Renowned columnist and statesman Chief Tola Adeniyi has spoken out forcefully against negative stereotypes about the Igbo people, describing such narratives as ignorant, malicious, and completely detached from reality.
In a candid interview with Edmund Obilo on Thursday, August 7, 2025, Chief Adeniyi rejected the claim that Igbos are disrespectful toward elders, using his personal experiences to highlight the deep moral discipline and family values he observed among the Igbo during his time in southeastern Nigeria.
“I don’t buy the stupid talk that an Igbo man will wake his mother by kicking her in the ass. No,” he said emphatically. “I lived there. I went to the East. I saw the culture firsthand.”
According to Adeniyi, far from being disrespectful, Igbo households embody strong values of decorum, discipline, and deference, especially among the younger generation toward elders.
“Even the Igbo girls wouldn’t smoke in their father’s house. I found that an Igbo woman would not bring a boyfriend to sleep with her in her father’s home,” he added. “That kind of discipline was remarkable, and quite different from what I had seen elsewhere.”
Chief Adeniyi expressed disappointment that many Nigerians continue to judge the Igbos through the lens of outdated prejudices, often rooted in the events of the Nigerian Civil War. He said that while political disagreements and historical tensions exist, they should not justify the vilification of an entire ethnic group.
His remarks come amid a wider national discourse on ethnic unity, identity, and historical reconciliation. In an era where ethno-political tensions remain raw in certain quarters, Adeniyi’s voice stands out as one calling for empathy, understanding, and factual engagement.
By defending the Igbo culture against caricature, Chief Adeniyi not only challenges entrenched stereotypes but also calls for a more honest and respectful dialogue among Nigeria’s ethnic nationalities.
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