“There are only two kinds of people: the decent and the indecent. And these two groups are to be found everywhere. They penetrate all societies,” declared Viktor Frankl. In Chinua Achebe’s words, “No tribe or group has a monopoly on virtue or vice. Goodness and evil are choices made by individuals, not traits inherited by communities.” These timeless perspectives remind us that the highest virtues of the human spirit are universal currencies, completely unburdened by the artificial borders of geography, ethnicity, or creed. Today, let’s reflect on the profound truth that goodness knows no tribe, challenging ourselves to dismantle the narrow prejudices that seek to divide our shared humanity.
Do you know that being good, kind, and fair to others is a foundational human quality that completely cuts across tribal, ethnic, and religious barriers? The dangerous implication of our current societal biases is that any attempt to paint certain tribes with a broad brush of evil while praising others as having a total monopoly of goodness is an absolute farce. The exercise of malice, criminality, or vice should in no way be made a tribal trait, nor should the manifestation of kindness, honesty, and empathy ever be tied exclusively to a specific ethnic heritage. Across the entire length and breadth of Nigeria, from the sweeping savannahs of the north to the coastal deltas of the south, there are countless people with an abundance of goodness to give, individuals who eagerly showcase their benevolence without minding the tribal background or religious affiliation of the beneficiary. We must resolutely fight against any regressive tendency to tribalise either evil or goodness, recognising that character is an individual choice rather than a communal defect or birthright. As Wole Soyinka noted, “A good heart belongs to no single culture; it is an asset to all humanity.”
So, enhance your capacity to practice unconditional kindness by actively purging your mindset of tribal stereotypes and deliberately widening your circle of empathy. This requires us to stand as champions of blind justice and fair play, evaluating every individual we encounter solely by the content of his or her character, actions, and unique merits. We must consciously reject hateful narratives, call out divisive rhetoric within our social circles, and intentionally extend hands of fellowship, mentorship, and support to people outside our immediate cultural comfort zones. By transforming our daily interactions into a deliberate celebration of shared humanity, we build lasting bridges of unity, foster mutual respect, and create a highly inclusive society where a person’s warmth and integrity matter infinitely more than his or her dialect or place of origin. We must recognize, as Maya Angelou observed, that prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible. We need to raise the awareness that human beings are more alike than they are unalike, and the true measure of our growth, as Maya Angelou noted, is our ability to recognise the neighbour in the stranger.
As you step out each day, carry a deep commitment to being an ambassador of a grace that refuses to ask for a person’s ethnic identity before offering assistance. Let your daily deeds of compassion, fairness, and goodwill shine brightly as a reminder that virtue speaks a universal language everyone can easily comprehend. By completely refusing to tribalise goodness or weaponise our differences, you help weave a beautiful, unbreakable fabric of national unity and leave behind a legacy of authentic human connection.
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Esang Esitikot, a chemical engineer, is a professor of occupational health and safety. He is a public affairs analyst, UN Ambassador for Peace, and a pro bono lecturer at the Institute of Health, Safety, Security and Environment, University of Uyo. He can be contacted via 08035103559 (Whatsapp only) or email (esitikot@gmail.com).
