16 Oct 2004 |
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| Eugene Azuka Uzum LLB Hons. BL.Uzum Consult, Leeds (United Kingdom)Sailvky8@yahoo.co.uk With a bang, I sat up from my sofa at about 2.00am to discover that I was not really asleep as I earlier intended. Everything was real; my sense of imagination embarked on a sojourn and reflected on the political situation in Nigeria as it affects the Igbo nation. In that wise I pictured a scenario, it was like a drama staged in a stadium or football pitch. Players from across the country gathered to show off their skills, each sported a white jersey stripped with green. Every player held the ambition of eventually becoming the captain of the most powerful team in Africa called Nigeria come 2007. There were representatives from the Core North football club, Niger Delta Warriors football club, Mighty Flyers of the middle belt club, Massob confraternity football club, Anioma Cobras, Northern Pillars football club, South-South Coalition, Indomitable Lions of Afenifere, Odua Elites football club, Dein-Ika Champions of Agbor amongst others. Also gathered there were two big Clubs putting on a different jersey. Their jersey was a combination of red, black and green colours. Below is a chronological analysis and assessment of the situation: On October 1st 1960, Nigeria became an entity divorced from direct colonial rule. She became a country with its own sovereignty; she acquired powers to rule, administrate and administer herself through elections and by-elections. At the helm of affairs in Nigeria political stable was Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, a charismatic and well articulated Igbo man. Erudite, politically skilled and great nationalist are the words I use to describe Late Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, who was the then Prime Minister. It all culminated to Nigeria becoming a republic in 1963. Note that it was the North as well as the East that was in power. In 1966, a crew of military officers consisting mostly of the eastern origin overthrew the Central and regional government. That was the first indigenous Nigerian Coup. The northern Prime Minister, Balewa paid with his blood. These culminated into ethnic Bias that led to a genocide and killing of many Igbos especially in the North. In July same year, another group of officers, mostly northerners staged another military coup, killing General Aguiyi Ironsi and appointed the then Chief of Staff General Yakubu Gowon as the Nigerian Head of State. Historical facts state that in 1967, Gowon moved to split the then four regions of Nigeria into 12 States. However, these and other ethnic, religious and ideological bigotry spurred up Ojukwu’s refusal to accept the division of the eastern region, of which he was the military governor. Secession was staged by the easterners, led by Colonel Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu, in June 1967, which led to the declaration of Biafra and subsequently the Nigerian Civil war. Biafra however surrendered in January 1970 and history has it that about 1.5 million people died with major casualties especially in eastern Nigeria and Midwestern States, now Edo and Delta States. Nigeria managed to return to civil rule in 1979 with a northerner, Alhaji Shehu Shagari as the President and Dr. Alex Ekwueme, one of Africa’s most civilized politician as the Vice President. Shagari’s administration was cut down in 1983 by another northerner, General Mohammadu Buhari and a middle Belt serious minded military man, Brigadier Tunde Idiabgon. Another northerner with a middle belt identity hatched a second and bloodless coup. General Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) appointed a southern man Friday in the person of Rear Admiral Augustus Aikhomu as his Vice. IBB took Nigeria on a voyage of democratic reforms and ended up annulling one of Africa’s freest and fairest elections. With the advent of an interim government led by Chief Ernest Shonekan, the way was paved for General Sanni Abacha to leave his legacy. At the end of the road for Abacha, another northerner, General Abdulsalami Abubakar came to power. A lot was said and written about him; history has it that he handed power to a democratically elected government in 1999. A careful study of Nigeria’s political history posits that what the North lost in the assassination of Balewa, they got in successive military imposition. Power was hijacked, the system was dehumanised, sections of the country was marginalized, corruption was institutionalised; infact, Nigeria became a shadow of its past glory. I strongly believe however that such negative socio-political legacies were not the dreams of Ahmadu Bello, Balewa, Zik, Awolowo and Chief Festus Okotie Eboh. I want to state categorically that history cannot be rewritten; certain sections of the country courted and blended with the horrific administration either individually or as a group, while others fought against it. This article will be worthless without mentioning some of them and where they come from, irrespective of what roles they played. First on the list is Ken Saro Wiwa (Southern Nigeia), others include Kudira Abiola (Western Nigeria), Professor Wole Soyinka (Western Nigeria), Sylvester Odion Akhaine (Southern Nigeria), Balarabe Musa (Northern Nigeria), M. D. Yusufu (Northern Nigeria), El-Mustapha (Northern Nigeria), Chief Gani Fawhemi (Western Nigeria), Chief Frank Ovie Kokori (Southern Nigeria), Comrade Uchechukwu Merije (Eastern Nigeria), Dr. Walter Ofonagoro (Eastern Nigeria), Kalu – Youths Earnestly ask for ‘Who the cap fits’ (Eastern Nigeria), Chief M. K. O. Abiola (Western Nigeria), Beko Ransome Kuti (Western Nigeria), Abubakar Umar (Northern Nigeria), Alhaji Shehu Musa Yar’adua (Northern Nigeria), Chief Anthony Enahoro (Southern Nigeria), Professor