THE IGBOS AND THE SEARCH FOR THE WISE MEN

by 

Ritchie Ejiofor

The absence of an acceptable Igbos leadership may have spurned misconception of the existence of a lawless Igbos society without a defined leadership structure. This stereotype is given prominence and legitimacy by mis-interpretation of the Igbos values, culture and ways of life by pre-colonial historians who gave cognizance to this theory which have become wide spread and accepted, such that elementary and high school history books today still list the Igbos pre- colonial society in reflection with today reality as a lawless society. This wide spread misguided assumption finds further credence in the Igbos maxim " Igbos e wen eze" (Igbos have no leader) Comparatively vis-a –vis other ancient kingdoms, the Igbo represented an egalitarian and a highly individualized republican society but not a lawless society as has become fashionable lately to describe the Igbos

This background knowledge is necessary to understanding, the egalitarian, and highly individualized out look of the average Igbo society in the face of the call for a truly Igbo leaders to enable it confront the several issues it grapples through in their search for identity within the context of a Nigerian federation. From earliest times the Igbo society had placed a higher premium on family unit and this had formed the basis f government and leadership structure. It practiced the nearest approximation of a republican democracy where the freedom of expression was widely acknowledged and respected .The Igbos have never experimented with divine right theory of leadership nor totalitarian authority vested in one person. The attempt to introduced a corrupted version code named "warrant chief" by the imperial power was a dismal failure in the eastern region and it’s violent opposition lead to the Aba women’s war of 1929.

Because the Igbos where never known to have practiced a centralized government, the absence of an accepted leader became very visible and that has haunted the Igbos since 1900 to date. While it is agreed that there is the need for an Igbo leader, there exist several and different standard for selecting such or for recognizing such qualities among the crops of eligible Igbo statesmen’s available. Another significant attributes of the Igbo society despite the absence of a unifying central leadership as compared to their western, northern neighbors, is that the Igbos have thrived to maintain high level of homogenous attachment and unity with one another through means such as marriage alliance, promotion of a central language and the existence or streamlining of cultural similarities that is wide spread within the Igbo nation. Also, there is the general acceptance by majority, or of all of the Igbos that the present federal composition and structure puts them in disadvantaged and makes them a target and susceptible to marginalization and hatred by their other less friendly neighbors who in the words of Chief Ojukwu " There must be something about my Iboness that annoys others…" This is given credence by the fact that, there existed no certified authority cum leaders so to speak to propagate the Igbos view points or outlook. The existence of in fighting by several Igbo groups seeking for recognition aptly explains this apathy with regards to an acceptable Igbo position on some issues and how best to quickly resolve them.

The Igbos has been by sheer coincidence or stroke of history the recipient of several incidental cases of woes in Nigeria. The conclusion that is reached there is that various government have taken advantage of the fact that because of the highly republican and individualized nature of the Igbo society coupled with the absence of a central leader, the policy of Igbo apartness will serve better a grand design- whatever that maybe. The first major step in that direction was the splitting of East central states during the pogrom era, the refusal to change the derivation formulae when it was apparent that the cash crop boom did not favor palm oil trade then which was the main stay of the eastern regions declining economy, the refusal to continue the crude exploration in the east after oil was discovered in olobiri in the 1950’s even though the first shell camp was built in owerri, the lack of attention given to the development of the coal mine in Enugu. The request for Oguta Lake being dredged to provide a seaport to serve the core Igbo business cities of Aba, Onitsha and Orlu which apparently has fallen on deaf ears.

