By Chinedum Nwajiuba
Ecclesiastes 1: 18: For with much wisdom comes much sorrow, and as knowledge grows, grief increases.
Nigeria is a clever country, I heard from a senior brother some years ago. I am not sure what that means, but it sounds cute. Nigeria is a clever country.
History has been abolished from our schools. That was a good way to avoid confronting our uncomfortable truths.
Ignorance is bliss. It is better sometimes to be ignorant, so you can enjoy the bliss of acting without thinking of yesterday.
Truth is, there is nothing new under the sun. The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. This is Ecclesiastes 1:9.
Unfortunately, some of us may be suffering what is implied in Ecclesiastes 1: 18.
It is possible some of us believe we may be having some understanding of how Ndigbo feel at this time in Nigeria. Do we?
I will choose to pray for the days ahead.
My Igbo people started organized party politics with a political party aspiring to be for all Nigeria and Cameroun, but against our choice, and despite all effort, we ended up becoming a people left alone with the NCNC.
The great Zik, as Achebe wrote in THE TROUBLE WITH NIGERIA, scampered east across the Niger. Eyo Ita lost his position, and we have struggled ever since. Lesson: May I not arrive at a point that it seems I have only one road to take. May life always have me having options. May my lack of options not be a choice I have made.
Had Zik made it known that he did not desire to be Premier of the Western Region, but that one of his lieutenants of Yoruba origin would, would Awolowo’s entreaties to the Chiefs and Obas of Yorubaland about the arrogant “arokes” who just arrived at the altar of western education, having the effrontery to cross the Niger and stick their fingers into the eyes of the more educated peoples of the Western region, been effective?
Achebe further wrote in the TROUBLE WITH NIGERIA, that all the others in Nigeria believe the Igbo organizes and schemes to take-over and dominate others. Reality is that what other Nigerians believe the Igbo have, which is, organized to take over Nigeria, is the exact thing the Igbo do not have.
Ojukwu insisted on the Military culture of seniority. That was the basis for Ironsi becoming Supreme Commander. If Ironsi is no longer there, then the most Senior should take over. Simple straight forward logic which all military personnel understand.
It was a long list which at least the first three were Yorubas – Ogundipe, Adebayo, and Wey. These were the ones Ojukwu became “Campaign Managers”. These three could not put up a fight. Perhaps they understood what Nnamdi Azikiwe eventually admonished, that you do not argue with a man with a Gun.
After a non-Officer refused obeying Ogundipe’s orders, Ogundipe gave up. He eventually accepted to leave for the United Kingdom as High Commissioner. Adebayo agreed to serve as Military Governor. Wey accepted appointment in the Lagos Headquarters. Ojukwu insisted on what was right. He became the villain and those who conspired to kill their Supreme Commander, including those he accelerated their rise to senior positions, became the heroes.
So, Igbo traders announced to the world they are closing shops to go register. Did registration just start? People who have no Think Tanks, and no organized approach to politics. A people of individual politics want to act as if a group, without evolving the necessary instruments for that. Mgbe onye tetara bu ututu ya. So, you want to now register after the two major parties have candidates from outside the Igbo, and everyone knows you are angry. That is good. So, you actually want to register, and act in manner which flip side is to defeat Tinubu in Lagos? Very good. That is democracy at work. We are citizens of Nigeria. The constitution actually says that. You have the right. You did not do this ahead of 2015 and 2019. You have stayed away from voting before now. Statistics indicate that only about 22% Igbo reside in southeast Nigeria. Your vast majority reside in locations within Nigeria but outside the southeast. So, you want to challenge what is becoming an agreed theory that the Igbo have become a minority? Igbo middle class, and urban women who do no vote now want to vote. Clap for yourselves. Have you forgotten the Baboon and Ocean-drowning threats of the past? Obere nwa na amu iri elu, ukwu sie kwa ya ike.
The candidates for the 2023 presidential elections are emerging. So far, we have Peter Obi on LP, Atiku on PDP, Tinubu on APC, Kwankwaso on NNPP. There are at least two or three others coming with more energy than Nigeria has been used to.
This election season is unique. It will not be the usual two-way PDP vs APC, even if they are the only two with the national spread. The others come with uncertainties as to their strengths and capacities. May they all be treated as candidates seeking votes across all of Nigeria, and not regional candidates. May their candidacies not be considered offensive in any part of Nigeria. Already NNPP and Kwankwaso in the Northwest of Nigeria is making waves which pundits predict will not be light. So far, no Northerner is treating Kwankwaso/NNPP as an offense. May the southern candidates, and the mere fact they are candidates not become an offense to anyone. Please say amen. AMEN!!!
When Michael Okpara returned to Nigeria from exile ahead of the 1983 presidential election, he gave the Igbo one quote: First fool no be fool, second fool na proper foolish.
Ndigbo tetanu.
Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba
Former Vice-Chancellor (February 2016 – 10 February 2021)
Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike,
P.M.B. 1010, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
chinedum.nwajiuba@funai.edu. ng, chnwajiuba@yahoo. de
tel. +234-8033273871
www.funai.edu. ng
and
Chairman, Board of Directors,
Nigerian Environmental Study/Action Team (NEST)
1, Oluokun street, Off Awolowo Avenue, Bodija, Ibadan,
P.O. Box 22025 Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria
www.nestinteractive. org, www.nigeriaclimatechange. org