from AUSTIN ORETTE in Houston Texas, US
HOUSTON, (CAJ News) – WHEN I write about the complex relationship between the Fulani and Igbo, many responses I receive are emotionally charged, lacking depth and intellectual rigour.
Some accuse me of Islamophobia, others of Igbo-phobia. Both claims miss the point. My purpose is not to promote division but to encourage honest introspection on why Nigeria, a potentially great nation, continues to struggle with unity.
If Africa must one day unite under the ideal of E pluribus unum—“out of many, one”—then Nigeria must first overcome its entrenched ethnocentrism and religious intolerance.
Our fractured identity was largely shaped by colonialism, which imposed artificial boundaries, foreign faiths, and linguistic divides that continue to fuel suspicion among us.
In Nigeria’s two most vocal ethnic blocs, the Fulani often claim superiority through religion, while the Igbo assert theirs through Western education.
Both forms of arrogance stem from colonial conditioning, which made us mental captives of foreign systems. The result is that neither group truly sees the other as a partner in nation-building.
The tension between the Fulani and Igbo has long had religious undertones. The Fulani use Islam to sustain dominance in the north, while the Igbo, largely Christian, frame national politics as a struggle against Islamisation.
Each side projects its grievances onto external powers — the Fulani toward the broader Islamic world, the Igbo toward the Vatican — turning internal differences into global ideological contests.
Meanwhile, the Western region has historically avoided extreme politics, often playing the role of cautious observer. Yet both Fulani and Igbo political actors frequently seek to exploit the West for regional advantage, deepening mistrust and widening Nigeria’s divisions.
The solution, in my view, lies in restructuring. Nigeria must return to a system where regions manage their affairs with autonomy, minimising central interference. Ironically, those who now demand Biafra once opposed regional independence, thereby weakening the structure they now seek to revive. Both Igbo and Fulani elites share blame for perpetuating central dominance — one through silence, the other through open resistance to reform.
Chaos has since become a political tool. From Boko Haram to herdsmen violence, disorder benefits those who manipulate it. Foreign powers have also learned that a chaotic Nigeria serves their economic interests. They sponsor instability, then pose as mediators, profiting from our disunity.
True progress requires accountability from all sides. The Igbo must re-examine their role in alienating minorities during the First Republic and in Biafra’s pursuit. Their historical dominance in parts of the old Eastern Region pushed groups like Southern Cameroons to seek refuge elsewhere — a decision whose tragic consequences still echo today.
Leadership demands humility and empathy. Majorities must protect minorities, not dominate them.
Nigeria’s healing begins when all groups — Fulani, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, and others — acknowledge their past errors and commit to fairness, equity, and regional autonomy. Only then can we build a stable federation where no neighbour feels uneasy, and unity becomes more than a slogan.
NB: This article reflects the author’s personal analysis and interpretation of historical and political developments. It is intended to provoke thought and encourage dialogue. The opinions expressed do not represent the views of CAJ News Africa or media organization.
– CAJ News