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HE PAT UTOMIS AND THE RELEVANCE OF TODAY'S OHANEZE NDIGBO
by Ossie Ezeaku
"...the organization will never deny any Igbo man membership of Ohanaeze. The moves by some politicians to deny the Igbo origins of Professor Utomi is an act of desperation and mischief" Prof. Joe Irukwu, factional leader, Ohaneze Ndigbo.
When the Ibo Union (Ohan'eze) was formed in 1937, its major objective was to bring the native Igbo-speaking people of Nigeria together. To unite them and seal any social or cultural void, which may be detrimental to their interests in the then emerging politics of today's Nigeria. Dr. Denis Osadebay of Asaba with the backing of Dr. Azikiwe, took upon himself the rigours of forming the union. Asaba, on the west bank of the River Niger, having hosted the first and only international conference on Igbo language in 1904, was one of the quintessence of the Igbo, and in the vanguard of their politics..
In line with the vision of the original founding fathers, post civil war Ohan'eze Ndigbo, was statutorily structured to take care of the interests and the feelings of the native Igbo-speaking people, whose land was now decapitated by the civil war victors. It was within these context that the seven state chapters of Ohan'eze Ndigbo got bedrocked, hence the participation of Igbos from the South East and the SouthSouth zones in the Ohan'eze decision and policy making.
Igbo, as a language, has dialectical clusters that sometimes are mutually unintelligible to its speakers. This can be ascertained in the South East zone where someone from say Anambra state may have difficulties understanding fellow Igbos from Nnsuka, Abakaliki, Afikpo, Ohafia and some parts of Enugu state, while having a very smooth communication with Asaba, Igbuzo, Okpanam, Oko etc. natives in the South South zone of Delta state.
In a similar vein, an Etche person from Rivers state, may feel at home communicating with one from Ngwa in Abia state, than with a native Asaban in the south south zone from where the both hail from. It must be emphasized that this is not a sole Igbo problem. Dialectical variations do exist in what is known today as the Yoruba land, where the Ekitis, Ijebus, Aworis, Ondos, Ijesas interpret their Yoruba language in different dialectical forms, which are often difficult for some of their kinsmen from other groups to understand. I, as a native of Ukpo-Dunukofia, Anambra state will not fully understand the late Sir warrior singing in his native Owerri dialect. Therefore, with all these variables, who is more Igbo and who is less?
Going by the Sun newspaper report, one of the so called elders of Ohan'eze Ndigbo, a factional leader, Chief Hypolite Ogboko, has fallen short of what is demanded of an "elder". In his refute of a newspaper report which claimed that Dr. Pat Okedinachi Utomi's presidential bid has been endorsed by the pan Igbo group, he said, "Utomi represents the South-south in the geo-politics of Nigeria. Utomi can’t even speak Igbo very properly”.
So regrettable as the statement, It again, underlines the need why Ohaneze Ndigbo should be apolitical. The likes of Ogboko and their unguarded utterances would continue to weaken the basis of Igbo-speaking people's unity in the geo-politics of Nigeria. The spirit of "Mgboko Igbo", which was started by Dr. Alex Ekwueme in the 1990's runs contrary to this development. Ohaneze Ndigbo is not a political party, and does not serve the interests of the Igbos of the South East alone.
Further more, Ogboko's statement contradicted that of Ohaneze's for the 2007 elections, which stated that It would favour presidential candidates from the South-East and the South south, non-Igbos included. Now, what an irony for one of Its "elders", Ogboko, to turn around and say that, "Utomi represents the south south..."? The Utomi In question, is a fellow Igbo and the deputy president of Aka Ikenga for that matter.
"Infantile politics", as some people are wont to call the modern day Igbo method of pressing for their needs in the labyrinth called Nigeria. Or else, can someone explain when "properly" spoken Igbo, became a prerequisite for Ohaneze's endorsement of Igbo pres. candidates? Even at that, I have heard the opportunity to listen to Prof. Utomi, an old student of CKC Onitsha speak Igbo. It is something he does well, perhaps not with Ogboko's Enugu/Nnsuka dialect. Dr Utomi, a proud Igboman is from Igbuzo, a town noted for her strong Umu-Nri origins.
I should say that this sort of development account for some of the reasons why western Igbos in particular, pay skeletal attention to the pan Igbo group. What is the essence of their belonging to an organization that has consistently not taken care of their interests? For the east to embrace the west-Igbo in a politics of expediency was not only wrong but wicked. They reserve the birth right to take advantage of the existence of Ohan'eze, even as they are constantly reminded by other non-Igbo groups in the South south of their roots. The Rivers state governor was one most recent example.
It is very vital that Ohan'eze Ndigbo continue to maintain a non-aligned posture with regard to matters concerning the Igbos of the two zones. In a country where numerical strength determines who gets what, balancing the interests of the Igbos of the two zones should be Ohan'eze's watchwords. The administration headed by Joe Irukwu's faction is not far from what Ohaneze exco should look and act like. Chief Isaac Mahonwu, an Ikwerre, as the deputy chairman and Col. Achuzia as the secretary general. What do we have now? Where is the constitution that was ratified at Abakaliki?
It is about time the pan Igbo group recognized the need for a generational change in leadership. Making decisions that are based on a united Igbo front, will send the positive signals to fellow Nigerians that we have arrived. Ogboko's rascally statement simply meant that our house was yet to be in order, as other Nigerians are wont to say. Hypolite Ogboko should simply tender an apology to Prof. Pat Utomi
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Posted by Robot| 22.01.2007 07:52