Stranger. Oh! the word, stranger. Inherently, it has no venom of its own. But, to some, it cuts like the butcher’s knife and stings like the bee. The word, stranger, has no such power except your interpretation makes it so. In spite of positive or negative connotations, it simply means newcomer to a place.
The word stranger lives for eternity. It is insensitive to erasure of any kind. Like strangers, the word tribe and the phrase ethnic group remain permanent in our thinking, feeling and acting. Cooperating with the word and phrase is more beneficial than combating them. Have you heard the slogan, “unity in diversity”? It is Nigeria’s call to all citizens to unite for a common purpose despite their differences.
There may be ideas and cultural exchanges between different groups of people, the existence of multiple tribes and ethnic groups will never cease. Nature detests uniformity. For this almighty mother, variety is the spice of life.
Many people do not live in the land of their ancestors. This is perfectly alright. They have many needs that cannot be fully met in their original homeland. Therefore, they are forced to move to another land where they believe will favour their dreams. Such was the case of Mr. IK, a young, unmarried man, rich in good health and energy.
When he got to the new land, he searched and got for himself a secured and gainful employment, an opportunity rarely available in his homeland. He became so successful that he began to think of marriage and establishing businesses. He went to his original home to marry and set up business, completely ignoring the numerous, decent beautiful damsels and better business locations in the host land. The only one business he reluctantly established in the host land was filled with his kins and kindreds.
In time of head count in a census and voters’ registration, he again went to his ancestral home; only to return back to the host land empty handed each time. But he educated all of his children (3 boys and 2 girls) in the hosts’ community, enjoying the same privilege as the indigenous students. Yet, Mr. IK is the greatest critic of the people of his hostland. He had no kind words for any of them. He is full of disdain and distrust for all.
Mr. IK didn’t believe in investing anything material or good will in the host community. Yet he always complained he was not fully accepted in the host community. He often said, “I am a stranger in my own country even though I have spent more than 30 years in another land within the same country”. Any wonder he had this feeling of loneliness? Not all.
Obviously, Mr. IK had not heard or read of the idea of corporate social responsibility (CSR). Businesses that are responsible and public spirited often engage in distributing social wealth. They go out to build schools and hospitals and equip them, all to strengthen their public image. Sometimes, they provide industrial boreholes and construct roads, etc, within the community of their operations. They don’t expect cheerful giving from only their host. They too practice cheerful giving.
People who were hospitable enough to accommodate you even for one day hadn’t done any wrong to you. Infact, they had helped you and they deserved your loving relationship in return. It is not good to bite the finger that had fed you.
When you live in a foreign land successfully for five or more years and you have not taken any formal steps to be one of them, it clearly shows your unwillingness to integrate with the hosts.
Many years back, and this is a true story that is well known to the Nigerian law scholars, a Yoruba man went all the way from Ondo to Benin City. While there, the man became very successful. He established all his personal houses and businesses in Benin City. He also married all his wives from there. At his death in ripe old age, there arose a great contention among his children as to how he should be buried, whether according to Benin customs and traditions or Yorubas’. But the man had earlier applied to Benin Traditional Council (BTC) for Benin indigenship. Finding him worthy, the BTC approved his request.
However, the controversy lingers on from one level of court to another. Finally, the Supreme Court held that, according to the evidence presented before them, especially the granting of the formal request to acquire Benin native status, the man must be treated like any other deceased Benin father, both in burial rites and in the distribution of his assets.
It is only natural to have tribes and ethnic groups. It does us no good to fight with them.You cannot pride yourself to love Nigeria when you hate the tribes in it. It is like saying you love a mother but hate her children; it sounds odd to the ears.
“Eke na Agbon na mamwan ore igiogbe”. Wherever you strike gold is your ancestral home. You (Mr. IK) are feeling like a stranger in your own country because you have not fully accepted ALL the different tribes and ethnic groups in Nigeria.
Chris Ade-Edogun, a columnist/teacher, writes from Benin City
