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Any River that wants to identify its source will dry up - Yoruba adageIt is increasingly taking place - the struggle to put the igbo question on the front burner. This is in spite of the facts that (1)...Read the full article.

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Teslim, I would appreciate it if you tackle these points

1. Prove that there were not official sentiments and actions by the Western (UPCAISM) and Northern (SALAMA) governments before the progrom and the civil war about cutting Igbo land grabbers and power seekers to size. Probably you admitted this by suggesting that we should forget the past and move on. That's ok, as long as the past is discussed and settled and is not still running in the present in subtle manners. Tell me why the Federal government cannot compensate people whose properties were stolen under the abandoned property sham?

2. Prove that the progrom, the use of starvation as a weapon of war, the abandoned property decree, the privitisation decree etc were justifiable

3. Show that someone calling attention to a set of events he perceives as an injustice against him is a war-monger

4. Do you not realize that before the eastern secession, the North has threatned secession 3 good times (with the first coming as an opposition to the push by the south for independence, eventually culminating in the killings of Igbo civilians). The same people that said that there was no basis for the unity of the country and were packed to go, suddenly turned around and fought to keep the country one. Whatever is good for the goose (right to self determination) is not good for the gander. Abi?

5. Tell me why the Federal government deemed it fit not to site not even one of the several state owned industries in Igbo land during the post-war industrial push, if not for the grand design to keep the man as economically stranded as possible (just to compliment the financial decree, privitisation decree and of course the abandoned property).

6. Can you sincerely say that Igbos haven't got some limits placed on them because they fought a war against the federal government? Igbos could not get jobs in multinationals like shell for some time after the war, those that did disguised their identity, and that was why my father, with all his experience as a seaman, could not get a good job. That same father of mine went to collect his National insurance social trust fund (NISTF, I hope I got the name right) form when it was due and the man in-charge at the federal secretariate, Port Harcourt, refused to give him the form. Rather, he asked: Did you fight for Biafra? That was in 1997, 27 years after the war ended. My father had to shout and disturb the entire place before he got the form, and eventually he couldn't get his full money. Maybe it is a matter of coincidence that the Igbo man has not gone beyond a certain level in the armed forces? Tell me that the rest of Nigerians don't trust us and I will tell you that I don't tust them either.

7. Convince me that worst things than the burning of Zik's house (condemnable as it were) have not been visited on Anambra by Chris Uba and co, working in tandem with the federal government. You should have waited for a clearer picture about the ugly incidence before trying to call those "people" the Wawa's. Hear the opinion of Chris Ngige:

"No Igboman should be proud of what MASSOB people did. Anambra state Government will leave no stone unturned to fish out those involved. Security reports available to Government have it that members of NARTO in the state cashed in on the MASSOB/police disagreement to loot”, he said and called on security agents to fish out those involved.
Ngige said the state Government will assist the ZIK family to pick up the pieces- of their shattered lives and seek assistance from the other South East Governors with a view to finding a permanent solution to the haplessness within the Azikiwes.
He wondered why the police should engage the MASSOB in a gun duel because according to him, the organization had been peaceful in its conduct and agitation for the actualization of Biafra. The police, he reasoned could have been the aggressors.
“There has not been any confrontation between the MASSOB and the people of Anambra state. It has been peaceful. My own Biafra is not the Biafra of disunity, but the one that will bring economic development, building of refineries, social and economic emancipation of the South-East geo-political zone, encourage industrial development and contribute to overall economic development of Nigeria"

There will be definitely more opinions from different places. You should have exercised restrain before reaching a conclusion. Is it not a possibility that those agents of Chris Uba/Aso rock cashed in on the opportunity? I am sorry to say this, your reaction was simply a case of giving the dog a bad name, in other to hang it.

8. Tell me where in Igbo land that the Hausas and Yorubas have been denied the right to contest for political position (if that's what you mean by Igbos trying to run the traditional power machinery wherever they are)? Can you disagree with the fact that Igbos have strong presence outside Igboland and at times, contribute as much as the indigenes to the economy of the place where they are. So they are free to help build up a place in a supposedly federal system but must not seek political relevance? Just go to a number of local governments in Lagos, and Obi-akpor in Rivers and see how much Igbo traders contribute to the local governments purses
Teslim, this is the point where I am most uncomfortable. You claimed that their attempt to run the traditional power machinery of whereever they are is the reason why other tribes disagree with them. The sentiment was expressed before the progrom/civil war (UPCAISM and SALAMA). Hitler also used it against the jews. And it's very much around in the present day Nigeria about the Igbo man. Some time in the 90's (I can't figure out the exact year but it seems like 1993), a group of boys demostrated for almost three days, asking the Igbo's to vacate Port Harcourt so that they can take back their land. The very land they sold and pocketed the monies. I am yet to understand why Tinubu put the traders at ASPAMDA through tha ordeal last year (I don't know the state of things now).
I think you made the point here, Igbos can only be tolerated if they are not too pushy outside their homeland, because Nigeria is not yet a place for all. Too bad


Allow me to put it to you that the way to peace is not keeping quite over your feelings, rather unity can be achieved when everyone is open to discussions with a view to finding a way of peaceful coexistence, such that no one group of persons will lord it over the others in forms like Sharia or unfair revenue distribution-by this I still continue to insist that resource control or true federation is paramount. I think I will have to stop here, but will definitely come back in another shape.

