The Euphoric Republic of Biafra
By
I would with candor ask the MASSOB to define its new Biafran territory because as I write, I am aware that the neighboring states of Abia, Rivers, and Imo do not have a unitive indigene status for their citizens. Note that these states are forty miles apart. None of the Igbo states has a unitized indigene relationship with the other. And these are the people who together tasted the bitter peels of the total annihilation by the Gowon butchers. In the desire for state resource allocations from the federal coffers, Igbo leaders bitterly disowned and hated one another. Remember the issue of the abandoned property, which alienated Ndigbo from one another and in the process caused unprecedented hatred in land. In pursuit of personal gains Igbo leaders shamelessly adored the Gowon butchers who rose to the ranks of Generals and Heads of states. Therefore, where is MASSOB’s, fundamental stability for a second Biafra?
What about our Ibibio brothers, the Ijaws and all the Riverine States, which were part of the defunct Biafra? How does the MASSOB reconcile with them? I remember that those neighbours virtually seceded even before Biafra collapsed. As a matter of fact, the Efik speaking Biafrans at some point got disenchanted with the Biafran administration that they had to reappraise their involvement in the Biafran resistance. They hated Ojukwu’s relegation of their man General Effiong. Above all they felt and rightly so, that Biafra was increasingly becoming a personal entity, exclusively private. And they are not coming back to join the MASSOB euphoric republic of Biafra. What about that? The T-shirt tagged MASSOB operatives who run around in borrowed trucks proclaiming Biafra must internalize these realities.
Let me warn the good old Imo/Abia people that they are the ones for whom this bell tolls. It is going to be another phenomenon of the old cliché that “monkey de work baboon the eat.” You must remember that you are the ones who carried Biafra until it’s final gasp. I speak to you from the bottom of my heart and soul and from my experiences of the civil war of which I am a veteran officer that in your part of Igboland, there must not be a safe haven for mischief. Ndigbo must continue to be a formidable part of the federal Republic of Nigeria because it is wise to do so in a world where numerical strength has become quite imperative for a better social, and economic order. It is uncivilized for those who seek attention to use secession as blackmail to political leadership ascendance. In a country like ours, a separatist agitation is born out of reclusive idealism and the fear to compete in a wider political arena.
If any Nigerian leader believes that he is good enough to be a president of Nigeria let him contest and stop seeking to balkanize the nation in order to get a separate entity to own and dominate. The cowardly confederalists should compete with others on the national level if they believe they are popular enough to win the presidency under the present system setup.
Let me say that with available resources Ndigbo have now, they could if they so choose make Igboland an enviable place of abode. In fact we can become the pacesetters for the rest of Nigeria. Progress does not only come by way of revenue allocation. Real peoples’ progress is quite an internal group chemistry in the manner they treat one another. Do not forget that even in the heart of Igboland we have marginalization problems even in the villages. Let me ask these basic questions. How many Owerri businessmen own market stalls in the 50-year-old Onitsha market? How many Owerri Ibos held directorate positions in the defunct Ojukwu’s Biafra? Even as of today, the four leadership organizations, purporting to speak for Ndigbo vis-ŕ-vis, Odenigbo, Obigbo, Igboezue and Ohaneze are all Anambra based.
The mobilization of Ibos toward self-determination is not a bad idea, but what is odious is to cultivate the culture of rejuvenated selfishness that is now pervading Nigeria brought about by those who will never see virtue in others. Ndigbo can attain the Nigerian Presidency if they play their card well. But to demand the presidency, as contingent upon our continuance in the federation is a bad idea. It will tantamount to rotatory presidency, which is equally a bad idea in any democracy. A surrender of the presidency exclusively to any group will set a bad precedence. If we, Ndigbo want the presidency we must create alliances of trust within the existing or new political parties. Ndigbo must move in one direction like an avalanche gathering moss and momentum. Ndigbo leaders must be forthright with the masses. There is a dilemma in Igbo leadership because we have not learned the virtue of followership. We believe that politics is a game anybody can play at the top as long as he has the money and the name. In the process followership becomes unacceptable to any who has the money and the name in Igbo geo-politics. Consequently leadership becomes a monopoly of the rich no matter how long they have usurped it. Yet every Igbo leader calls for Igbo unity. Let me say this, if our leaders have the courage, they must begin to resist the plutocratic elite operatives who buy every vote in Igboland with nairas. Only so can they formulate meaningful and respectable alliances. Only so can they formulate pan-Igbo solidarity without pride and prejudice.
If injustice and inequity in every aspect of the Nigerian system are the problems, which of course they are, then we must fight from within the system to change it. The only best way to do so effectively is to present a united front. Measurable socio-economic equity in a new democracy takes time but it will surely come. In dealing with fellow Nigerians we must show a serene humility, and never display any intellectual pride or superiority. An Igbo man will become a Nigerian President. It is a matter of time, trust and patience.
We must not be afraid of anybody or any group if we simply do the right thing, and do so selflessly. We mustn’t play the game of blaming every other Nigerian on the street for our setbacks. In all analysis I believe that Ndigbo have fared well since the civil war, marginalization notwithstanding. Most of those who annihilated Ndigbo are now retired Generals and there is nothing we can do about them. And such is the way of the world! We may not have a perfect union of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and no nation does have a perfect union. But the worst thing the secessionist confederalists, or any other movement will do to us all is to force a dismemberment of our Nigerian union no matter how crude it has been. The souls of our founding fathers, Herbert Marcauly, Dr Azikiwe, Eyo Ita, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Belawa to name but a few, even from their graves will not bless any break up of the Nigerian Federation. The MASSOB, OPC and the confederalists must stop it forthwith.
August 2001