In a recent post on his X page, human rights activist Dele Farotimi responded to a comment by another user who claimed that the Igbo people do not mean well for the Yoruba. Farotimi firmly rejected this notion, emphasizing the deep-rooted history shared by both groups.
He noted that the Igbo have long been neighbors to the Yoruba in the forest belt of Southern Nigeria, even before the creation of Nigeria itself, and that there has never been a record of conflict between them. He further argued that the Igbos are not the problem, lamenting how some Nigerians misidentify their allies as enemies while ignoring those who genuinely oppose them.
Farotimi continued by highlighting the long-standing relationship between the two ethnic groups, noting that the Yorubas have engaged in healthy competition and trade with the Igbos throughout history but have never gone to war with them. His remarks serve as a reminder of the historical coexistence and mutual respect that have defined Yoruba-Igbo relations, challenging divisive narratives that seek to rewrite that legacy.
According to him, “The Igbo have been our neighbors in the forest belt of Southern Nigeria before there was a Nigeria, and we have no history of any conflict with them. We competed with them, we traded with them, but we never warred against each other. You ignore your enemies and fight your friends.”