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Teslim, I would appreciate it if you tackle these points



1. Prove that there were not official sentiments and actions by the Western (UPCAISM) and Northern (SALAMA) governments before the pogrom and the civil war about cutting Igbo land grabbers and power seekers to size. Probably you admitted this by suggesting that we should forget the past and move on. That's ok, as long as the past is discussed and settled and is not still running in the present in subtle manners. Tell me why the Federal government cannot compensate people whose properties were stolen under the abandoned property sham?



2. Prove that the pogrom, the use of starvation as a weapon of war, the abandoned property decree, the privitisation decree etc were justifiable



3. Show that someone calling attention to a set of events he perceives as an injustice against him is a war-monger



4. Do you not realize that before the eastern secession, the North has threatened secession 3 good times (with the first coming as an opposition to the push by the south for independence, eventually culminating in the killings of Igbo civilians). The same people that said that there was no basis for the unity of the country and were packed to go, suddenly turned around and fought to keep the country one. Whatever is good for the goose (right to self determination) is not good for the gander. Abi?



5. Tell me why the Federal government deemed it fit not to site not even one of the several state owned industries in Igbo land during the post-war industrial push, if not for the grand design to keep the man as economically stranded as possible (just to compliment the financial decree, privitisation decree and of course the abandoned property).



6. Can you sincerely say that Igbos haven't got some limits placed on them because they fought a war against the federal government? Igbos could not get jobs in multinationals like shell for some time after the war, those that did disguised their identity, and that was why my father, with all his experience as a seaman, could not get a good job. That same father of mine went to collect his National insurance social trust fund (NISTF, I hope I got the name right) form when it was due and the man in-charge at the federal secretariat, Port Harcourt, refused to give him the form. Rather, he asked: Did you fight for Biafra? That was in 1997, 27 years after the war ended. My father had to shout and disturb the entire place before he got the form, and eventually he couldn't get his full money. Maybe it is a matter of coincidence that the Igbo man has not gone beyond a certain level in the armed forces? Tell me that the rest of Nigerians don't trust us and I will tell you that I don't tust them either.



7. Convince me that worst things than the burning of Zik's house (condemnable as it were) have not been visited on Anambra by Chris Uba and co, working in tandem with the federal government. You should have waited for a clearer picture about the ugly incidence before trying to call those "people" the Wawa's. Hear the opinion of Chris Ngige:

"No Igboman should be proud of what MASSOB people did. Anambra state Government will leave no stone unturned to fish out those involved. Security reports available to Government have it that members of NARTO in the state cashed in on the MASSOB/police disagreement to loot”, he said and called on security agents to fish out those involved.
Ngige said the state Government will assist the ZIK family to pick up the pieces- of their shattered lives and seek assistance from the other South East Governors with a view to finding a permanent solution to the haplessness within the Azikiwes.
He wondered why the police should engage the MASSOB in a gun duel because according to him, the organization had been peaceful in its conduct and agitation for the actualization of Biafra. The police, he reasoned could have been the aggressors.
“There has not been any confrontation between the MASSOB and the people of Anambra state. It has been peaceful. My own Biafra is not the Biafra of disunity, but the one that will bring economic development, building of refineries, social and economic emancipation of the South-East geo-political zone, encourage industrial development and contribute to overall economic development of Nigeria"

There will be definitely more opinions from different places. You should have exercised restrain before reaching a conclusion. Is it not a possibility that those agents of Chris Uba/Aso rock cashed in on the opportunity? I am sorry to say this, your reaction was simply a case of giving the dog a bad name, in other to hang it.



