In his final book, There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra, renowned Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe shared his views on the long-standing ethnic tensions in Nigeria. He argued that many Nigerians, especially among the Hausa/Fulani and Yoruba ethnic groups, hate the Igbo.
According to Achebe, this hatred was not only about politics. He believed it was largely because of the Igbo culture, which encourages hard work, education, self-improvement, competition, and enterprise.
Achebe referred to what he had earlier written in his book The Trouble with Nigeria, where he stated:
"Nigerians will probably achieve consensus on no other matter than their common resentment of the Igbo."
He explained that the Igbo culture gave its people an advantage during the colonial period. While every ethnic group had its own strengths, Achebe believed the Igbo were quicker to embrace Western education and new opportunities.
He noted that although the Yoruba had an early advantage because missionaries first arrived in their region, the Igbo rapidly caught up after missionaries crossed the River Niger. He claimed that between 1930 and 1950, the Igbo made remarkable progress in education, business, and public service.
Achebe argued that within a few decades, the Igbo had become the most educated group in Nigeria, with high literacy rates and many people receiving higher education.
He believed Nigeria should have used these strengths for national development instead of allowing ethnic rivalry to stand in the way. In his opinion, ignoring the talents and entrepreneurial spirit of the Igbo was one of the reasons Nigeria failed to reach its full potential.
Achebe also criticised the removal of many qualified Igbo professionals from important public positions after the civil war. He argued that replacing capable people with less qualified people for ethnic or political reasons weakened the country.
However, Achebe did not spare the Igbo from criticism. He admitted that some Igbo people could be too proud, overly focused on material success, and sometimes too eager to display their achievements. He warned that such behaviour could create envy and deepen the hatred against them.
Whether one agrees with Achebe or not, his views remain an important contribution to discussions about Nigeria's history, ethnic relations, and nation-building.
His arguments continue to spark debate and encourage Nigerians to reflect on the country's past and how to build a more united future.
