IBRAHIM QUADRI
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organization, Afenifere, has cautioned against the tendency to fuel the embers of discord when peaceful co-existence should be nurtured.
The organization’s admonition came in the wake of a resurgent claim that Igbo people of South-East Nigeria founded Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yorubas, saying that such a claim is not only false “but a violent attempt to turn history upside down.”
In a statement by Comrade Jare Ajayi, the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, Afenifere decried the unwarranted predilection of some Igbo irridentists to instigate avoidable brouhaha by making claims that are not only unfounded but highly provocative.
Ajayi said, “Claims such as these serve no useful purpose other than creating gulfs between two people who should explore ways of cooperating with a view to better serve the best interests of their respective populace.”
Afenifere spokesman stated that the false claim contained in the book authored by the Durus might be ignored but for its reported endorsement by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), a federal government educational institution.
“If it is true that the NERDC endorsed the book, Afenifere is of the strong view that the Council should withdraw such an endorsement as it goes against the mandate of the establishment which should be among the institutions promoting unity and harmonious relationships between ethnic groups in the country”.
The book, and similar ones that tend to promote the subjugation of one ethnic group to the other should be withdrawn from circulation “and certainly not be used in the classrooms so as not to impart wrong knowledge on the young minds. Ethnic jingoism should not be allowed in educational system.
“Mention was made of how Yorubas kept the properties of many Igbos intact for them during the civil war. After the war, these properties were returned to the Igbos including some rents that accrued on them. Few people across the world were on record to have done this type of thing” Ajayi said.
Advocating for a more accommodating spirit, Ajayi asserted that respect for the five social values is very important. The social values are mutual respect, personal and corporate freedom, community consciousness, social responsibility as well as justice and fairness. “Where and when these values are made to characterize our relationship with one another, we all would be the better for it”.
Maintaining that Yorubas are exemplary in upholding these core social values, Ajayi called on other tribes to emulate this gesture “so that we can have a society that will keep inducing and promoting the best inherent in us”.
It would be recalled that two Igbo scholars, Tony Duru and Ijeoma Duru, in a jointly authored book, asserted that Igbos were the original inhabitants of Ile-Ife before the acclaimed progenitor of the Yorubas, Oduduwa, came to displace them and established Yorubas in Ife.
Their assertion, which was contained on page 62 of their book entitled ‘Standard History Studies for Junior Secondary Schools – Book 1-3, reads thus:
“…historical place of Ife in the history of Yoruba people is connected to the history of their settlement in Ife. Historical evidence proved that the area was originally occupied by Igbo people of Nigerian extraction. Later, Oduduwa and his armies invaded the land and chased the earlier settlers down …”
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