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By Madu Obi
The Chairman of United Nigeria Airline, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, has urged Igbo people to foster support, solidarity and collaboration, instead of engaging in the pull him down syndrome.
Speaking after being recognized by the Igbo socio-economic and think tank group, Aka Ikenga, as the "Enabler of Ndi-Igbo Vision, Strength, and Resilience," Okonkwo highlighted the prevalent pull-him-down syndrome within the Igbo in present day.
While welcoming healthy competition, Okonkwo observed that there is so much antagonism among the people, which should be discouraged.
He expressed concern about internal attacks on Igbo businesses, citing alleged social media campaigns aimed at discrediting Allen Onyema's Air Peace Airline.
According to him, the problem is no longer what outsiders are doing to Igbo, but what Igbo people are doing to each other.
Okonkwo said: "The bulk of the problems Igbo face lie within the Igbo themselves, with the prevalence of hate and a lack of collaboration."
"The spate of hate is too much among many Igbo brothers and sisters, who, instead of collaborating, see themselves as competitors and strive to pull others down rather than working together and showing solidarity."
"It is most discouraging that many of the perceived attacks and antagonism often come from within, from fellow Igbo whose only interest and aim is to pull another down."
"People now go to the Internet, generate stereotypes, and present them as truth, and people believe these narratives."
"A recent example is when a man went to the Air Peace portal and compared a business class ticket to the Southeast with an economy class ticket to a state in the North without considering the difference in pricing for each class. Instead, he started hurling insults and attacks at Air Peace. That's plain wickedness and ignorance.
"When I entered the industry, there were people who thought I would fight and compete with my brother Allen Onyema. "Perhaps they believed Igbo were always antagonistic towards each other, thinking I would be a better weapon for them to attack Air Peace.
"However, when I got in, they saw the opposite. Instead of fighting and competing, we decided to collaborate and work together; this has made us the target of the industry."
"Ndị Igbo should learn to work together, collaborate, and support each other, as such remains the only way to fend off any external attacks aimed at Igbo businesses and ndị Igbo across all sectors."
"We are known for our resilience, strength, and ability to succeed amidst challenges.
If we manage to overcome the 'pull him down' syndrome that has now pervaded our people, external attacks would be nothing,"
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