Elliott Ugochukwu-Uko
Let truth be told, no Igbo leader, dead or alive has a deeper understanding and insight on/about the Igbo question within the larger Nigerian question, and no leader appreciated the reality of the anger of the Igbo younger generation better than Dim Chukwuemeka Odimegwu-Ojukwu.
He projected with near certainty the agitation and the reaction or response of the central Government. Almost everything he prophesied, has come to pass.
He guessed that it would take Aso rock years, to fully understand the strength, inspiration and template of the agitation. He pointedly repeated over and over, the unwillingness and reluctance of the colonial master and the owners of Nigeria, to face reality: That the conspiratorial persecution of the Igbo race would inevitably offend the younger Igbo generation, who in turn, would resist and reject the post civil war oppression of Ndigbo, until something gives.
Ojukwu didn’t say how it would end. But he knew that the upcoming generations of Ndigbo, would never accept permanent second class citizenship, deliberately designed for Ndigbo by the coalition which feared Igbo resurgence.
Dim Odimegwu-Ojukwu worried about the need to monitor and closely relate with the agitators, to avoid untidy and unpleasant situations.
Accordingly, he met with Ralph every other Sunday, at his Enugu residence, in order to keep a tab on his plans, strategy and activities.
The other truly great statesman, who also genuinely worried about the agitators and their style and purpose, was Dr Alex Ekwueme.
Dr Alex Ekwueme repeatedly spoke directly with all the agitators and succinctly explained to them, the dangers and futility of violence of any sort.
He specifically asked me to bring all the leaders and leadership of every secessionist group in the East to him for an honest talking to, every now and then.
Aside these two great men, I am afraid to state here, that all the other political leaders in the East, fall in to four broad categories.
The categories are:
A: Experienced, respected and committed elders, who like the two great men earlier mentioned, understood that the agitation was bound to happen and that the agitators should be guided and engaged. Incidentally, they chose not to invest their time and resources in going out of their way to work with the agitators towards avoiding the wrong path. They related with them, only when the need arose. They meant well, but didn’t see the problem as their problem, as Ojukwu and Ekwueme did.
Dr Ebitu Ukiwe, Sen.Uche Chukwumerije, Chief C C Onoh, Dr. Sam Mbakwe, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Dr Dozie Ikedife, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, Justce Eze Ozobu, Admiral Godwin Ndubuisi Kanu, Col Joe Achuzia, Prof Ben Nwabueze, Professor Vincent Chukwuemeka Ike, Chief Simon Okeke, Prof Ben Obumselu, Chief Ralph Uwechue and a few others fall into this category.
B: The second category, opposed the agitators. Didn’t want to have anything whatsoever to do with them. Didn’t want to be seen with them. Believed they were unnecessary irritants who should be crushed or completely isolated. It would be improper to mention their names. They know themselves. They also know that I have argued, quarrelled and disagreed with them. This group simply do not understand that the agitation was inevitable.
C: There is a third group. This group are enemies of every thing good. They survive on security vote. They sniff for information that would endear them to the security and intelligence community. Some of them are elders, some are in the midlife age, some are ex this, ex that. They don’t believe in anything. They see everything as opportunity to make money and please the owners of Nigeria in the bargain. They pretend they care, whereas all they desire is to place themselves as Igbo leaders and deceive the public and the government. For them, the agitation is a business opportunity. They are noisy, attend every meeting, attend court sessions, issue press statements and grant interviews, all in the name of posturing as committed leaders. They actually deceive the naive and the gullible.
D: The fourth and final group, are politicians, whose only interest is how to use the agitators to advance their political interests. This group pretend they are friends of the agitators, whereas they fully carry out their shenanigans with the permission of the security agencies, who they inform before hand. This group of politicians only want to give the impression that they have influence over the agitators and increase their political value and worth. They are ever willing to pay good money in order to use the agitators to win elections. They fall over themselves courting the lawyers of the agitators and love to be seen as sympathisers of the agitation. They tell me frightening things privately. Deep down in their hearts, they resent and despise the agitators. Out of fear, they struggle to identify with the agitators in order to protect themselves. Their relevance is the cash they pay when they need favours or support from the agitators.
I had to go to this length, so the public would understand when I say: No Igbo politician has shown interest in resolving the agitation. No, not one.
The Governors on the other hand are hamstrung by the unpleasant reality of the Igbo condition in the post civil war Nigeria. They are also at the receiving end of the anger of the oppressed masses of Ndigbo. They are not also spared from caustic criticism of activists like my humble self. The agitators also attack and disrespect them. They seem to place their political survival over every other consideration. The political reality demands they tread very cautiously.
When you juxtapose these hard facts with the sad reality that the determined effort to deny Ndigbo a seaport, critical infrastructure and political leeway that could make Ndigbo “uncontrollable” and strong enough to lead the West African sub region, influences the refusal to engage the agitators, then you may easily understand why the agitators have been consistently ignored.
TO ENGAGE AND DIALOGUE WITH THE AGITATORS , WOULD MEAN ADDRESSING THE OBVIOUS INJUSTICE AGAINST THE REGION. ADDRESSING THE INJUSTICES AGAINST NDIGBO WOULD MAKE THEM STRONGER AND UNCONTROLLABLE.
The undiscussed agreement to hold Ndigbo down in perpetuity, inspired the decision never to engage the agitators. Engaging them will lead to healing the land and opening the door to Igbo ascendancy, something nobody wants.
This background information is important, so we can understand why the agitation is continuing unabated.
In future posts, I will outline some of the underlying factors, why nobody is interested in closure of the agitation from amongst the political class.
The right thing to do, is to address the cause and causes of the agitation. Have you wondered why none of our leaders seem interested in that?
Aside Ojukwu and Ekwueme, no Igbo leader is genuinely interested in resolving the issues that inspired the agitation, nor genuinely guide and advice the agitators.
I know very dirty, self serving, deals, the politicos need the agitators for. Sad, but true.
I advise our leaders to work towards resolving the issues. The situation demands sincerity of purpose now.
TO BE CONTINUED.