When to all these, it is added that, the pogrom of 1966, which was an organized genocide against the Igbos, and set them back for nearly three decades with no input from the various federal government to address these issues, it leaves one in doubt as to the sincerity of purpose of those concerned. Conventional wisdom would have suggested that, a government willing to heal the wound of the civil war of 1966 and to reassure all citizens of it’s sincerity, the issue of abandoned property would have long been resolved .It is inconceivable for a person to abandon his property in their father land and such properties still remain "abandoned" nearly 35 years after a civil war that was proclaimed "no victor, no vanquish" With only the properties of the Igbo seized by such states as Lagos, Rivers, Cross River, and perhaps those in the north, and nothing done to remedy this anomalies, the impression created in the mind of the average Igbo man, is that the war hatred is far from over and is considered as a second class citizen or at best a foreigner in their own country. Also, the now "infamous " post war exchange rate of twenty five naira equivalent given to the Igbo deserves to be properly documented and reparation need be paid to the Igbos .While it took more than thirty years to restore and retire all military personnel affected by the war years, it is inconceivable and shameful that at this time of our national history, the issue of first Igboman to be elevated to hold certain public office or military rank still rears its head .

It does appear from any standpoint that it is viewed, that, a brief analogy of the Igbos in Nigeria is a catalogue of marginalization, fear, suppression, and denial of right to self-determination. It is only in Igbo land that, it took the state efforts to build their own airport when the federal government recluse itself from extending same largesse states in the other regions enjoyed with total disregard for the principle of need, equitable distribution of federal amenities. Of the three major ethnic groups, only the Igbos don’t have an international airport .If the level of development with federal government inputs in tripartite regional development design centers of Ibadan, Kaduna, Enugu and later substituted with Port Harcourt, is analyzed, the growing resource distribution lopsidedness will be too glaring to deserve further comments here.

The Igbos have become the convenient sacrificial lamb to be slaughtered in any parts of the country even in the face of minor altercation. A look at the victims of all religious riots across the Northern part of the country tell the gory tales of how insecure the Igbos are in the present federal structure that does not offer adequate protection. The various riots in the western parts of the country particularly in Lagos area are targeted at the same Igbo people who are helpless and defenseless. No body has given a clear-cut reason why those Igbo traders should not be compensated or why they should feel secure in the system. In the political equation for appointments as the list of newly appointed federal board chairmen of public corporations reflects, the ratio given to the Igbos regardless of the fact that they voted for the present ruling party is lopsided once again, against the Igbos.

The latest federal armed invasion of Okigwe, an Igbo heartland should give concern not only to the Igbos who have been carrying their cross alone, but to all patriotic and objective minded Nigerians as a provoking signal to chaos as different and uniform standard seems to be adopted when dealing with Igbo issue in Nigeria politics by the central Government. It is a painful reminder of neglect, hatred, and organized scheme to reduce the Igbos to a non- citizen status in their country. This various actions by the government only re-echo the Igbos demand for "Aburi " we stand. In cognizance of the above fore going, It becomes imperative on all Igbo states governors and legislature to resuscitate the abandoned "Ahiajioku lectures" to document the passing Phase in Igbo rich history and the search for the wise men should begin.

This is a clarion call for the Igbos to come together regardless of political affiliations, to address this leadership issue and articulate programs for correcting this age long list of oppression. The recent upsurge for self determination by MASSOB, is clearly an indication that the Igbos are dissatisfied with the present arrangement and should not be coerced into silence by brute use of force. Those who forget the history of the past are doomed to repeat it…late Chief Awolowo in his popular quote " when people shout… nothing happens, but when they murmur… a revolution is imminent" Nigerians and definitely the Igbos do not hope for a revolution, but vast majority are agreed that the policy of marginalization which seems to run across the entire eastern region, which includes the Niger Delta, etc must be addressed and urgent steps taken towards ameliorating them. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Our leaders should not be seen to be preaching one nation, unity and equitable federal structure, when its action are directly in contradictions to its stated principles. That would amount to our leaders telling us to listen to Moses, but they go back, dancing around the golden calf.

This is the time to reflect. If we all honestly believe in one equitable country, guided by the principle of fairness, justice and respect. All hands should be on deck to speak out of all glaring cases of inequalities and marginalization and particularly, the recent invasion of Okigwe should be condemned.

Ritchie Ejiofor Esq