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Divided They Stand: 2007 Igbo Day Celebration
On September 29, 2007, the Ohaneze Ndigbo will hold a parallel Igbo day celebration in Enugu and Awka by its two factions, by Ifeanyi Enenchukwu and Dr Dozie Ikedife respectively. This is in the absence of last minute effort at preventing the crisis from getting to the peak. Ikedife’s group had recently asked the court to order Enenchukwu and his members to vacate the organization’s National Secretariat at No. 7 Park Avenue, GRA Enugu to enable them move into the secretariat as if the battle is about structure and not heart of Ndigbo.
It all started with the third term agenda and the support of presidential candidates in the 2007 election. While the old executive of Ohaneze led by Prof Joe Irukwu had sympathy for PDP, Dr. Dozie Ikedife and group were championing for Igbo presidency and of course Orji Uzor Kalu. The rest is now history.
Now, while the likes of Ikedife flanked by C. C Onoh battle it out with Enenchukwus flanked by Iwuanyanwu, the ordinary Igbo man goes about his/her business believing that whatever quarrel they have has nothing to do with them. They’ve come to believe that divided “they” stand. Some people are definitely benefiting from the ongoing crisis in Ohaneze that has been battling to really break into the hearts of Ndigbo.
The continued struggle for the leadership of Ohaneze is for its continued portrayal as a relevant mouth piece for Ndigbo. But the gong has never really resonated across the Igbo land and whatever may be left of it now is broken and generates discordant tune.
My question however is: Is this the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ndigbo has been praying for? Are these materialistic and egocentric individuals that have abandoned the primary cause of articulating a consensual way forward for the Igbo nation the kind of leaders we need? If not, what are our alternatives? Or should we allow mediocrity to prevail in Igbo land when we can do better?
My concern is who wins the heart of Igbo man in the battle for raising the political consciousness and plight of Ndigbo? Is it the Ohaneze, MASSOB or a third force that hopefully will spring up after the settling of the dust?
Every year, we organize the World Igbo Congress in one big city in US; invite leaders that stole the mandate of the people in Nigeria and those in US seeking political relevance to come for the usual empty talk and spectacle. Igbo Day Celebration gives the sycophants at the corridors of Aso Rock the opportunity to jet into Enugu and finalize on which “deal” is maturing and ones that need following up before formality of presenting useless papers.
Ndigbo on the ground sees all these as “medicine after death”, “roads that leads to nowhere” or “anwansi” – the more you look the less you see. They see nothing to confirm a change of heart form our political leaders through policies and programs aimed at improving their lives after all the talks and drama in Detroit. They believe more in Uwazurike - irrespective of what he may be - for believing in the course of Ndigbo to the extent of going to jail than cut deals from the powers that be.
And believe this or not; that is why everything will come to a stand still whenever MASSOB calls for a sit-at-home in solidarity for the Igbo course. Whether the compliance is out of fear or love is subject to debate, but the aim is always achieved.
What I will never advocate for is the reconciliation of the aggrieved parties because of the perceived importance of Ohaneze to the Igbo race. Let them “kill” themselves at the top there for all I care. They are all chameleons attempting to change to pilgrims without journeying. They have forgotten that leadership is about human activity that comes from the heart and touches the heart of others. How many hearts has Ohaneze touched?
I will however advocate for an all encompassing mass group that will target the middle class, the market men and women, the farmers, the civil society groups, students with the aim of increasing the level of political consciousness and addressing how to get the right people into elected office. A group that will engender trust and confidence in Ndigbo. A group that will awaken ‘charity begins at home’ before Aso Rock to the extent of scrutinizing the actions and inactions of political office holders in Igbo land and bringing out the best in them.
We have to see the current crisis in Ohanaze and the dwindling interest in what happens at WIC not only as victory but as a celebration of freedom for Ndigbo. Freeform to Ezi-onye-Igbo – symbolizing an end to the prolonged slavery and misrepresentation in the hands of Ohaneze as well as a beginning, signifying renewal to the course of Igbo race and a change from what has been to what it should be.
Until this freedom ‘metamorphoses’ into a new ideology, new dimension, and a new journey into a wondrous Igbo land whose boundaries are that of limitless imagination, opportunities and possibilities for Ndigbo, they will always remain standing – even though divided - as long as we remain indifferent.
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Posted by Robot| 24.09.2007 12:51