8. Tell me where in Igbo land that the Hausas and Yorubas have been denied the right to contest for political position (if that's what you mean by Igbos trying to run the traditional power machinery wherever they are)? Can you disagree with the fact that Igbos have strong presence outside Igboland and at times, contribute as much as the indigenes to the economy of the place where they are. So they are free to help build up a place in a supposedly federal system but must not seek political relevance? Just go to a number of local governments in Lagos, and Obi-akpor in Rivers and see how much Igbo traders contribute to the local governments purses
Teslim, this is the point where I am most uncomfortable. You claimed that their attempt to run the traditional power machinery of wherever they are is the reason why other tribes disagree with them. The sentiment was expressed before the pogrom/civil war (UPCAISM and SALAMA). Hitler also used it against the jews. And it's very much around in the present day Nigeria about the Igbo man. Some time in the 90's (I can't figure out the exact year but it seems like 1993), a group of boys demonstrated for almost three days, asking the Igbo's to vacate Port Harcourt so that they can take back their land. The very land they sold and pocketed the monies. I am yet to understand why Tinubu put the traders at ASPAMDA through tha ordeal last year (I don't know the state of things now).
I think you made the point here, Igbos can only be tolerated if they are not too pushy outside their homeland, because Nigeria is not yet a place for all. Too bad


Allow me to put it to you that the way to peace is not keeping quite over your feelings, rather unity can be achieved when everyone is open to discussions with a view to finding a way of peaceful coexistence, such that no one group of persons will lord it over the others in forms like Sharia or unfair revenue distribution-by this I still continue to insist that resource control or true federation is paramount. I think I will have to stop here, but will definitely come back in another shape.

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Odinaka:
I must thank your for your logical thinking mind and analytical capabilities. Your knowledge of Nigeria’s socio-cultural and economic/political history deserves commendation.

The problem that I see in Nigeria is that many are afraid of competition and the concept of merit in Nigeria’s national life. It is engendered by fear that the better person or people will win the race and dominate the rest. This fear, obviously, is oblivious of the fact that competition engenders economic and social gains that benefits everyone in the long run. Because of this fear, in places such as Nigeria, the crab mentality is the pre-eminent doctrine. The fear of the Igbo will continue to hold Nigeria down, the Igbo included, unfortunately.

If one were to assess critically what is going on under the current administration of Obasanjo, it does not take a genius to arrive at the conclusion that none of the so-called achievement is fundamental. Why? Well, because there is very little local innovation included in the drama. It is either foreign-dominated or artificial and very much dependent upon financing from the current unexpected revenue receipts from export of crude oil. Guess what will happen when the price of crude oil goes down (which is bound to happen as a result of lower demand or rise in utilization of alternative energy sources), the underlying emptiness in the economy will bubble to the surface.

If Nigeria was truly a nation desirous of development and empowerment of its citizenry in a manner that is fundamental and with the likelihood of standing the test of time, it would invest heavily in local innovation and encourage (through infrastructural facility development, financing and training incentives) local innovative centers such as Aba-leather goods, rubber technology and Nnewi-auto parts and automobile engineering and such other centers of innovation around the nation. That’s where the economic well being of Nigeria will be sourced. Instead of this approach, the government continues the containment policy against the Igbo that was put in place during the civil war. The fear of the Igbo is Nigeria’s albatross, the more Nigeria hangs on to it, the more it will drag her down.

When will Nigeria get it that in today’s world, work, innovation and merit are the driving force for economic growth and social mobility? If Bill Gates were a Nigerian from Umuokoro in Igbo, Nigeria, no one would have heard of a computer operating software called Windows.

Yes, Mr. Anibaba knows better. He is a Chartered Accountant; I am a Certified Public Accountant here in the U.S. He knows about equity, after all accountants believe in double entry and balancing the books. He knows that the books are imbalanced in Nigeria and weighted heavily against the Igbo. He is not willing to admit it because of the unfounded fear of the Igbo. It is a shame how fears and prejudice will render rather seemingly intelligent and able minds to appear utterly incoherent and offer up philosophies that are upside down when juxtaposed with simple logic.

Mr.Anibaba, I am Igbo and I love you too.

Nkire

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Its a shame when we have 2 educated Gentlemen (a great jornalist and a Fellow accountant)arguing over which tribe is better in the year 2005.

Africa!!

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The author’s views should not come as a surprise after all these are the very charges against the Igbo you hear daily on the streets of Lagos. It is the same fear of Igbo domination that has led the Yoruba landlord to refuse to rent to an Igbo man in Lagos, it is also the same mentality that drives the current leadership in Abuja in all it’s dealings with the east. Unfortunately for the proponents of this view of Igbo containment the world is now a global village and only those groups who are able to go out and compete we witness true progress.

Anibaba’s greatest problem is the enterprising nature of the Igbo man, his ability to move into Yoruba land and compete with the locals. If success in foreign land is a crime then count me in as one of the criminals. I read carefully to see where Anibaba would state the uncanny or illegal means by which Ndigbo out perform their counterparts, alas there was none. To even drive home his point he notes the inability of the Yoruba’s to achieve similar success in Igbo land as a testament to this criminality of Ndigbo. Not satisfied with making the Yoruba case he seeks to make the Northern and minority case by suggesting that this Igbo quest for indigene ship in foreign lands is some ungrateful plot designed to conquer their host, but he fails to say exactly what is wrong with a citizen of Nigerian seeking to assimilate in a state other than that of his birth. This would be like questioning a Scots man for seeking elective post or acquiring property in London.

