Top Society Magazine, under the leadership of its Publisher, Agwazim Isaac Ifeanyichukwu, strongly condemns the recent tribal comment circulating on social media, which reads:
“I can get beans and Garri Ijebu at Bokku without any Omo Igbo cheating me.”
Such a statement is not just unfortunate it is reckless, divisive, and antithetical to the spirit of unity that binds Nigeria’s diverse peoples together. As a media organization committed to shaping conversations that inspire progress and inclusion, we find this utterance deeply offensive and socially dangerous.
In a nation as culturally rich and ethnically diverse as ours, the choice of words matters. When individuals or groups deploy language that ridicules or stereotypes another tribe, they do more than express personal bias they contribute to a culture of mistrust that weakens our collective strength.
History has shown us repeatedly that words like these carry real-world consequences. Similar divisive utterances in the past have deepened ethnic suspicion, led to violence in local markets, and created economic and social rifts that take years to heal. The 2015 pre-election hate speech exchanges, the xenophobic tones of certain 2023 political campaigns, and several market-related tribal clashes in Lagos and the North all bear painful testimony to the high cost of careless tribal talk.
Nigeria’s economy thrives on interdependence. Every market, from Onitsha to Kano, from Lagos Island to Aba, is a living network of cultural collaboration. When a trader believes he must “avoid” another ethnic group to do honest business, trust the foundation of commerce collapses. The ripple effect is felt in rising prices, disrupted supply chains, and lost confidence in the Nigerian marketplace.
As a responsible media voice, Top Society Magazine stands firmly against ethnic profiling and hate-driven rhetoric. We believe it is the duty of journalists, influencers, and opinion leaders to foster understanding not division; to build bridges not walls.
We therefore call on:
- Fellow media organizations to reject the sensational amplification of hate comments and instead lead with stories that promote unity.
- Civic and religious leaders to speak boldly against tribalism wherever it rears its head.
- Social media users to exercise restraint and responsibility before sharing or endorsing content that maligns any ethnic group.
Let it be known that silence in the face of hate speech is complicity. As Nigerians, we must not allow a handful of misguided voices to dictate the tone of our national discourse. The greatness of Nigeria lies in her diversity in the shared sweat of the Yoruba farmer, the Igbo trader, the Hausa herdsman, the Tiv craftsman, and the countless others whose efforts build the nation daily.
“We at Top Society Magazine will continue to use our platform to promote balanced narratives, fair reportage, and the values of peace, tolerance, and mutual respect,”
In times like these, leadership is not only about what we do it’s about what we refuse to tolerate. And we refuse to tolerate words that tear the heart of our unity.