In ‘The Igbo: People, History and Worldview’ by Dons Eze & Chinedu Ochinanwata, they go even further, claiming that the Yoruba monarchy is built on Igbo spiritual systems, that Oduduwa overthrew a peaceful Igbo order, and that modern Ife is a hybrid of stolen identity”.
Published on this column on Sunday, 8 June, 2025 was my article titled:’Hagiography: Igbos Deliberately Distorting Yoruba History’.
Partly in reaction to it and also because some concerned Yoruba individuals and groups were already pondering the next line of action regarding this falsification of their history by persons whose ‘god’ is money, and would, therefore, do anything – legal and illegal – to look for it – petitions had gone to, not only the Federal Ministry of Education but as far as to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because, as one of the groups put it, to allow these scammers continue unchecked is to “allow false ethnic narratives in our education system, endanger national unity, undermine cultural integrity, and misinform future generations.
Also, they wrote: “if this distortion is not corrected, millions of Nigerian students, especially Yoruba children, will grow up believing a lie about their ancestral identity”.
Kudos to the Honourable Minister who, I am aware, proactively went to work, tasking ministry officials to quickly unravel the circumstances surrounding the alleged NERDC approval being claimed by the authors.
In particular he wanted them to confirm whether the two books were truly presented to the NERDC for review and recommendation, which year they were presented and who the reviewers of the books are. He also wanted
confirmation as to whether NERDC actually recommended the books for publication.
If truly, and genuinely it did, he recommended that an appropriate machinery be set up to thoroughly investigate all the circumstances surrounding the publication of the books.
These done, a report was made to the minister presumably on whose authority the ministry, this past week, made the following public announcement:
“The attention of the Federal Ministry of Education has been drawn to a petition titled: “Petition to Defend Yoruba History from Ethnic Distortion in Nigerian Textbooks” submitted by the Concerned Citizens of Yoruba Origin and Supporters of Truth, through its National Chairman, Otunba Abayomi Odunowo.
The petition raises concerns over alleged historical inaccuracies in a history textbook authored by Tony and Ijeoma Duru, and published by Tones Publishers. The publication is said to contain claims regarding the founding of Ile-Ife that have been described as misleading and potentially harmful to national unity.
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The Ministry wishes to clarify that the said textbook was not authored, commissioned, or approved by the Federal Ministry of Education. It is not among the instructional materials approved for use in public basic education institutions across the country, and the Ministry is not in any way affiliated with the publication.
The Ministry appreciates the vigilance and concern of stakeholders regarding the potential of such content to misinform learners and provoke ethnic tension.
While these concerns are valid, it is important to note that the Ministry is not responsible for materials that fall outside its regulatory framework.
Instructional materials officially endorsed by the Ministry are carefully curated to meet national education standards. They are developed to support effective learning in public schools, promote literacy, and ensure inclusive, equitable access to quality education throughout Nigeria.
The ministry will work with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and other agencies to investigate, ensure fair and timely resolution of the issue.
Nevertheless, given the sensitivity of the matter and its implications for education, cultural identity, and national cohesion, the Ministry will work closely with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and other relevant agencies to thoroughly investigate the issue.
All necessary steps will be taken to address the anomalies identified and to ensure a fair and timely resolution that respects historical truth and promotes unity.
The Federal Ministry of Education remains fully committed to providing quality, inclusive, and culturally respectful education that fosters peace, understanding, and national development”.
Some questions then arise following that clear and authoritative statement from the Ministry of Education, the only authority that could have given approval for the books’ publication and without which approval, the books can be described only as a hatched job which should be completely incinerated to obliterate its memory.
But then why are a particular group of Nigerians so infernally given to perpetuating fraud? What exactly drives their inordinate quest after money for which they would do anything, killing inclusive?
Must they continue to shame Nigeria all over the world? And what exactly would they not do to make money if they could turn hagiography into a source of money making, seeing it requires intellectual imput far beyond the mundane requirements of making a 4- 1 – 9 hit?
But the million dollar question is: must these people, forever, have an eye for anything, and everything, Yoruba?
Igbos are a uniquely talented, brilliant and industrious people.
This they have demonstrated here in Nigeria and internationally where they rank amongst the most prodigiously brilliant scholars holding down professorships in many prestigious Universities worldwide but, especially in the U.S.
Back home they own the most industrialised part of Nigeria.
But for God’s sake, why would a people so gifted, so talented be equally damn fiendishly avaricious they are never content with all they have?
Why is there no single effort by any group of Igbos themselves, however miniscule, criticising these their negative proclivities? Why do we never see any concerted effort by Igbos themselves against the bad among them?
Not even against the Unknown Gun Men tormenting them, paralysing not only their economy but the social life of the entire Southeast region?
Instead, behaving like a horde, you would find even the most educated Igbo defend his kinsman, no matter the gravity of the offence committed.
More than the generality of Nigerians, Igbos need a Regional Orientation Agency(ROA).
They believe they are not much loved by other Nigerians.
If this categorical assertion is true, Igbos would have only themselves to blame.
Scattered thin, everywhere all over the country, Igbos must have a rethink over many of the things they do, or casually take for granted, among them: the erroneous belief that because they have the financial resources, from sources known and unknown to buy physical properties, they can purchase the possibility of ruling over places where they are only, at best, aliens.
Without a doubt this write up will be met with some acerbic diatribes by those who hate to hear the truth.
But then I say: they are welcome