One of the greatest tragedies of humanity is the ease with which we turn misunderstanding into enmity. Too often, we see those who do not think like us as threats, rather than as individuals who simply lack the knowledge we possess. But wisdom teaches us a different lesson: a person who lacks understanding is not necessarily an enemy, sometimes, they are just in need of enlightenment.
If we truly desire progress, we must rise above the instinct to attack and instead embrace the power of education and dialogue. Insults do not correct ignorance; they deepen it. Hate does not solve division; it widens it. But knowledge, shared with patience, has the power to turn even the most hardened heart toward understanding.
The Poison of Tribalism/Sentiment
Tribalism or sentiment, in all its forms, is a disease that blinds people to their shared humanity. It teaches us to see labels before we see people, to judge by ethnicity rather than by character, and to build walls where bridges should stand. Nations do not crumble because of external enemies, they fall when their own people choose division over unity.
A mind trapped in tribalism and sentiment is a mind that has rejected reason. If a person believes that their ethnicity, religion, or region makes them superior to another, they have not only limited their own potential but have also contributed to the backwardness of their society. No tribe owns wisdom. No region holds a monopoly on intelligence. Greatness is found in those who seek knowledge beyond the boundaries of their birth.
Yet, in our ignorance, many of us define people we have never met as enemies. An Obudu man who has never been to Bekwarra land assumes the Bekwarra hate him. An Obanliku man who has never stepped into Yala believes the Yala sees him as an enemy. But how do we understand who we truly are to each other when we have never walked in each other’s lands? How do we judge a people we have never lived among?
Hatred is often not based on experience but on stories told by those who benefit from our division. We must ask ourselves: Are we thinking for ourselves, or are we allowing others to dictate how we see our fellow northern crossriverians?
Replacing Insults with Education
It is easy to insult, but difficult to educate. It is easy to fight, but difficult to engage in meaningful dialogue. Yet, the difference between a backward society and a progressive one is simple: the former chooses conflict, and the latter chooses to understand.
A truly intelligent person does not waste energy arguing with those who are ignorant, he enlightens them. He does not attack those who misunderstand, he corrects them. This is why the greatest thinkers in history, from Socrates to the philosophers of our own traditions, always taught through reason, not insults.
If we want a better future, we must change our approach. Instead of responding to hate with more hate, we must respond with wisdom. Instead of deepening division, we must build dialogue. Progress is not achieved by silencing others but by educating them. A nation does not rise by labeling its people but by uniting them.
The Power of Unity
Our true enemy is not the person from another tribe, nor the one who speaks a different language. Our real enemy is ignorance, division, and prejudice, these are the forces that keep us from growing.
No empire was ever built on tribalism. No nation became great by promoting hate. If we are to move forward, we must see all people as our people, all tribes as our tribes, and all humanity as our family.
The choice is before us: Do we remain prisoners of our biases, or do we embrace the path of enlightenment? Do we fight battles that only leave us weaker, or do we rise together, stronger than ever?
The answer will determine not just our future but the legacy we leave behind. Let us choose wisdom over foolishness, love over hate, and unity over division, for only then can we truly progress.
Join us, NORTHCCO will fix Cross River North.
Opinion By Ojeka Anthony
