By A. NDUKWE
Just when you think those who sold their brothers and shared their shoes and clothes amongst themselves should now rest on their soulless acquisition, it appears that no end is in sight for the next big investment using the futures of others without a whimper of emotions.
It’s been over half a century, and Ndi-Igbo have lost the strides of developmental tempo for their God-given place on earth.
They are supposed to hold the torchlight for their kind in Africa and the rest of the world’s humanity. The stymied progress is the loss of every well-meaning African, not just Igbos or Nigerians. Yet, we see the powers and the forces at play, using a people against the others, especially against Ndi-Igbo in particular.
It’s never an overstatement or unnecessary patronage to remind ourselves that as a people, we possess an indomitable spirit, and yet, a heart of kindness and good consciences towards others. We were never the antagonists of any sort but wouldn’t retreat when visited with challenges or the threats for our freedom.
It would be necessary to remind the Ohanaeze patronage and membership worldwide, including those that are in the habit of making tools out of Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo, that at the end of the civil war, and the combined losses it epitomised, it resulted in the idea for the founding of this great and noble organisation.
It was a thoughtful, calculated, and perhaps a strategic exercise to reconvene the people, their ingenuity, and resources towards a focused and sustainable future and developmental objectives.
At the time of its inauguration by Prof Ben Nwabueze, Dr Akanu Ibiam, and Dr Michael Okpara, no politicians in power were involved or invited as participants.
Our famous Ukpabi Asika, the one who sided the insurrection against his people and became imposed as an administrator, was never invited to the inauguration. All through the period of great anguish and suffering of Ndi-Igbo in post-war Igboland, we heard nothing from the administrator about the devastation and deprivation. Rather, it was a case of “Onye ubė rùrù, yà rachàà”. Something that seems to be re-emerging.
Perhaps, that ghostly shameless opportunism has not been completely exorcised from Igbo leadership mentality, which in some places in Igboland, is still playing out with the ravages of our communities, and the futures of our young generations very much at stake.
Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo was meant to speak for Ndi-Igbo. Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo was meant to be completely apolitical and free of any political influences. Ohanaeze was meant to follow a developmental pattern with accountability of leadership and service at the roots. Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo was meant to hold Nigeria accountable. Ohanaeze under a pan cultural and traditional platform was and still remains the only respectable institution that must demand for the rights of Igbos to be respected and recognised.
Remember, the founders were men who sacrificed their lives to ensure progress and development. These men were not truly politicians, but when they did, they played politics with body and soul. They were never mentioned in the annals of corruption and self-aggrandisement. These men had conviction and moral rectitude. They lived beyond reproach. Some died without any wealth or money stashed away for their offspring, only good names and happy memories! That’s why we remember them with gratitude and nostalgia.
Today, unfortunately, Ohanaeze remains the only institution in Igboland for galvanising Igbo Communities wherever you may come from, and as a result, the bats have come to nest as well in the corners of the leadership processes.
Politicians now see Ohanaeze as a tool or weapon, once captured, can be misapplied for self-political exigency, only to be used and dumped whenever it’s convenient. Even those with no iota of patriotism for Igboland or Igbo interest are pontificating on who should be at the helm of this organisation.
It’s easy to see, that Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo as an institution is seriously under pressure, with individuals who see the position of President General as a bride to be wooed and courted by desperate politicians for bigger business opportunities.
Let’s be reminded that Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo is the last remaining Igbocentric public institution upon which our destiny and survival may be debated and challenged, formed, or projected. We have seen retired and selfish politicians with no Igbo interests or vision, clamouring for attention, and opportunity to be Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo President General.
We notice the obvious apartheid against Igbo sons and daughters with open disdain, in a country of their birth, their fathers, and their forefathers. Yet, just one or so brave Igbo politician is making the case, like the biblical John the Baptist, speaking up or challenging the status quo. The rest are pleased, happy for their positions, and that of their paymasters.
Think about the press coverage of Bola Tinubu as President, who secretly sponsors the unknown gunmen in Igboland, the continuing policy of the incarceration of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu in defiance of High Court orders, which started under Gen Buhari, and continues to disregard the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which exonerated Kanu from detention.
Think about the subjugation of Igbo interests, where over 250 million people, due to self-sabotaging political guises, are forced to accept Lagos as the only operating seaport for the entire Nigerian economy. This plan remains against Ndi-Igbo and a miscalculated plan to limit Igboland development and its people.
Think about the one mile militarisation of Igboland, where every kilometre is a battlement of checkpoints, more than the entire checkpoints for the external borders of corporate Nigeria combined. Every untrained, corrupt, and extortionate military and paramilitary officer wants to be posted to Eastern Nigeria. These forces see the checkpoints as sources for quick bucks, harassing, intimidating, bullying, assaulting, raping, supporting local criminals, and dehumanising indigenes of Igboland half a century after a civil war.
As the list goes on, no current or immediate past Ohanaeze stalwart or juxtaposed governors are making the case for any form of changes or reversal of the obnoxious and discordant laws that are only applicable to Igboland and not the entire Nigeria.
Is it not time, as they say, to check the hands of the baboon before it’s mistaken for the hand of a human?
Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo leadership succession and module should become our symbol of democracy and education to the rest of Nigeria and the world. Igbos are one of the world’s oldest democracies. Candidates should be allowed to present themselves formally with manifestos and their resume. They should meet Igbo parliaments at home and abroad for consultation and interrogations. Votes should be taken from every Igbo man or woman and must never become the symbol of our loss of faith as currently being tainted..
Ohanaeze President General should not be the prerogatives of Governors and their crisis of identities or their double standards. We’re all witnesses to the episode where one Nyesom Wike, then a Governor himself, bought the loyalties of all South Eastern Governors and switched their votes against Peter Obi’s candidacy, a candidate with the best qualifications and vision. What a travesty! These are perhaps the same leaders lined up to select our next president general for Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Worldwide.
If indeed Igbos are interested or conscious of their future and salvation, the time has come to detach Ohanaeze from the influence and reach of the Eastern Governors and their external handlers. We cannot continue to ask Python to count the chickens.
Ohanaeze must remain the last hope for our salvation as a people!
**A. NDUKWE is member, Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo UK/IRELAND
