THE cumulative effect of all these atrocities is that everywhere today there is anger. Ideology, vision, competence, genuine love for country and people, as well as humanism; not even age, gender, tribe or religion, is what determines good leadership, and promotes development.
Instead of everyone pleading to the Igbos to kindly come and show if there is a difference they could make in economic management and restoration of individual wellbeing and national pride, all we hear is that Igbos would be lucky if they are president in two hundred years. In other words, Nigerians will be lucky if anything good happens to them in the next two hundred years! As a reminder, three Igbos had been at the apex of leadership in this country, whether ceremonial or executive. They were Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Nwafor-Orizu, and General Aguiyi-Ironsi. As imperfect as they were, one thread ran across their blood: they all were in office by competitive merit. They stole not a single kobo from the national treasury, and shed not a single drop of any Nigerian blood! Above all else, they conceded not a single inch of Nigerian territory to any outside power, for any reason, nor tolerated any treaty to reverse or dilute Nigerian independence.
Even Isaac Adaka Boro was there for Ironsi to execute on treason charges to exhibit his power, but he wouldn’t! There are still many Igbos retaining the basic Igbo character, without this being a claim to perfection, but certainly a claim to something worth thinking over, and the possibility that there is a distinct value that a true Igbo man can bring into a just, peaceful and fair Nigeria.
The third group of Igbos is the confused and carefree. Some of them include Igbo masses, the lumpenproletariat, petty traders, farmers, villagers and others, trying, but barely able to make ends meet. Engrossed in the basic survivalism of the nuclear and extended family, they hardly have time or capacity for such “complicated” analysis as the national question, federal and states budgets, military recruitments, postings and promotions, ministerial distributions, and the rest. They know that part of the reason they are suffering is that they are Igbos, and rightly blame it on the federal authorities and corrupt Igbos in government. But, that is where it ends; no solutions are thought of and none seems possible. They are a good recruiting ground for the peaceful pro-Biafra mass protests all over the East, that being the only glimmer of hope in the sky, and avenue for political relevance. To be continued Prof. Obasi Igwe teaches Political Science at University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Instead of everyone pleading to the Igbos to kindly come and show if there is a difference they could make in economic management and restoration of individual wellbeing and national pride, all we hear is that Igbos would be lucky if they are president in two hundred years. In other words, Nigerians will be lucky if anything good happens to them in the next two hundred years! As a reminder, three Igbos had been at the apex of leadership in this country, whether ceremonial or executive. They were Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Nwafor-Orizu, and General Aguiyi-Ironsi. As imperfect as they were, one thread ran across their blood: they all were in office by competitive merit. They stole not a single kobo from the national treasury, and shed not a single drop of any Nigerian blood! Above all else, they conceded not a single inch of Nigerian territory to any outside power, for any reason, nor tolerated any treaty to reverse or dilute Nigerian independence.
Even Isaac Adaka Boro was there for Ironsi to execute on treason charges to exhibit his power, but he wouldn’t! There are still many Igbos retaining the basic Igbo character, without this being a claim to perfection, but certainly a claim to something worth thinking over, and the possibility that there is a distinct value that a true Igbo man can bring into a just, peaceful and fair Nigeria.
The third group of Igbos is the confused and carefree. Some of them include Igbo masses, the lumpenproletariat, petty traders, farmers, villagers and others, trying, but barely able to make ends meet. Engrossed in the basic survivalism of the nuclear and extended family, they hardly have time or capacity for such “complicated” analysis as the national question, federal and states budgets, military recruitments, postings and promotions, ministerial distributions, and the rest. They know that part of the reason they are suffering is that they are Igbos, and rightly blame it on the federal authorities and corrupt Igbos in government. But, that is where it ends; no solutions are thought of and none seems possible. They are a good recruiting ground for the peaceful pro-Biafra mass protests all over the East, that being the only glimmer of hope in the sky, and avenue for political relevance. To be continued Prof. Obasi Igwe teaches Political Science at University of Nigeria, Nsukka
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