothers  to resolve issues. 

I am 

Charles O Chukwubike

chukwubike@gmail.com

(Multicultural Mediator)

(Member CREIFOS Rome)