I guess it about time I break my silence on this matter. From 1967 to
1970 my youth was scandalised with the horrors of the Nigerian civil
war. I was never on the front line as a fighting soldier, but I was in
the boys’ brigade transmitting from the naval headquarters then in
Oguta. With the daily air raids and the smell of death all around us, we
were thankful everyday we managed to stay alive.
I remember a sight that have never left me till today at the tail end of
the civil war. I was walking down the street on my way to the stream to
fetch water, lo and behold was the sound of death (air raids) As we all
ran in different direction looking for a safe place to take cover, I
turned around to figure the direction my friends were running in, all of
a sudden I saw the head of one off them yanked off the body, as a
result of the fighter jets that killed innocent civilians for fun, what a
horrible sight for a 17yr old.
The words of plato “only the dead see the end of war” were forever engrained in my thoughts.
I am a proud Igbo man, a home boy and a native fowl. No demo. My friends
call me Igbotic not because am a nerd, or a jewman. But because I
represent and symbolise all the characteristics of a typical igbo man
pre the civil war.
The Igbos may have short circuited their political growth, but it
doesn’t take away the fact that we are great Nigerians. I have learnt to
be more Igbotic than I ever expected. As an igbo man, I have learnt to
be more profitable in the things that I do. I have perfected the art of
being tenacious in any dream I chase; to be industrious, consistent and
powerfully focused.
All the lessons I learnt from my brothers in the tribe have made me
dogged, hardworking and exhibiting the ability and capacity to survive
in any kind of weather. I am an original Nwa Biafra.
Needless to say that the igbo man is known to be one of the most
entrepreneurial mind in the country. So it is particularly pathetic and
unfortunate when some ignorant youths talk about this illusion called
Biafra.
History should teach us that Nationhood is Bloody, Hard and almost
impossible when fantasy is the currency of demand. Even as Nigerians,
see how our docility is killing our humanity. Didn’t the fall of Biafra
after the genocide and the suffering of my people teach us anything?
Haven’t we been marginalised enough? I Believe the Failure of the igbo
nation is the fault of the people elites and decision makers.
Why have we not poured our energy, capacity and Ability into making the
South East the Dubai of the Nation as well as the engine room of the
Nigerian Economy? Who would be our leaders when the south east is
infested with political power grabbers, 419ers, mindless criminals and
looters of our commonwealth and resources? Need I mention names?
See how we have migrated to different parts of Nigeria and the world
which is good, made it home and developed our immediate environment. Why
are we neglecting our home base, why are we running away from
developing the South East?
Our problem may not after all be the man in Aso Rock from Daura or the
ordinary Hausa or Yoruba man on the Streets of Lagos, Abuja, Kano, Warri
or Ogbomosho. The problem is the lack of men of integrity and a
progressive mind set. We lack the right kind of leadership that will
fight for the interest of the People.
Let it be clear to all that the suffering of the People from the South
East is also the suffering of the people from the other geopolitical
zones in Nigeria. It is therefore retrospectively insane to begin to
think that a people with a problem would suddenly be relieved when they
are attached with a tag #BIAFRA;
What Nonsense and Insanity! Now how do you begin to imagine that while
the agitation for the state of Biafra is being demanded by the gullible
Ibo youths, those who have been or are in position of authority are
either not interested or are continuing their expansive investments in
other part of Nigeria?
Who dem dey deceive? They divide us daily with Religion, Tribalism,
Ethnicity and Petty Bigotry even among the Tribes and Ethnic composition
in the South East there is divisiveness. Why is Namdi Kanu yet to
realize that the Dreams of Nationhood are lost in the Altar of
Deception.
Have we even considered that the population of my people from the south
east outside the Region is twice the population of those in the south
east? How can we who are supposed to be looking at making the South East
the centralised Industrial Hub of the Nigeria Nation be the ones who
are driving a wedge of unrealistic fantasy between Nigeria and our own
people? When President Muhammadu Buhari sings the localisation and
Nigerianazation song; We should be the ones to drive the narrative,
because We Can..
When you have a willing Partner, who is interested in the
Nigerianization of the Nigerian Economy; Why are some of my people busy
creating or Poisoning the environment that are ordinarily designed to
favour that which will promote the industrialization of the South East.
Why have we become the enemy of our own home?
Why hasn’t the “think home mentality” arrested every igbo billionaires
and millionaires? Why are we eliminating the chances of Ibonising the
Nigerian Economy by Nationalizing the Ibo Thought for a United and
Prosperous Nigeria as well as for the benefits of all?
I cannot STAND here and tell you there are no problems of trust in
Nigeria. I will be the last to say that the Ibo nation has not undergone
persecution. I will be foolish to ignore the hunger that was used as a
tool to starve the Ibo Nation during the civil war. I am perfectly in
the know about the problems of the Nigeria structure, Abeg make we know
our History but use am to work today to perfect tomorrow.
No one can argue the facts, and the facts are clear. The major problem
of the Ibo Nation is also the major issue with the Nigeria State. ‘The
Mindset’. The Mind must first be liberated, the thoughts must be
harmonised and the people of the South East, my dear brothers and
sisters must know that the development of the region is horrible because
the leaders in the region have failed. Politically, Religiously,
Societally and Communally. Over the past decades; where is the
Accountability from the leadership with regards;
1. FAAC;
2. IGR;
3. LOCAL BONDS;
4. FOREIGN DEVELOPMENTAL LOANS;
5. AIDS; GRANTS & BUDGETARY SUPPORT;
6. THE MANY FEDERAL PROJECTS IN THE REGION etc
The Failure of Leadership is evident in our agitation for Fairness,
Justice and Equality for every Nigerian not just for every Ibo man. And
so the Mind of the typical Ibo Leader Needs a Revolution to be realigned
for the Interest of the People rather than the interest of their
pockets. Biafra is not the Solution, I truly don’t think so. So, Igbo
ndi Oma. Let’s focus on our home land and begin to demand accountability
and responsibility from many of our Scammers, Riffraff’s and Fraudsters
in the Ibo Kingdom called leaders. Let’s us pause on the fantasy tagged
Biafra for now. Let’s us dutifully work ourselves back into reckoning,
by industrialising our home base.
I know we can, and we should.
I also urge Mr President to show mercy on our brother Nnamdi Kanu; Him be Pikin.
Biafra, my Igboticness is always on my mind because #OURMUMUDONDO.
