by Ozoemena Dika
I’m not a tribalist and I’m not trying to impress those who will eventually end up tagging me a tribalist because I care less about any one’s opinion. Every one is entitled to his/her opinion, you are allowed to judge me same way I am also allowed to judge you when you are done judging me.
There are 3 major tribes in Nigeria; Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa, Amongst the three (3) major tribes, the Igbo tribe is looked down on politically and we are in deep denial about it. We keep on denying even when reality stares at us in a mirror. I have continuously asked myself – Is it that Ndigbos are not interested in the Presidency or they know that they have no chance should they show interest, hence, their disinterest? Sometimes I ask myself, is the civil war really over? Or are we still paying the price of the ill-fated Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu coup? Today, we are being threatened by a political party with political irrelevance should Ndigbo refuse to vote for their candidate in the coming Feb 14, 2015 Presidential election. Odiegwu.
Let’s look at the ACN example. Bola Ahmed Tinubu represents many things but among the many things, we cannot deny the fact that, he has given the West a voice via his party. Nigeria cannot treat the South West the same way it treats the South East. No way. It’s not possible. The West currently have the largest voice, all thanks to ACN and their leaders pouring their best effort to get the Yorubas to embrace ACN. The Yorubas via ACN have entered an alliance with CPC to form APC, an alliance that is strong enough to get them to Aso Rock should they get their acts right.
I engaged my friend in a conversation about the political plight of Ndigbo, – he made a statement which pierced my heart. My friend said, “Don’t the Igbos have their own political leaders as the West and the North”. Crestfallen I was. My reply was, No. Ndigbo have no leaders. We have none. What we have are a bunch of self-centered individuals with the best interest of their family, relatives, friends and bank accounts at heart. They care not about the East, they care not about Ndigbos. They only care about the benefits there for them.
Who are those parading themselves as defenders of Ndigbo? Is it Raphael Nwazurike who has used the MASSOB struggle to enrich himself while hundreds of young Igbo boys who have been brainwashed or rather still, who still hope that the Biafran Dream is achievable are killed on a daily basis? Many rot in jail while many like Kaine go missing forever. Nwazurike & co even go on to collect from the poor by imposing levies on MASSOB members.
Or is it the Ohanaeze Ndigbo who claim to stand and represent the Igbo people whilst playing deaf and dumb to the campaign of calumny against Ndigbo by Junaid Mohammed, Mallam El-rufai and their ilks? Or Arthur Eze, Orji Uzor Kalu, Dan Iwuanyanwu – these men are political jobbers who have sold their souls.
Ndigbo have a party in APGA but we are yet to embrace APGA the same way the Yorubas embraced ACN. Who do we blame? Ndigbo or APGA? If I’m asked for my candid opinion, my answer will be; Ndigbo are yet to embrace APGA because the party officials are yet to embrace themselves. APGA had two (2) states, Anambra and Imo state – With Rochas Okorocha’s defection to APC, APGA now has only 1 state. An Ndigbo party controlling just 1 state in Igbo-land. Chineke.
Politically, Ndigbo are miles behind in the scheme of things. Developmentally, Ndigbo’s celebration of the 2nd Niger Bridge says it all. Igbos are sheep without shepherds. The Igbos voted for Olusegun Obasanjo – what did we get in return? Nothing. Ndigbos need to sit down in a village square type setting to brainstorm, re-think and strategize towards the regeneration and re-birth of Ndigbo politically. We have been silent for too long; maybe we will stop being silent after we’ve exhausted all available traditional chieftaincy names we gloat about with.
God bless Nigeria. God bless Ndigbo.
Ozoemena Dika writes on Google + Here
The opinions expressed in this articles are solely those of the author.
