JESUS CHRIST IS IGBO UNJUSTLY SINGLED OUT, CASTIGATED, AND
PILLORIED
by Dr. James C. Agazie
Dr. Odozi Osuji, through his persuasive contributions to
this forum, convinces me that indeed the
Igbo of Nigeria is the very Christ in minds imbued with conscience or sense of
right and wrong. Dr. Osuji is a dear
friend, a clever Professor, as well as fellow
Igbo whose prolific essays I find to be
very helpful and insightful. .
However, for this writer and for many people, It is not too
much to say that the Igbo of Nigeria is archetype of Jesus Christ the Messiah. Being Igbo in
modern Nigeria is not an easy task. Igboism is the pain and discomfort of being
placed in pillories and stocks in a tumultuous nation resulting in shocks so severe
as to cause the Igbo to die prematurely. All in all, when all is said and done,
the Igbo walks tall with grace and recherché nonchalance, insouciance, or
indifference.
The purpose of this essay is to voice certain things about detractors
of Ndigbo and then attempt to illustrate concepts with appropriate images. Why
is everyone crying out and asking for the blood of Ndiigbo? What crime has this
significant tribe in Nigeria committed to deserve the organized hostility of
over 150 million detractors? A detractor is a non-supporter of Ndiigbo. A
detractor is not simply a critic, enemy, attacker, heckler, disbeliever. He or she is a serious cynic, pessimist, or disparager.
Alleged crimes of
Ndiigbo, according to detractors, include but are not necessarily limited to the
following: One: Ndiigbo were the first to agitate for independence from
colonialist Britain. Two: Ndiigbo were the first to orchestrate the first
bloody coup in Nigeria right after independence. Three: Ndiigbo were the first
to secede from the Federation. Four: Ndiigbo appear to be the first and only
tribe to parade their wealth in the watchful eyes of jealous neighbors.
To single out is to separate an individual or individuals
from a larger group for the purpose of inflicting punishments or some other negative consequences, such as
denial of privileges and ostracism. Ostracism is a form of exclusion, barring,
banishment, isolation, or non-inclusion. A group that is singled out is sometimes
castigated.Castigation is a shameful act and consists of subjecting a person to
severe punishment in the form of reproof, criticism, or even death.
In everyday
conversations on the lips of Nigerians of every political or religious leanings,
the Igbos are likely to be rebuked, admonished, chastised, chided, upbraided,
reproved, reproached, scolded, berated, taken to task, lambasted, or given a
piece of one’s mind.
That the Igbos are daily put in pillories cannot be
gainsaid or contradicted. What is a pillory or to put in pillory? The Igbos are put in pillory
when attacked or ridiculed publicly. Igbo Nigerian citizens find themselves
pilloried by others, such as when it is said “they are unschooled, stupid grabbers
always after money.” To pillory is to attack, criticize, censure, lambaste,
condemn, denigrate, stigmatize, or denounce.
Sometimes,
the Igbos are placed in stocks. What are the stocks? Stocks are wooden (sometimes metal ) devices that were used on slave
plantations in colonial America as a form of punishment to immobilize victims
who were often exposed in a public place such as the site of a market or open
weather to the scorn of those who passed
by. The head, feet, and hands of victims sick out to e kicked or beaten by
detractors.
Being Igbo in modern Nigeria is not an easy task. Igboism is
the pain and discomfort of being placed in pillories and stocks which could be
so severe as to cause the victims to die. All in all, Ndigbo is a modern-type
Christ in Nigeria. This prompts this writer to intone that Jesus Christ is an
Igbo with redeeming powers, walking tall
with recherché nonchalance or dispassion.
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