In a 1982 film, Lt. Col. Odumegwu Chukwuemeka Ojukwu and the late Alhaji Shehu Shagari, the former president of Nigeria, are seen standing together against tribalism and discrimination while running for office in Lagos. This stirring video serves as a timely reminder of the value of harmony and the opposition to tribalism.
“Lagos is the home of every tribe, including Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Nupe, Urhobos, and more,” proclaimed President Shehu Shagari with passion. Ojukwu concurred, stressing the importance of maintaining national cohesion. Their remarks strike a deep chord, emphasizing that a nation cannot succeed without harmony among its various ethnic groups.
This film serves as a powerful reminder that true growth and grandeur will remain elusive in Nigeria until it accepts the equality of all its tribes and rejects the idea that one tribe is superior to another.