Omo Omoruiyi (Southern Nigeria), Chief Great Ovedge Ogboru (Southern Nigeria), amongst others. The list of patriotic and unpatriotic Nigerians during the dark days of Nigerian political history will take months to compile. Some acted as agents, while others acted in an official capacity; but in whatever capacity, if you have been following the trend of Nigerian Political history, you will establish those who were political prostitutes. I want to submit at this juncture that to those who live by it and those who suffered it, the declaration of Biafra and Nigerian Civil War brought debasement, suffering, pain and socio-political inequality. I argue that based on fairness, equity and justice, an Igbo President should be voted into Aso Rock… but I don’t know who. The reason is that the Igbos have never played the game right; it is the bitter truth. A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Igbos should accept the truth and do things right. The Igbos lacks what I call (Tactical approach to the Presidency). After the war, they should have swallowed the bitter pill of a painful integration with their brothers in the south-south. Whatever might have been their grievances, as a big brother, they should not have believed that Kano or Sokoto is closer to them than Warri, Portharcourt, or Uyo. These regions are all brothers, even the British Colonial masters acknowledged this when they created the Oil Rovers Protectorate. On the contrary, an average Igbo man sees the south as detractors, but the south is a larger part in the map of Biafra, what a fallacy! The nest would have been embracing the west. The Igbos embraced all parts of Nigeria commercially but failed politically. Confidence and trust is better than commercial power. The Igbos’ romance with the middle best is ambiguous, shallow rooted and hatred tainted. The North understands the politics of the middle belt to a reasonable extent, the west understands the politics of southern Nigeria, the South has confidence in the West, my question to the East is, where are your brothers in the South? Politics is not a game of isolation; some quarters argue that there is no election but selection in Nigeria. Whatever name you call it, it requires trust, confidence and humility to be elected or selected. Today, the Igbos are most empowered to sail into Aso Rock, but they lack the compass direction. 2007 is around the corner, I again challenge the Igbos with these questions: what are the structures on ground? Do you have the confidence of the South, West, North and even the East as a whole? The North will not give up power without confidence, the North will not disengage if her interest is not protected, the North will not risk isolation or disintegration of Nigerian Federalism. In 1999, the North proved that it can give up power in line with fairness, but where the power moves to, is of utmost importance. Politicking is not just issuing threats on newspaper pages; it only narrows chances. I challenge Ohaneze that apart from my brain box Dr. Alex Ekwueme, who else falls among the national candidates that can politic in the North, South and Western Nigeria like MKO and Obasanjo did? The West is not pushing much for 2007, but they have national flag-bearer like Tunji Braithwaite, Prof. Wole Soyinka, Chief Olu Falae etcetera. The North has blazed the trail with Atiku, IBB, Marwa and potentials like M. D. Yusufu, Balarabe Musa… who are the Eagles from the East? Nigerian Presidency is not Ohaneze, Arewa or Afenifere Presidency, it’s a national issue. The Igbos have the manpower, population, intellectual force within and outside Nigeria to dictate the pace in Aso Rock, southern Nigeria is patiently waiting for the Igbos to articulate and play well to be the Captain of this team, but will not pass the ball to a (MASSOB), unless a Nigerian. I strongly feel that it is the Igbos that require an Igbo Conference including Igbos in dispora so that they can reposition. Topmost on the agenda should be integration and playing politics with a humane face. How do you expect a Yoruba man to vote Mazi Okeke when Mazi Okafor wants Nigeria divided? How can a respected and well experienced politician like Chief Ume Ezeoke trade words with Makarfi on who becomes the Captain of the team come 2007? I urge the Igbo nation to keep their pride and sheath their sword, for the journey to power is all about humility (Vanguard July 24, 2004 Page 9). Obasanjo does not really hate the Igbo nation as people portray him, but the fact is that a lot of political miscalculation from the East irritates him. Chief Audu Ogbeh is a single entity, though with political powers, but no single man can outwit a nation. So, the Igbos should let sleeping dogs lie. I will not conclude this piece without commending Ohaneze Youths in warning politicians against Igbo bid (Vanguard July 19, 2004 Page 9). They very well understand that there are mediocre in their system. Ranting and misguided utterances against the Yorubas and Hausas cannot change the status quo, the Yorubas needs an assurance, a new Igbo orientation, not ethnic mafias and warlords. The vacancy in Aso Rock is a national issue that requires a nationalist. I conclude by advising the Ibos to be more tactical, divorce ethnic issues from national matters, integrate properly, understand the rhythm of the North, drop footballers without the green and white jersey from the political game, reassure the international community, present credible Nigerians as aspirants, think more of what your candidate will do for Nigeria and not what he or she will do to Nigeria. Ponder on this article with transparency and someday, the gates of Aso Rock will be open to you. Eugene Azuka Uzum LLB Hons. BL. Uzum Consult, Leeds (United Kingdom) Sailvky8@yahoo.co.uk
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