A personal assay of Nigerian political structure indicates that Igbo political leaders have resorted to playing back seat politics rather than advance the cause of Igbo nation. Dim Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, remains a great leader of the Igbo’s even in his death. With no doubt, he distinguished himself from the back seat politics employed by most Igbo political leaders and until his death, he never lost sight of the marginalization dispensed to the Igbos and how to make things right. Another legendry Igbo leader, Professor Chinua Achebe of blessed memories dissected the place of the Igbos in Nigerian politics in his wonderful literary work titled, ‘There was a Country’. The Igbos do appreciate our sons and daughters who aspire and attain to highly respected leadership positions. It is tasking, challenging and demanding to be leaders. However, the collective interest of the people being led should supersede the personal interest of the leaders. Many Igbo political leaders, unfortunately, carry around, a false sense of satisfaction in their heads while consciously or unconsciously avoiding the truth; the Igbos are marginalized in the polity of our great nation, Nigeria.
The most disturbing part of their misconception of the Igbo nation’s marginalization in Nigeria is that these self proclaimed Igbo political leaders are working tirelessly to indoctrinate the Igbos into the negative belief that all is well. What a shame! Historically, Igbos have suffered more marginalization and misdeed in Nigeria than any other ethnic group in Nigeria. Our leaders are bewitched by the spirit of deceit, where they tell us how they will fight our cause as Igbos and forget the Igbos as soon as they see, ‘Welcome To Abuja’ sign. Which ethnic group was intentionally starved and massacred to near point of extinction in Nigeria? Which ethnic group had over three million lives lost for political justification of one Nigeria? Which ethnic group lost economic fortunes in the name of Abandoned Property Act in Nigeria? Which ethnic group lost money in the bank and 20 pounds given to each account holder irrespective of amount deposited in the bank? Which major ethnic group of Hausa, Yoruba and Igbo has not produced a democratically elected executive president of Nigeria? And the list continues.
Unequivocally, the unity of Nigeria as a nation is built on the sacrifices and the blood of the Igbos, yet, as a people, we do not have much to show for it. The Independence of Nigeria was pioneered by some great Igbo political leaders. Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Zik of Africa, Late Dr. Francis Akanu Ibiam, Late Chief Michael Okpara, just to mention a few. These great men in their vision for a unified and independent Nigerian nation had, as their primary motivation, the interest of the Igbos as a people. They employed smart political strategies to advance the Igbo man’s cause in Nigeria. Can we say so about the Igbo political leaders of today? For most, no but for selected few, the answer is in the affirmative. These great Igbo leaders will, forever, be remembered for their selfless services to the Igbo nation. This poses a question for the present Igbo leaders, what will you be remembered for?
The first and second Republic political dispensation witnessed the emergence of ethnic political parties. This fact is not farfetched considering the voting patterns of the major ethnic groups in Nigeria. The Nnamdi Azikiwe led National Congress of Nigerian Council dominated the Igbo land/Eastern part, the Action Congress led by Obafemi Awolowo dominated Yoruba/Western Nigeria while the Ahmadu Bello led Northern People Congress controlled the Hausa and Fulani/Northern Nigeria. In the second Republic, NPN, UPN and NPP toed the line of ethnic politics and portrayed the control of the Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo political hemispheres respectively. The third republic started with the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP emerging as the ruling party and the Alliance for Democracy emerging as the Western party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA emerged as the Igbo Party with Late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu as her presidential candidate.
It is clear that the third republic has seen the Igbos playing politics of self interest and no group interest. A lot of political parties began to spring up in Igbo land in our present political time. PPA, ANPP, UDP, etc were some of the third republic political parties formed by the Igbos. While these parties are being formed by some Igbo political leaders, some other Igbo political leaders, on the other hand are busy jumping into the band wagon of PDP for their personal interest of getting a bite of the national cake in Abuja. Our political leaders’ personal passion for getting to the center is the point where the Igbos lost our negotiating power and the price; we must remain marginalized until we get it together. In as much as freedom of association of the Igbos is a welcomed development, association for freedom of the Igbos is a much more welcomed initiative. A merger of the Igbo bound political parties and the unity of the Igbo leaders will give the Igbos more negotiating power in Nigeria than our present back seat position. The emergence of All Peoples Congress came out of the negotiating power of the Alliance for Democracy and today, the Igbo political leaders are jumping in because of their personal interest in partaking in the loot at the center.
