TIME TO DE-EMPHASIZE CLANNISH SENTIMENTS AND STEREOTYPE IN EBIRALAND.
By Otori Ozigi.
There is no gainsaying that the good people of Ebiraland have a long history of rich cultural and traditional heritage and ethos, passed down from one generation to another.
One of such historical traditional relics is the several clans in the community inherited from our fore fathers.
It goes without saying that the present generation have used this unhealthy preponderance to certain clannish sentiments to cause disaffection and acrimonious relationship in the community in recent time.
There are some people in Ebiraland who have been using the issue of clan to sow seeds of discords and sharp division in the life of the people.
There are growing reports of certain people who would only help others based on the clannish sentiment that has eaten deep into the fabric of our convivial existence.
The situation is so bad that most of the security challenges that we had witnessed in the community were caused by clannish sentimentality.
Recall that the most ugliest and destructive war in.the history of Ihima town was deeply rooted in clannish sentiment.
Until today, the Ihima community is yet to fully recover from that avoidable and unnecessary war.
There were other avoidable clannish wars in Obehira and Okene axis that consumed precious lives and properties running into millions of naira.
Until today, I’m yet to see any good thing that our clannish sentiments have brought to the community.
I have not seen any hotel or filling station named after any clan in the land.
Not even a corner shop directly owned by any clan in the community.
So, the question is what is the positive benefits of all the clannish proclivities in the land, apart from masquerade outings and other cultural festivities in the land.
There are people who would not offer employment to others except you are from their clans.
What a retrogressive way to live.
Viewed against this background therefore,I think the time has come for our generation to de-emphasize the issue of clannish sentiment in our relationship with ourselves in the community.
The issue of clan difference should be used positively to engender peaceful and united coexistence in the community.
Those who are still holding up on the difference in clan should be told in clear terms that the whole world have left them behind.
They are living unprogressive lifestyles rooted in primitive background.
Open your eyes to reality.
Move away from clannish sentiments.
It is an ill wind that blows no one any good.
Otori Ozigi,a veteran journalist and PR Consultant, writes from Okene,Kogi state.
08073295000–SMS only.