NIGERIA@47

The president of the International Students Association-Ghana, a body of foreign students comprising mainly of Nigerians students has confirmed his colleagues’ willingness and desire to end all perceived hostilities with their host students.

Talabi Babayide Chukwufunaya of the University of Ghana told the dailyEXPRESS in a special commemorative interview that he hopes the situation could be much better between the two groups than it current is.

“There is a level of tension between Nigeria students and that of Ghanaians. Like they think we are pompous, want to flex because we have money, you know,” the final year geography student said.

According to him, most Nigerian students and their Ghanaian counterparts have crossed paths purely based on the grounds of suspicions that they (Nigerians) want to take away their girlfriends or just want to be seen as being very tough.

He however said this tension sometimes comes from a certain level of frustration that are experienced by most of the Nigerian students on one hand which is unusually capitalized on by most of the Ghanaian students who are just interested in looking out for opportunities to create conflict.

Mr. Chukwufunaya said most of his friends from Nigeria face a lot of segregation when they come simply because of the stories of occult practices that are normally associated with them.

Though he confirmed that the practice exists in Nigeria and is sometimes highlighted in Nollywood movies, he thinks the extent of the practice has been exaggerated.

“Most of these occult groups are formed purely on State bases. For example you could have a cult for the Ibo people in the University. It does not mean that they are there to create mischief but are just protecting their fellow tribes’ men,” he explained. Mr. Chukwufunaya however attributed the situation to the breakdown of societal values and systems in Nigeria. Society, for him, has failed to check some of these excesses in the past and is now coming to terms with the difficulties that appear to be consuming them.

According to him, it is so unfair that anytime a misunderstanding happens between Nigerian students and their Ghanaian colleagues, only one side is highlighted therefore demonising them.

He however hopes those in authority would be much more circumspect when speaking about future occurrences of conflicts that happen between Nigerian and Ghanaian students.

On the Nigerian independence anniversary, he believes that there is so much for the people of Nigeria both home and abroad to be proud of.

“It is a cause to celebrate, it’s not just independence and we had a change of government and Nigerians are enthusiastic because we look at it as something very positive and are expecting a lot of changes next year,” he said with a smile.

He said though Nigeria as a country has not really achieved much in terms of economic independence despite the huge oil riches, it’s important they commemorate the day since it will help them capitalize on what he called positive vibes in order to make amends in the subsequent years to come.

Mr. Chukwufunaya also said because of the bad image his country has in terms of internet fraud commonly called 419, most people see all of them as the same, and therefore, carry a very deep and negative perception about them which does not necessarily help their image in anyway.

He was of the opinion that Nigerians should be individually judged purely on the basis of their character and not on the mere suspicion that all of them are bad people.

On Nigerians and their strong linings to their ethnic identity he said most Nigerians are more ready to mention their ethnicity first and later the country Nigeria.

He said “ethnicity is much more important to Nigerians than their nationality.”

When the dailyEXPRESS enquired about his personal views about President Umar Musa Yar’ dua, he simply said, “I don’t trust him but I know he is a good man because he is the only governor who left office with so much money in the state coffers. He did so much to help improve the lives of his people.”