IGBOS SUCCESS STORY - LETS CELEBRATE THIS HISTORIC IGBOMAN AND GROOM EMERGING LEADERS FROM HIS IDEAS AND STRENGTH

By 

Ugo Harris

The Igbos fought and resisted injustices by the European colonial invaders and injustice in Nigerian and against Africans despite the odds in so many different ways, but the remarkable events in Igbo history of fighting injustices are the AroChukwu against European War of 1830s-1890s, Enugu coal miners riot in 1920s and 1930s, Aba women riot in 1930s and 1940s, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe’s (Zikist Movement and his Newspaper ), Nigerian and Biafran civil war of 1967 to 1970, the killing of General Aguiyi Ironsi , the failure of Major Kaduna Nzeogwu and his group in the abortive coup. Yes we may have lost some of these battles but we will win the war of justice and freedom for Igbos in the long run. It is better to fight for justice and freedom whether you win or loss, than to accept injustice and bondage and live like a happy slave.

A LOOK AT THIS GREAT IGBO MAN AND HOW WE CAN GROOM OUR EMERGING LEADERS AND CORRECT OUR MISTAKES

Olaudah Equiano, the Igbo slave boy sold to Europe and America and fought his way from slavery to a major voice in the British Abolitionist Movement and he was instrumental on settlement of African slaves in Sierra Leone and died before he could finish the project.With his writings and books he became the greatest African writer between 1789 to 1889. He was also the first African to have written a book in English language and a best seller at that, and he published nine different editions before his death in 1797 and buried in Cambridgeshire England. If slavery was not in existence he would have gone back to Igboland, because he was proud of his Igboness despite all odds and so should emerging and current Igbo leaders.Read more ongreat and adventurous life of Olaudah Equiano(Gustavus Vassa)(link) http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/archive/histfile/biog.htm

“Olaudah Equiano (Gustavus Vassa) was kidnapped from his African village at the age of eleven, shipped through the arduous "Middle Passage" of the Atlantic Ocean, seasoned in the West Indies and sold to a Virginia planter. He was later bought by a British naval Officer, Captain Pascal, as a present for his cousins in London. After ten years of enslavement throughout the North American continent, where he assisted his merchant slave master and worked as a seaman, Equiano bought his freedom. At the age of forty four he wrote and published his autobiography, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, Or Gustavus Vassa, The African. Written by Himself, which he registered at Stationer's Hall, London, in 1789. More than two centuries later, this work is recognized not only as one of the first works written in English by a former slave, but perhaps more important as the paradigm of the slave narrative, a new literary genre. Equiano recalls his childhood in Essaka (an Igbo village formerly in east Nigeria), where he was adorned in the tradition of the "greatest warriors." He is unique in his recollection of traditional African life before the advent of the European slave trade. Equally significant is Equiano's life on the high seas, which included not only travels throughout the Americas, Turkey and the Mediterranean; but also participation in major naval battles during the French and Indian War (Seven Years' War), as well as in the search for a northwest passage led by the Phipps expedition of 1772-1773. Equiano also records his central role, along with Granville Sharpe, in the British Abolishionist Movement. As a major voice in this movement, Equiano petitioned the Queen of England in 1788. He was appointed to the expedition to settle London's poor Blacks in Sierra Leone, a British colony on the west coast of Africa. Sadly, he did not complete the journey back to his native land. Despite these attractive accomplishments, however, Equiano's most important work is his autobiography, which became a best seller, rivaled in popularity by Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. He published nine different editions before his death in 1797; including an American edition (1791), and German and Dutch editions, 1790 and 1791 respectively. By 1837, nine more editions had been published. Three editions were bound together with the poems of another former slave child Phyllis Wheatly, whose Poems on Various Subjects (1773) was the first collection of poems published by an African American. Together, their works form the genesis of a Black written literary tradition.” ( The Equiano Foundation 1997) . For further reading and research on Alaudah Equiano or Gusvtavas Vassa click this website http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/archive/histfile/biog.htm

