Nnamdi Elekwachi has offered a comprehensive response to recent comments by journalist and political analyst Reuben Abati, who suggested that the Igbo people in Nigeria are reluctant to sell land to non-Igbo individuals. Elekwachi’s statement, rooted in historical context and personal experience, seeks to provide clarity and counter the claims.
Elekwachi highlighted Aba, a commercial hub in Abia State, as a case study for the Igbo people’s history of hospitality and inclusivity. He noted that Aba is home to two major mosques serving different communities: one for the Hausa Muslim community on Hospital Road and another for the Yoruba Muslim community on Azikiwe Road. These mosques are situated in central locations that were once crown land during colonial times, exclusively reserved for colonial administrators. Over time, these areas have evolved into shared spaces, reflecting the diverse and harmonious nature of the community.
He also recalled the historical presence of the Hausa community in the Ama Hausa area of Aba and the Yoruba community’s prominence along Park and Milverton Roads during the late 1990s and early 2000s. The Yoruba community, in particular, played significant roles in the region’s economic landscape, with many working as managers in banks and multinational corporations such as PZ, Unilever, CFAO, UAC, Livestock Feeds, Vitafoam, Neimeth Pharmaceuticals, and Pfizer. These professionals not only lived among their Igbo hosts but also purchased land and built properties without encountering resistance.
“As a factory worker during that period, I witnessed this firsthand,” Elekwachi said, emphasizing that the relationship between the Igbo and other ethnic groups in Aba was marked by cooperation and mutual respect.
Elekwachi also pointed to the multicultural legacy reflected in Aba’s street names. Streets such as Nicholas Street, named after a Greek businessman, and others like Danfodio, Milverton, Clifford, Howell, and Faulk, bear non-Igbo names, underscoring the city’s history of inclusivity.
However, he noted that the collapse of industries in Aba during the mid-2000s led many non-Igbo residents to sell their properties and relocate, a situation driven by economic factors rather than ethnic exclusion.
“It is not the fault of the Igbo that other groups do not invest in properties in the Southeast today,” Elekwachi remarked. He emphasized that the Igbo have historically been open and welcoming to other communities, fostering an environment where individuals of diverse backgrounds could thrive.
Elekwachi urged Abati and others to consider the broader historical and economic context before making assertions that may misrepresent the Igbo people. His statement serves as a reminder of the region’s longstanding tradition of multicultural coexistence and its potential for fostering unity among Nigeria’s diverse ethnic groups.
