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Chess master Tunde Onakoya has rejected the assertion that his philanthropic efforts are skewed in favor of the Yoruba ethnic group.
The accusation originated from an X user, @mediavdm, who claimed, “I’ve never seen this guy help anyone outside the Yoruba tribe.” Unhappy with this claim, Onakoya responded metaphorically while also acknowledging the user's “ignorance.”
He illustrated his point by saying, “If you place 100 black ants and 100 red ants in a jar, nothing occurs. But if you shake the jar, the ants begin to fight each other. Each red ant perceives the black ant as an enemy, while the real foe is the one who shook the jar.”
Nonetheless, Onakoya’s response was not well-received by many who believed he failed to adequately address the claim made by the X user.
This prompted Onakoya to release a statement outlining some of his philanthropic initiatives that have benefited individuals from outside the Yoruba community.
He stated, “I have nothing to prove to anyone, but for the sake of posterity, I feel obligated to clarify this. I’ve always tried to ‘stick to chess’ on Twitter, not out of fear, but out of respect for the vital work we perform.
Our mission revolves around children and giving them a fair chance to be recognized in a world that often overlooks them. It would be exceedingly selfish to let my personal views or politics tarnish this significant cause.
“I now express concern. I worry that we are becoming increasingly divided as a society, consumed by mistrust and tribal divisions, causing us to lose sight of what is truly important. If we persist on this path of animosity, the ones who will suffer most are those we profess to care for, our children.
“It is utterly false and profoundly unfair to claim that I favor any particular tribe or ethnic group. Throughout my life, this notion has never crossed my mind. I have visited IDP camps in Maiduguri and Yola, and held the hands of children in Bayelsa, Cross River, and Delta, among others. We have initiated educational projects across every region in Nigeria and now in over 20 countries throughout Africa.
“In all my journeys, I have not encountered tribe or religion, but talent, potential, pain, and profound suffering.
“It has become my life’s mission to advocate for these children and to be a voice urging the world to be less indifferent to their hardships. That should be our collective purpose: to unite, not as Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, or Ijaw, but as Nigerians. As humans.
“If we allow those who shake the jar to incite conflict between us, we will fail the children and leave a legacy of animosity. That would be an unbearable tragedy.
“I am proudly Nigerian, and I dedicate my life to helping every child, regardless of their origin, find their place in this world.
“For in the end, the true measure of a nation is how fiercely it advocates for children it did not give birth to, but chose to love unconditionally.”
