Professor Stephen Okodudu, a former vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), has debunked the notion that ethnicity is an inherent problem among ethnic groups in Nigeria. He asserted that it is rather a construct manipulated by politicians for their own gain.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Okodudu shared his views during the 2023 August meeting in Port Harcourt, where the activities included book reading, political discussions, and the unveiling of a book titled “Fellow Nigerians, It’s All Politics,” authored by esteemed journalist Simon Kolawole.
He opined that Nigerians’ lack of reading contributes to their susceptibility to manipulation by politicians who exploit ethnic sentiments whenever they face defeat in contests….CONTINUE READING
Okodudu cited the work of Okwudiba Nnoli, who asserted that ethnicity is not the core problem of ethnic groups in Nigeria. Instead, it’s a tool employed by individuals when competing for limited resources, particularly political power.
The former vice chancellor explained, “When people lose the objective basis to contest for a position, they retreat to primordial sentiments and whip up the ethnic origin of people and begin to fan it.
Unfortunately, we do not read, we are so ignorant of the manipulations of politicians.”
In his introductory remarks, Kingsley Wenenda Wali, the convener of the 2023 August meeting and an advocate for good governance, highlighted the lack of memoirs or books capturing Nigeria’s governance and political processes.
He expressed concern that this absence has allowed for distorted narratives and misinformation to thrive.
Wali noted, “This absence leaves a void in understanding key events, decision-making processes, and the overall development of the nation.
It’s not that we forgot where we are coming from, but that merchants of transactional relationships revise their experiences for contemporary gains, especially during election campaign seasons.
This has had the twin effects of escalating our pains and pushing back the coming of a chosen one or a messiah if there would ever be one.
