In a brief
article written by Samuel Ogboo, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the view
of Ebonyians as backward. It really inspired me. Read below…
Today, I want to come out strong on
those that are very biased about Ebonyians. Yes! I am proudly from Ebonyi State
and from a very decent part, Okposi Okwu in Ohaozara.
How can you generalize that Ebonyians are totally backward? I bet to strongly disagree with that.*Grins*.
Most Ebonyians especially the generation of my parents and grandparents were unfortunate not to be fully educated like those of Imo, Anambra and Enugu simply because Ebonyi is in the far east....and that resulted in late entry of missionaries into my ancestral geographical zone. Consequently, there are few who got exposed to education then. Also, the Federal Government College, Okposi, where I trained during my secondary school days was used as a training zone for the Biafra military as far back as I966/67. This resulted in a halt on every economic, academic and social activities which caused few missionaries to flee our zone for safety of their lives.
Ebonyians especially the Ohanivo and Afikpo constituencies have proven to be trailblazers in their chosen life endeavours after recovery from the hard times of the civil war. We are known for our spirited hard work, dignity of labour, decent lifestyle and modesty. Our resources lie in our strength and the zest to succeed against all odds
The current generation who still wallow in the stories of the past should visit the Afikpo and Ohanivo constituencies and interact with most folks from that zone who are now exposed.
I don't want to be judged by stories of the past. Meet me as an individual for you to know that an Ebonyian can carry the day too.
I hope Engr Dave Umahi develops our LGA where he hails from.
How can you generalize that Ebonyians are totally backward? I bet to strongly disagree with that.*Grins*.
Most Ebonyians especially the generation of my parents and grandparents were unfortunate not to be fully educated like those of Imo, Anambra and Enugu simply because Ebonyi is in the far east....and that resulted in late entry of missionaries into my ancestral geographical zone. Consequently, there are few who got exposed to education then. Also, the Federal Government College, Okposi, where I trained during my secondary school days was used as a training zone for the Biafra military as far back as I966/67. This resulted in a halt on every economic, academic and social activities which caused few missionaries to flee our zone for safety of their lives.
Ebonyians especially the Ohanivo and Afikpo constituencies have proven to be trailblazers in their chosen life endeavours after recovery from the hard times of the civil war. We are known for our spirited hard work, dignity of labour, decent lifestyle and modesty. Our resources lie in our strength and the zest to succeed against all odds
The current generation who still wallow in the stories of the past should visit the Afikpo and Ohanivo constituencies and interact with most folks from that zone who are now exposed.
I don't want to be judged by stories of the past. Meet me as an individual for you to know that an Ebonyian can carry the day too.
I hope Engr Dave Umahi develops our LGA where he hails from.
Well, in as
much as I concur with his motion I’d like to correct some few impressions.
Whether generalized or not, Ebonyians from all parts of Ebonyi State are key.
Whether from Ohaozara, Afikpo, Ikwo, Abakaliki, Ezaa, Ishielu, etc.
Again, most
Ebonyians in the past generations were just as educated as their counterparts
in the neighboring states such as the likes of Akanu Ibiam who was the governor
of the eastern region of Nigeria from 1960 until the first military coup, Aja Nwachukwu
who was Nigeria’s first minister for education from 1958 to 1965, Dr. Ogbonnaya
Onu who was the first executive governor of Abia State (1992-1993), just to
mention but a few. These dignitaries one way or the other contributed immensely
to the development of the South-East at large as there was no such thing as
Ebonyi State at the time of their reign. For instance, the Akanu Ibiam
International Airport which is located at the present day Enugu State was named
after Akanu Ibiam who hailed from Afikpo in Ebonyi State which was a part of
Enugu as at then. He was accorded such honour because of the numerous
developments he made in contribution in making Enugu the town it is today.
Then
finally, anybody who would wish to judge an Ebonyian by stories of the past
even before meeting him/her personally should cast the first stone and let the
balance be weighed. It’s very true that there is poor public infrastructure
made available by the state government, and it is also true that this is not
based on how old the state is, but what has it got to do with the indigenes of
the state all over the country that when one gets to know you hail from Ebonyi
State, the first impulsive response would likely be, ‘oh oh! You don’t look
like them”, really? How do they look like? I wonder that village in Nigeria
where every motor cyclist is a PhD holder, I wonder.
It’s sad
enough that we still endure the tribalism that has almost permanently divided
the various regions in Nigeria. We cry out at the fore fronts of ethnic
boundaries, we even extend our cry as blacks to the world at large and criticize
racists, but back at home where we should unite as one, we continue to
discriminate against the baby-states we perceive to be under developed. This is
apparently the height of hypocrisy.
It wouldn’t just
be necessary for me to go into detailed analysis and comparisons for it may be
arousing more negative reactions but most of all, the distant perceptions held
on Ebonyians are all products of single stories. Let’s all unite and crush
stereotype. We are one Ebonyi, one Igbo, one Nigeria.
Jerry Odii.
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