In Yoruba culture, being called an “Omo Ale” is one of the worst insults imaginable. It doesn’t just mean “bastard” in a biological sense — it’s a moral judgment. An Omo Ale is someone who has betrayed the values of honesty, integrity, and communal responsibility. On the other hand, an “Omo Oluaba” represents the ideal — a person of noble character who stands for what is right, even when it’s difficult.
But in today’s Nigeria, these words have found their way into political conversations. Some people, especially supporters of President Bola Tinubu, use the term Omo Ale to describe anyone who dares to criticize the government. It’s a tactic to silence dissent. But let’s pause for a moment — who are the real Omo Ales in our society?
Loyalty or blind devotion?
Being loyal to a leader is not inherently bad. After all, loyalty can mean standing by someone through thick and thin. But what happens when that loyalty demands turning a blind eye to wrongdoing?
Supporters of Tinubu have often justified policies that have left ordinary Nigerians struggling. Take the fuel subsidy removal, for example. While it was promoted as a necessary reform, the immediate impact was devastating. Transportation costs doubled. Food prices soared. Families who were already living on the edge found themselves pushed further into poverty. And yet, rather than acknowledging the suffering, many of Tinubu’s supporters dismissed it as “the cost of progress.”
But isn’t it the duty of true patriots — the real Omo Oluabas — to question decisions that harm the people? Blindly supporting policies that worsen the lives of ordinary citizens isn’t an act of loyalty; it’s complicity.
When silence speaks volumes
Injustice doesn’t always come with a loud bang. Sometimes, it seeps in through the cracks of silence. During the last election, allegations of voter suppression, intimidation, and electoral manipulation surfaced. Videos circulated of ballot boxes being destroyed, and reports of violence were hard to ignore. But instead of outrage, many supporters chose to look the other way.
Is it honorable to ignore injustice just because it benefits your preferred candidate? Real Omo Oluabas would have demanded transparency and fairness, regardless of who won. True character is revealed when we stand up for what is right, even if it challenges our political beliefs.
Economic hardship and excuses
Nigeria’s economy is in turmoil. According to recent reports, over 133 million Nigerians are living in poverty. The gap between the rich and the poor has never been wider. Yet, Tinubu’s supporters often respond with phrases like “It takes time to fix things” or “We need to endure for the greater good.”
Endurance is one thing, but how much suffering can a nation endure before accountability is demanded? An Omo Oluaba would ask tough questions. Why are ordinary Nigerians bearing the brunt of economic hardship while politicians continue to live lavishly? Why are government contracts awarded without transparency? Why are billions unaccounted for?
Supporting a government doesn’t mean giving it a free pass. Real loyalty is about demanding better because you believe your country deserves it.
Reclaiming what it means to be an ‘Omo Oluaba’
It’s time we rethink what it means to be an Omo Oluaba. It’s not about defending a politician at all costs. It’s about standing for justice, fairness, and the collective good. It’s about speaking up when policies harm the vulnerable. It’s about asking questions and holding leaders accountable — because that’s what true patriots do.
The real Omo Ales are not the people who criticize the government out of concern for their country. They are those who prioritize loyalty to individuals over loyalty to the truth. They are the ones who weaponize insults to silence valid concerns.
But Nigeria doesn’t need more Omo Ales. Nigeria needs Omo Oluabas — people brave enough to stand on the side of justice, even when it’s unpopular. Because in the end, our country’s progress depends on those who have the courage to say, “Enough is enough.”
In one of the writeups of such people that have pushed quality and good culture of an Omoluabi to the pit of forget, they misplaced reality for fairness when they tried to portray Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour as an Omo Ale or Igbo in his own father land as against the truth of what he stands for – an Omoluabi. It comes quickly to mind, how do you call a blood of the soil, call it son of the soil, whose family background donated land that formed part of the erection of popular Lagos City Hall an Omo Ale simply to justify that nobody among the indigenes dares your atohunrinwa (strange) idol that has overlorded himself on the rightful owners of Lagos State for over 25 years now?
Get the fact right and be free.