I have always wondered to myself if the lone Chinese man who sets up his restaurant in an under serviced inner city neighborhood in the US to take advantage of the existing market is an oppressor or just a good business man. I have also taken time to read aspects of Hitler’s final solution to see if any of the numerous charges against the Jews and their profiteering at the expense of the Germans makes sense. In either case I have seen the plight of the Igbo’s being portrayed albeit in a foreign environment. I would only worry about Anibaba’s views if it were the other way, ie that the Igbo are unable to compete with their hosts.

The real question is what does Nigeria want from Ndigbo? This question needs to be answered fast because my generation is getting impatient. If you do not want a situation where an Igbo man will seek elective posts or own property anywhere else but in Igbo land then let him have his own nation, I guess this is what the neo Biafrans are saying. To suggest that we all sit in our enclaves and be satisfied with “allocation” from Abuja is to force a dependent life style on people, it might be good for the Yoruba’s but Ndigbo would rather create wealth than wait to be allocated a pitiance from Abuja.

The burning down of Zik’s house is a condemnable act by whoever did it, but I am surprised Anibaba did not express similar outrage when Abuja sponsored thugs burnt down government property in Awka. There is no need for anyone to hide his prejudices in Nigerian nationalism, unless we engage ourselves in a truthful and honest manner, progress will continue to elude the nation. I have also heard Yoruba’s claim Oduduwa migrated from Egypt, such folklore has not led me to develop any negative opinions of the psyche of the average Yoruba, so why will an Igbo claiming to have roots in Israel be a serious issue for any fair minded commentator ?


Chijioke Ibekwe
Detroit, Michigan

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This administration has been really good to igbos and yet, they scream maginization! The roads not tarred are due to brothers putting the money in their pockets. period. I support Teslim

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Taslim is a hate monger. Clearly, his hatred was heightened by his loss of a loved Igbo woman. Taslim, marry from your race - there is nothing wrong with that. Frankly, I am getting tired of you and others like you finding problems with the igbo quest fro success. It is not our problem that your people attach too much importance to partying than building wealth. Just imagine this - you own Lagos - the economic strength of Nigeria, yet you do not run the economy in it. You were exposed to the european education before us, yet you are not doing better than us. You press the point that you are more in number than us, yet we represent this country, in every aspect of life, more than any other ethnic group. Do you think all these are by chance? Taslim, you need to step down from your hatred and learn to respect achievements. Its funny you talked about culture. Well, we all also are familiar with the yoruba saying that oduduwa came from the sun. Perhaps thats why you all are so dark.
Be that as it may, let me tell you this - you need to thank the igbos each time of your life for all the good things we have done for that country. If you do not think so, then allow us to be on our own. As for you, I am sure you are scared of being on your own. If that is not the case, then, why don't you ask for it.O I forgot, the last time we agreed with your people on this, you chickened out and like a snake, came to fight us behind our backs. Talking about the war, I am sure you know that the yorubas and the hausa could not have deteated the Igbos if it were not all massive support from the Americans, Brits and Arabs. You will forget that we had almost entered Lagos if it were not the white support who even sent their militia to fight on behalf of the federal side. If you were smart, you will not even brag about us losing the war when you know that it was won by foreign support. Do not start what you cannot stop.

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By "Taslim, marry from your race " what do you mean? Like igbos and yorubas aer two different races? Odinaka, that is Nigeria for you...that is life for you. We need to know people in high places to get things done and it does not really matter where you are from. I, like Taslim, feel like most Igbos on this site are being overly sentimental. I would hate to think that all Igbos think this way. If you feel strongly about not receiving fair treatment and feel only on Igbo man cares about your interest, vote for Orji come 2007.

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Mr Taslim Anibaba, a Fellow, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) writes from Lagos, Nigeria

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You must have studied in nigeria and obviously had a cake work toward getting the useless watered down degree and even more watered down (ICAN) whatever value it has outside nigeria, to attempt writing about Igbos.

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In the 80s I was traveling between Port-Harcourt and Owerri or Enugu when the driver of our vehicle showed us a place and he said it was inhabited by WAWA PEOPLE. I then asked who are the wawas and he replied that they are the uncivilized, barbaric,uncircumcised,and naked people.
Perhaps those who burnt down Zik’s house are from this clan

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This really shows what a little mind your parents must have to have bestowed on you such a dysfunctional faculty not only to insult a set of people but to parade yourself as educated. Anyway, you are a disgrace to all the holders of that ICAN and if you were a resident of a civilized world, this your article would have not only cost you your job, but also membership of whatever association you maybe a part of.