APGA remains the only party that takes the Igbos interest to the heart and our political leaders should desist from their false sense of fulfillment and face the fact. APGA is the political nucleus of the Igbos and if the Igbos cannot uphold APGA, we are not appreciative of the sacrifice of leadership made by the Azikiwes, the Akanu Ibiams, the Loius Ojukwus, the Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwus, the Chinua Achebes, etc. APGA is a formidable party which can be restructured into a national party with genuine leadership. Within the length and breadth of Igbo land APGA should be the political machinery to advance the Igbo cause. APC and PDP do not have anything in stock for the Igbos other than the usual marginalization. The day any of those parties field Igbo presidential flag bearer, then we will know they meant well for the Igbos. I thought APC would have zoned the presidential flag bearer or running mate to the South East. Is this another lost cause for the Igbos as usual?
In Imo state politics, the membership of, a former Minister of the Federal Republic, in APGA is a great stride for the Igbos. has always championed the Igbos’ cause. His vision for Imo state and the Igbos or the South East is instrumental for South East political and economical development. Ohaneze Ndigbo, as a political forum has failed to achieve much in the political advancement of the Igbos. PDP, APC and their likes have failed the Igbos too. The Igbos need a new front and APGA political movement can champion the advancement of the Igbos. Imolites and Igbos should embrace the vision of the Owerri North born former minister for the economic development of our state. His political philosophy is that political and economic strength go hand in hand. He has continuously stressed the need to create a structure that will create wealth instead of wealth consumption and sharing Federal Government allocation to the state.
Ihenachos’ vision of creating wealth is built on the principle of creating enabling environment that will attract private investors to promote industrialization of Imo state. This will form the economic base of the state and production of agricultural, chemical and mechanical products for local consumption and export. This will create employment opportunities for thousands of unemployed youths and reduce the unspeakable high rate of unemployment. As these industries are springing up, there will be a great need for skilled manpower to supply the human resources needed by the industries. This is where the free and qualitative education comes to play. He has stated the importance of operating a free and qualitative education that will empower our people for the twenty-first century globalization challenges. These are objective, measurable, attainable and realistic goals. Considering his business expertise, articulation, honesty and humility, there is every reason to support this great technocrat to give his selfless service to great Imolites in particular and the Igbos in general. When you sum up the achievement of this patriot who became a ship captain at age 32, you will know that Imolites have not got their best at the Douglas House yet. Imo deserves the best and the Igbos deserve equal opportunity in Nigeria.
My opinion of the present Nigerian political dispensation remains that the Igbos, one of the three major ethnic groups have sacrificed lives and wealth on which the unity of Nigeria stands. The Nigerian civil war witnessed the loss of over 3 million Igbo lives and destruction of property and wealth of the Igbos. Post civil war Nigeria has left the Igbos marginalized by other ethnic groups. Most of Igbo political leaders have deliberately ignored the Igbo cause for selfish interest of personal enrichment. How long shall we continue straying like the lost sheep? Few of our leaders are taking the bold steps that characterized the likes of Zik, Odumegwu Ojukwu, Michael Okpara, Sam. Mbakwe, Akanu Ibiam, Chinua Achebe, just to mention a few. Igbo cause is not one man’s cause. Igbos need to support the likes of His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, Captain Emmanuel Ihenacho and the APGA movement for the advancement of our place in the Nigerian politics. No more backseat politics played by selfish Igbo, self proclaimed, leaders. Leadership of the Igbo nation is dependent on placing the Igbos’ plight above self enrichment and not on rhetoric of deceit.
