Elliott Ugochukwu-Uko
The straight jacket format of governance (absolute control from the centre) the military imposed on the country’s psyche, over many years, and unconsciously transferred and continued even through civilian administrations, especially as forced on the population by the very strong presidency of Obasanjo and Buhari, established a culture of silence and indolence, that defines this period of our nation’s history.
The fact that the elite club and the business community, especially, the contractor-class, survive and thrive from government patronage makes it difficult for the population to demand any kind of change from government through any means whatsoever. Every body is scared of offending the leadership. Every patronage flow from the seat of power.
Only the younger generation seem immune from this virus of acute fear of the state, even when the state is heading the wrong way (as demonstrated by last year’s END SARS protests).
The class-divide, ethnic and religious differences, fear of reprisals from government, all help who ever is in power, intimidate, subdue and silence the nation.
No matter how insane his style of governance is, he will always find brilliant educated geniuses falling over themselves to guide, defend and promote his government, all for all kinds of favour (as seen with Abacha’s regime).
Voices of reason are usually seen as fools risking their lives for nothing.
Nobody is sure Prof Ayodele Awojobi, Chief Gani Fawehinmi, Chief S M A Akah, Dr Nnanna Ukaegbu, Dr Tai Solarin, etc, made any positive impact on the sociopolitical life of the nation, through their tireless protests and patriotic interventions.
Prof Wole Soyinka, Bishop Hassan Kukah, Col Abubakar Dangiwa Umar, Dr Obadiah Mailafiah etc, are looked at with amazement, by a “smart” indolent and silent society, that secretly desires to see a working, progressive and united country, but aren’t willing to take the “stupid risk” of raising their voices ever, for fear of being noted, identified, profiled and probably monitored by government agencies.
Moreover government itself perfected intimidation through agencies such as EFCC, ICPC etc.
Therefore every one actually looks for a way of assisting the government in holding down the population, while making a buck or two discreetly, as they sustain the anomaly in the land due to pecuniary considerations. That seems the sensible thing to do, they reason.
Activism is a vocation for certified fools, it seems.
In that connection, even admin of notable and large WhatsApp groups, quietly add security agents to monitor every post.
Those who are aware or just apprehensive, suddenly become sensible enough, to post nothing and only read silently.
The country is pacified, even as the same complicit elite, hypocritically complain over glasses of brandy, in sports clubs, polo and golf courses, how the country is sinking. A nation of pretenders.
This hopeless state of affairs, more than any thing else, inspired and sustains the total lack of faith in the country, which drive the agitation.
These factors include, their disrespect for and distrust towards the leaders.
This rarely openly discussed truth, makes it difficult to convince the younger generation that the leaders truly care about them.
No region examples the split society, a broken community, deep gulf of divide between the masses and the leadership, more than the South East. Nobody cares to study the situation dispassionately. Sad.
Here are some of the reasons the agitation still thrives.
1 The Igbo society, for centuries, thrive on egalitarian, democratic and information-driven template. A society where anyone can become anything through hardwork and exemplary gifts and talents. No individual or family would remain the poorest forever, no individual or family would remain the greatest forever. Every member hopes and actually steadily works towards improving their lives and positively transforming their lot. They don’t understand the culture of remaining stagnant and forever worshiping another family as your Lords and masters.
2 The Igbo worldview of “are you feeding me?”, dwell on respect for others and equal treatment of all. It underscores the Igbo man’s love for respect and liberty. He has never been subdued to the point of living his entire life as serfs, obedient slave of someone else or loyal subject of another individual, clan, or race, simply expected to obey the sultan or emir always, without question or argument.
3 Igboland has been administered through the Greek model Ama ala democracy, for centuries, where decisions are taken by the people at a gathering at the village square. The town crier summons all adult males, and indicates the subject matter, as he transverses the entire community sounding the ekwe or ogene. Decisions reached after intense debate is considered binding on all.
4 The Igbo believe they were treated badly for no other reason than envy and jealousy of their God-given talents and gifts. They weren’t informed of and therefore unaware of Majors Nzeogwu, Ifeajuna, Ademoyega and co’s decision to topple the first republic government.
They paid a disproportionate price for a coup they knew absolutely nothing about.
Thousands were slaughtered during the well choreographed despicable pogrom that led to secession, they perished in their millions from a heartless total blockade, starvation and ruthless bombardment during the war proper.
Not only was there no genuine willingness to rebuild destroyed infrastructure in Igbo land, but even their legitimately earned resources were also wickedly seized and 20 pounds handed them at the same time government loans were granted other Nigerians to enable them purchase privatised and nationalised companies in Nigeria. A deliberate policy to enrich and empower everyone else, whilst disempowering and impoverishing Ndigbo.
5 They survived on rodents, raw cassava leaves and wild tubbers, as super powers supervised the demolition of Igboland in exchange for crude oil concessions. They realized who their friends are and who their adversaries are. They also noted the silence of the world, at the indefensible oppression and marginalisation visited on them since 29th July 1966, when General Ironsi was killed in Ibadan till date. They know they are in trouble.
6 The younger generation Ndigbo, haven established the obvious fact, that the oppressor is unwilling to enthrone equity and fairness through restructuring the polity, by devolving powers and practicing true federalism, read the hand writing on the wall, that his children will only be made to go through the same hell, he is made to face today, if nothing is done, to enthrone equity and justice in the land, decided to push for a better world for their children. He is just not willing to bequeath his forcefully-imposed second class status to his progeny. That is the truth.
7 The reluctance of the state to reconstruct the polity, check nepotism and sleaze, contain impunity and insecurity, improve the economy and inspire hope, all points to the self evident reality: That the country seems to be programmed on a dangerous journey of self destruction, influenced by a large dose of hubris, poor leadership and and the celebration of sectionalism. Suspicions of a hidden land grabbing agenda, isn’t helping the land. That matters are made worse by the silence and complicity of a self serving elite class, who pretend that all is well, in order to avoid embarrassment by massaging the ego of the rulers.
8 Finally, every body knows that the wobbly unitary structure, the poor economy and the sharp division in the land, can only be healed by a sincere, genuine effort at national reconciliation, reconstruction of the polity and a truthful attempt at granting every section, a sense of belonging. Struggling to instill fear in the land and intimidating every one, only deepens the anger and despair raging in the land. This hopelessness inspired and sustains the agitation.
The ball really, is at the court of the leadership of the country.
The fact that we dutifully point out the errors in the style, format and language of the agitators, cannot vitiate the factors that created the agitation. Deliberate silence on the issues that inspired the agitation, whilst concentrating solely on disagreement with the methods the agitators deploy in expressing themselves, cannot resolve the matter.
The conservatives cannot silence the agitators.
The agitators do not respect nor trust the leaders.
The size, commitment, organisation, dedication and resources at the disposal of the agitators makes it absolutely unintelligent to continue to insist on not engaging the agitators.
The country cannot afford to continue on the strategy that has not resolved the agitation. The delay in engaging the agitators, does not make sense anymore.
There may be a cabal that is benefiting from the 22 year old strategy that has only grown and strengthened the agitation.
TO BE CONTINUED.
