What Happened When I Was To Get Married & Was Searching For House To Rent, Osinbajo Reveals
I was looking for a good house to rent in 1989 because I was getting married soon.
I met my landlord, a seasoned attorney who clearly focused more on real estate than legal work.
He let me know that there were 3 categories of people he would not rent the property in his care to – Ijebus, Igbos and Lawyers.
I was disqualified on two accounts.
He then said to me, pointing behind him in a few shrivelled-up books on a small bookshelf, that he had the arsenal to destroy any tenant in court if I gave him any trouble.
He later, to his embarrassment, discovered that I was a Law teacher and adviser to the then Attorney General of the Federation and that of course, I am also Ijebu.
I share this to illustrate the point that prejudice and bias are natural aspects of human nature. Everyone has prejudices and preferences that are reinforced by stories and narratives.
Can you imagine? Why the Igbos? That means he’s not a good landlord because he knows that the Igbos don’t take rubbish, the can’t be intimidated.