Elliott Ugochukwu-Uko
Exactly twenty years ago, Comrade Uche Chukwumerije called and asked why I returned to Prof Paul Modum, the sum of twenty thousand naira dropped at the IYM GRA Enugu office, for me, towards the preparations for the second Igbo Day celebrations of September 29 2001. Those who opposed the Igbo Day celebrations the previous year, now want it to hold every year, but on their own terms.
I politely explained to him that I didn’t think it was necessary for me to get involved with the arrangements and organisation of the Ohanaeze Igbo Day celebrations, because I had a pretty good idea of the mindset of the leadership and that I didn’t want to be sucked in to their ways. Prof Paul Modum, a perfect gentleman, had been made chairman of the youth mobilisation committee and I was appointed his deputy.
I informed Chukwumerije that I also returned the five thousand naira Ani Odunze gave my office for publicity, to Chief H.B.C Ogboko, telling him that I was travelling out of town and, therefore, may not be available. I didn’t think it was proper to confide in him that I didn’t want to ever touch Ohanaeze penny.
I didn’t share with Chukwumerije the full and real reasons I had earlier shared with Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu, Chief C.C. Onoh, Admiral Ndubisi Kanu and Dr Alex Ekwueme.
I told Dim Odimegwu Ojukwu and the others, that I had no reason to believe that the same clique who fervently opposed the Igbo Day celebrations a year ago, would suddenly fall in love with the idea and altruistically work towards using the event to impact positively on the Igbo younger generation as I had planned. I feared they had an entirely different agenda.
The elders understood, only Justice Eze Ozobu mounted some pressure that I played along with them. I refused to bulge. I knew that as a lone voice, I would be completely drowned. I was sure they didn’t have the faintest idea of the reasons that inspired my Igbo Day dream. I reasoned that bereft of the real reasons I dreamt and envisioned the Igbo Day celebration, that they would most certainly see it only as an opportunity to:
1 Impress Abuja that they are the great Igbo leaders that should be talked to and invited for whatever.
2 An opportunity to dress in red caps and give flowery speeches, grandstanding for photo ops.
3 Another opportunity to make a dime or two from the contributions for Igbo Day celebrations. That’s all.
Moreover none of them, in their characteristic manner, they never asked me the vision behind my conceptualisation of the Igbo Day celebrations, and what I hoped to use it to achieve.
As usual, they knew all things, and there was no need to hear from young Elliot Uko, who 12 months ago battled to establish the Igbo Day as an annual event, while they dutifully opposed it, just to please Aso rock.
And because they knew all things, exactly what song the twenty four elders were singing before the throne of God Almighty in heaven at this hour, the origin and source of the Bermuda triangle and even where the lost arm of Venus de Milo is at, there was no point inviting younger Elliot Uko to present his vision and goals for the Igbo Day celebrations. There was nothing under the sun that they did not know already.
So I didn’t want to be coopted and converted by these “great” leaders. I saw clearly that they didn’t know that I had wanted to use the Igbo Day celebrations and the seminars and workshops to:
1 Awaken the need to build confidence between the youths and the elders. A meeting point of ideas and ideals and a platform for mutual understanding in pursuit of a profitable and symbiotic relationship moving forward.
2 To grow, deepen, strengthen and expand Igbo language by organizing Igbo language competitions, for all categories of students, to be sponsored by corporate organisations, as highlights of the Igbo Day celebrations.
3 Articulate a carefully choreographed agenda of political consciousness that would strategically follow a five-year, ten-year, fifteen-year, twenty-year etc, carefully monitored programming towards an Igbo political agenda agreeable to all, over time.
4 To revitalize and rejuvenate Igbo cultural music, dance and traditions on the verge of extinction and save same.
5 To document ancient and contemporary Igbo history, especially Igbo journey inside the Nigerian project and have an authentic Igbo version of all our travails as a people.
6 To articulate an economic blueprint that would develop Igbo land and drive industrial revolution.
7 To serve as a platform where Igbo intelligentsia, eggheads, universities teachers, professionals and the ivory tower will meet with the businessmen to build synergy and harmonise our collective dreams for the future.
Events of the past twenty years, simply proved one hundred percent that I was right in my fears.
I watched in horror as 40 million Ndigbo were just satisfied gathering on September 29 every year in their colourful dresses, make beautiful speeches and disperse, congratulating themselves.
The cabal who hijacked my Igbo Day vision, perverted its agenda and true meaning, turned it into an infantile carnival and jamboree, devoid of any useful concrete meaning and achievements. A clear example of folks who were absent at a burial, attempting to exhume the corpse from the feet first. Sad.
One fellow in particular, operating from his two-room office along Ogui road, used the Igbo day celebrations to reward his mistresses, by adding them all to one committee or the other and paying out money to them in order to oil his relationship with them.
This sickening pattern remain the attitude of the elders to any idea from the unwanted younger generation. First, they hijack it, then pervert it and then turn around and blackmail you. Sad but true.
Little wonder they gradually created a deep gully between themselves and the younger generation, whilst constantly claiming sainthood and shifting all the blame to the younger generation. Since September 2001 that I turned and walked away in frustration due to the self serving attitude of the cabal that holds unto Ohanaeze as a meal ticket, events and developments have only proven me right time and again.
They continued in their usual game until they landed at the present situation: Four distinct factions namely;
A Group of Ohanaeze exponents and hustlers who insist that Prof George Obiozor wasn’t validly and properly elected, and for that reason they withdrew from participation in the election and at the last minute and subsequently withheld their support and stayed away, angry and disgruntled.
B. A group of politicians, packaged by Uche Okwukwu, erstwhile Secretary General to Chief Nnia Nwodo administration. Parading as the real Ohanaeze, they diligently oppose everything the other Ohanaeze says. They represent the second faction of Ohanaeze.
C A third faction, but quite amusing and truly funny, is the totally unknown group of businessmen and politicians who said they registered Ohanaeze at the CAC, and as such, claim to be the authentic Ohanaeze.
D And of course the Prof George Obiozor led Ohanaeze, duly elected, properly sworn in by the Nwodo regime and publicly recognized by all, including yours truly as the authentic Ohanaeze.
Each of these factions have their own youth wing, commenting at cross purposes and embarrassing Ndigbo by their cacophony of conflicting press statements.
Now how come, it is impossible to rein in these trouble makers and put our house in order? Is it proper that elders and leaders who cannot harmonise Ohanaeze should blame the agitators for disrespecting them. Respect is earned.
The people who sowed the seeds of confusion in Ohanaeze know that the agitators are not to blame. The refusal and failure to put our house in order is largely responsible for our poor showing politically. It is grossly unfair to continue to blame the younger generation for the greed, selfishness and bad example shown by leaders who should show the way. The aggrieved youngsters were actually pushed to depend only upon themselves, by the uncaring attitude of the supposed leaders.
Coming down from their high horses and humbly seeking reconciliation with their angry youths, remain the honourable pathway to tread now. Our leaders should do the right thing please.
