By ABDUL OROH
Is it Akpata with ‘’K’’, as spelt by the Edo or Eholo people, (a sarcasm for Enahoro’s people) or Apata without a ’’K’’ as spelt by the Yoruba? Akpata whether spelt with a K or not, means rock in Yoruba. So this seemingly innocuous question was not about its Yoruba meaning of the word, its etymology, lexical semantics or nuanced presentation- it was simply about ‘Us versus Them’.
It was about identity, more specifically, the politics of identity. With the creation of Mid-West Region, a certain Akpata of Edo origin, working as a senior civil servant in Western Region, spoke Yoruba very well, probably of Yoruba origin, but proudly Benin, now found himself treated differently by his friends, neighbours and peers despite his Yoruba name.
He was expected to relocate with other public servants of Midwest origin to Benin-City within a given deadline. However, Akpata wanted to remain in Ibadan and live in Western Region.
During the screening of the civil servants, the Western Regional Premier, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola asked the gentleman to spell his name. He spelt it with a ‘’k’’ the Edo way; and that was it. He must leave with ‘’his people’’.
Apata is spelt without a ‘’K’, he was told. Politics of identity could be insidious, creepy, dressed in different shades. It could be about racial superiority as Nazi Germany, Trump-Elon Musk’s America, and Netanyahu’s Israel. It could wear a religious or cultural toga, or social discrimination against those perceived to be offspring of slaves, xenophobia, apartheid, ethnic minorities or immigrants etc.
It is usually rooted in ethnic bloodline, faith, gender or ideology. It is the last refuge of scoundrels who do not understand the management of diversity and simply ignorant of a better way to mobilise support for a particular cause and to build a followership.
Appreciating an ethnic identity may not necessarily be inimical to societal progress. Drawing from your ancestral heritage, especially their contribution to building society and the nation could be an inspiration to follow in their footsteps and strive to surpass them.
So, an awareness about one’s ethnic roots and cultural identity could be deployed positively and in taking pride in cherished values, that drives you to say with pride, ’ I know who I am’ or to tell your’’ children ‘’remember who you are’’.
This could be a blessing. It could be a good reason to say let us build together for the good of all. Conversely, when it is weaponised, it becomes egregious, pernicious, and destructive. It breeds social conflicts, class divisions, ethnic suspicions and rivalries in the society and more frequently, it leads to war.
At the individual level, it hurts human dignity, degrades the self-esteem of a citizen and in some cases, creates a feeling of persecution, self- doubts and self-hate. In other words it dehumanises.
What began as racial profiling in Germany and fascist tendencies after World War 1, led to the death of over 60 million people during World War 11. The evil of slavery and the extermination of six million Jews by the Nazis are often cited, historically, as the depth of human cruelty.
It is ironic that Israel which has become the home of the Jews displaced after the holocaust is now inflicting another holocaust on the occupied people of Palestine with the active connivance of the so-called civilised western democracies, and the conspiracy of crippled Arab Regimes.
That the world still exploits bigotry and fantasizes about the superior race to inflict genocide or spread hatred in countries that are supposedly democratic or free societies gives reasons to believe that humanity has not learned a lesson from the gruesome past.
As I write, ethnic hatred is stunting the main fuel of the raging war between the rebels in Democratic Republic of Congo and the Congolese Army. It is about how people who believe they are different from others, view themselves and how they view others.
The agitation for the creation of Midwest region was partly a rejection of the assimilation of the minority ethnic groups in the Western Region into the dominant Yoruba culture.
With a bit of historical hindsight, one can then try to understand the context of Victor Osimhen’s claim of being a Yoruba which has triggered the raging debate about identity, self-awareness, assimilation and ethnic identity. A debate which is usually associated with successful people especially movie stars, athletes, musicians, and other cultural icons.
One social media commentator tried to link it with Majek Fasek’s Benin and Yoruba identity. Majek’s mother was Benin. And children are very attached to their mothers in Benin. They can argue with Epa or even defy him but not Iye. I can’t explain why but I am familiar with the word ‘Iye n’ogie’ – Mother is king.
Majek never renounced his ethnic origins. He embraced both Yoruba and Benin. At the national level, there is a resurgence of identity politics. This is fuelling debates about ethnic origins, culture, civilisation, and other historical differences, disputes and grievances.
The Benin-Yoruba relationship and historical origin is an old debate steeped in myths, cultural hegemony, ego, denials and fierce exchanges. I
am more at home or familiar with the Benin version, although, I believe there is a strong relationship and common bond. It is natural for neighbours to have some form of affinity or relationship.
However, this challenges modern historians to dig deeper with open minds. This age-old debate triggered the agitation for the creation of Midwest Region in the 50s. The Region was created democratically in 1963.
That is proof that democracy works. This trend is behind the continuous agitations for the creation of more states, power rotation resource control, true federalism and protection of minority rights in Nigeria; a renewed quest for cultural awareness and identity.
When the majority seeks to assimilate and dominate the minority and the minority wants to assert its unique identity, and rejects assimilation, that is what you get. The debate will continue.
Osimhen touched some raw nerves in some quarters by claiming he is a Yoruba. No Esan would like to see a global football star of Osimhen’s stature not embracing his origin. It would be seen as a rejection of his ancestral roots not just by the Esan people but in Edo State as a whole.
Even the ancestors who probably would have loved to see him play football would not be happy. Remember the raging storm when former Super Eagle Captain and coach Sunday Oliseh from Abavo in Delta State said he was not Igbo?
The ongoing storm between some Ikwerre and some Igbo over the election of Senator Azuta Mbata as President General of Ohaneze Ndi’Igbo is all about ethnic identity and cultural pride; and fears about assimilation and domination.
You can add the echoes of Biafra and its maps and “international” borders. Some Igbo and Yoruba; and Hausa and Fulani in the North are engaging in a similar superiority and, hegemonic over land, economic resources and political hegemony-all in a bid to dominate the Nigerian polity. These centrifugal forces are fueling agitations for the dismemberment of Nigeria or a restructured system dominated by their ethnic groups.
These debates and agitations are political and dangerous. As long as Nigerians are not treated fairly as equal citizens, we would continue to face these demons.
The challenge is a smart and honest way to manage our diversity: That is, to embrace our common humanity and equal citizenship.
