Elliott Ugochukwu-Uko
All through history, all over the universe, pride and arrogance has done so much damage to societies and communities as leaders filled with hubris crashed whole empires out of a bloated ego and enlarged cockiness. But fear and low self esteem has produced endless stream of Quislings time and again.
At the end of the war in 1970, a new leadership class emerged in Igboland, new strange values became acceptable and the devastation and penury occasioned by the war excused some of these strange behaviour adopted by Igbo elite to survive the immediate aftermath of the carnage. People did quite undignified things just to get by.
The victors of that war, suddenly became the new masters and everybody struggled to escape poverty and to belong by all means.
Before the war, Igbo elite club looked up to Nnamdi Azikiwe, Akanu Ibiam and Michael Okpara etc, the contractor class hustled up to Okechukwu Ikejiani and other influential NCNC leaders for jobs and empowerment. The tripod balance assured Ndigbo of relevance and they held their heads and shoulders high.
They knew they were a strong and viable part of Nigeria.
Even though Tafawa Balewa was prime minister, they knew that Zik as President was very visible in that arrangement.
Everything changed in 1970. Thirty months of relentless aerial bombardment, total blockade and brutal military onslaught, totally destroyed their land, their will and their spirit, the only Igbo person, essentially free from shock and trauma, were those too young to understand what really happened.
That traumatised generation of Ndigbo, excused and tolerated certain undignified behaviour exhibited by the traumatized Igbo elite in order to survive and even gradually accepted unconsciously, these dishonourable new habits and culture, which slowly transformed into the Igbo new way of life.
The once powerful NCNC leaders who swayed around in their colourful ankara agbada and their impressive, Chevrolet, Opel Capitan, Ford Zephyr, Oldsmobile and Mercedes Benz cars, were now themselves almost destitute.
The new kids on the block were, young military officers mostly of northern extraction, in their heavily starched and well ironed green khaki uniforms, prancing about in their official Peugeot cars and impressive landrover escort vehicles. Power has truly changed hands.
To get by, everyone struggled to kiss up to them or at least court their friendship. Thus began a new culture of dishonouring oneself, values and dignity in pursuit of pecuniary gain. A new era is born. All that seemed to matter, was survival and then progress. Honour, integrity, dignity and time tested values of righteousness, honesty, self respect and group interest, were all slaughtered and thrown into the toilet for cash and favours of all kinds from the new owners and masters of Naija.
From running errands for the victors to “lending” them your sister, even daughter, our people began to debase themselves by adopting strange new habits of boot licking and all sorts of undignifiying activities, just to “make it”.
Connection and friendship with Colonel, Brigadier or General, or Alhaji so so and so, opens doors to affluence and success. Our values changed overnight.
Our people unwittingly began to compete against each other over who will suck up most to the new overlords and become their points man in Igboland, that new post civil war culture of subservience and struggling to become the most appreciated and most useful vassal of the new masters, defined the new Igbo political culture that brought us where we are today.
Our people put their hustle and search for political friends from the region now in charge of Naija, into overdrive.
From attempting to purchase snuff from the fringes of the market entrance, our people suddenly found themselves drifting deep inside the market of iniquity, and almost lost in it. Sad.
They not only forgot that it may be difficult to regain their honour, but they also didn’t know when to apply the breaks. Painful as this development is, denial cannot change the truth.
In a nutshell, post civil war Ndigbo, desperate to get on in Nigeria, unconsciously sacrificed their honour and dignity as a people for a plate of porridge. They were in a hurry to recover from the civil war losses, that they were too willing and ever ready to sacrifice group interest for personal advancement. Individuals did well for themselves whereas collective or group interest suffered.
Next to develop, was the concept of imposed leadership. As is common with man, the new masters of Naija began encouraging carpet baggery and empowerment of loyal minions and suddenly everyone wants to become their most loyal minion.
Key to leadership in my region, sadly became, how many powerful Northerners endorsed you and assured you they are behind you. If you are IBB or OBJ’s anointed favourite, not wether you are defending and promoting Igbo interests.
With time, the political class across board, unconsciously accepted the seeming hopelessness of the Igbo nation and the obvious weakness of Igbo clout in the Nigerian political firmament. Ndigbo slowly emerged the most irrelevant power block in Naija. Sad but true.
Again, the political class that emerged over time, owed their relevance to the new masters of Naija, who assisted their rise to prominence one way or another.
For instance whereas Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu had his big break in his career when another Igbo, Aguiyi Ironsi appointed him Military Governor, almost every other Igbo leader, was actually appointed into political office by a northerner, who seized power through coup detat, making it very difficult, if not impossible for them to completely sever loyalty to the appointing authority that gave them their big break. It is not in the nature of man to disrespect and revolt against his master. Therein lies one of the real challenges hanging over the Igbo political class.
Now to the very big issue of the trauma of defeat.
Political leadership of Igboland and the elders and in fact, the entire elite club, for some very strange reason, choose to distance themselves from any and every new idea that seems to challenge the status quo. They run away to safety and avoid being dragged into the issue, regardless of the righteousness or otherwise of the cause.
They make it a point of duty to reemphasize their love for one Nigeria at the slightest opportunity, as if to prove their nationalism.
They seek for validation and approval from other Nigerians and struggle to go extra mile to prove their loyalty to the Nigerian state even when not necessary. They also as a matter of fact, look down on and avoid any one with contrary views about the Igbo question within the Nigerian project.
The after-effects of the civil war defeat trauma can be seen in the hangover of the negative impact of the defeat of 1970, the lingering fears in their souls and the attendant low self esteem that inhibits their ability to gather enough momentum and build potent synergy that would advance their group interest in Nigeria.
Accordingly, they find it difficult to appreciate the anger and disappointment of the younger generation with the Nigerian situation, not only have they become used to the Nigerian situation, they have come to accept their lot, found a way around it and have unconsciously conditioned their minds, to accept the situation.
They take solace in the fact that they, through dint of hardwork, are not the poorest of Nigerians. They also struggle to give their kids good education. They console themselves that the oppressor in Nigeria, unwittingly impoverished his own region through bad policies, misgovernance and cultural contradictions.
So he shrugs his shoulders and says to himself “we are certainly not the worse off”. He is uncomfortable anytime the tables are shaken. He appreciates peacetime because he knows wartime. He knows the injustices are real, but he prefers nonviolent methods. He is uncomfortable when the youngsters rock the boat. He finds it difficult to truly appreciate the frustrations and fears of the younger generation and their unwillingness to accept permanent second class status in Nigeria.
The hangover of trauma of defeat, the preference to continue managing the disrespect and mistreatment from Nigeria and the inability to appreciate their children’s impatience and frustrations, completes the big gulf between the Igbo younger generation and the leadership cadre.
The unwillingness to appreciate the truth of the situation and the desperation to please certain powers, drives some of them to shut their ears to reason, even as they unwittingly march on to historically replicate the infamy of Vidkun Quisling.
There has always been a very thin line between over zealous nationalism and emergence as a collaborator against your own people, especially when leaders are scared to present and defend the truth in the face of grave injustices. Leaders should be wary of the verdict of history. Those who have ears, let them hear.
After 51 long years, the trauma of defeat of 1970, shouldn’t be a factor anymore. All Nigerians should be equal.
Our leaders should quickly get over the hangover of the trauma of defeat and fight for the welfare and future of their children. That certainly is the only route to peace and harmony.
To be CONTINUED.