If you pick out Five tribal group in Africa and compare them educationally, industry, social organization and advancement Igbos will be among the five tribal groups, and there are more than 200 hundred tribal groups in Africa. To Igbo detractors and enemies – where do you get these nonsense about Igbo lack of Leadership just because Igbos experienced some certain setback in their fight for Justice? . Name any tribal group in Africa except the Yorubas and one or two others tribes that can go head to head with Igbos in any human parameter of measurement and achievement. Please some of you should look inward before talking about Igbos and their lack of this and lack of that. Some of these people talking about Igbos comes from certain tribal groups that cannot stand shoulder to should with Igbos in any thing. Igbos have recorded achievements even before Nigeria was born as a nation and dating back to four centuries ago.

Every great nation or tribe that gained respect got it by fighting oppression and injustice and Igbos have stood out among the brave and persistent. Igbos have always had good Leadership qualities within Igbo nation, but the series of events in their history truncated the smooth transition of Leadership and as such it is being used by our detractors and enemies to portray us as if we have no Leadership within us and that is not true if one look at it objectively. Igbos are as organized as any tribe, yes we have our few short coming just like other tribes but we should not let them keep telling this lie over and over until it start sounding like truth.

If the series of events and set backs had gone in Igbo favour, I think Igbos would be praised today for having good leadership qualities, and it goes in human history that when you are down and unlucky everybody steps on you and when you are up every one praises you and for the Igbos our time will come for sure and we will get there. I really cannot see any other tribe as organized as the Igbos when you consider these setbacks and Igbos have achieved much inspite Of the hostile environment Igbos find themselves, and for those who are happy for Igbo misfortune, Africa would have been in a better position today if Igbos and people with like mind had succeeded in certain ways.

The Igbos as a people and as a nation within the Nigerian nation have been having the problem of sustaining their leadership growth since the evolution of modern African nations from the 1900. Fresh from the ravage of slavery, the Europeans invaded southern Nigeria in another form of slavery – colonialism took over, the civil war, and then the military along this line truncating the grooming of true Igbo leaders .Matters was not helped by the experience of up and coming Igbo leaders like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Dr. Nwafor Orizu, Dr. Mbadiwe, Mazi Mbonu Ojike, Chief Osita Osadebey, Ikemba Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu etc all of whom went abroad to gain education and knowledge which they used to fight for a just cause for Igbos and Africa, and in most of the cases like DR. Nnamdi Azikiwe etc who ran to Ghana for his life because he was fighting the European colonialist in Nigeria with his Newspaper and political activism . In the process Igbo leadership linkage and grooming were being destroyed by all these events, because Igbos were one of the African tribes that fought the Europeans with determination and till today the Igbos are paying that prices for that bold move. Igbos should bear one thing in mind, as the popular adage says that everyday is for the thief but one day will be for the owner, and I see a brighter future for the Igbos if the new emerging Igbo leaders will be very tactful and prepared to take Igbos into the better heights, because this century will be the beginning of great things to come for Igbo nation under this dispensation.

Igbos have proven with their zeal that injustice has to be faced forcefully and the they fought the Europeans in every step of the way, no wonder the Igbos were never the darling of the Europeans, but still the Europeans recognized the business and human skills of the Igbos by establishing both the Business, religious and educational resources centers within and close to the Igbo Nation. Asaba for business( Royal Niger Company), Onitsha for Missionary /education coordinating center, Calabar as educational centers as well as Portharcourt as business center. Both Calabar and Portharcourt were their beach head to Igbo land because both cities are located by the sea which was their only means of transportation.

The story of Olauda Equiano should be the a learning curve for emerging and new Igbo leaders and Igbos should go back to the grass roots to find our leaders. Just like Alaudah Equino built up himself let every Igbo go to our local levels and groom and nuture our new and emerging Igbo leaders in this dispensation. We should not let previous impediments truncate this new beginning.

There are more emerging leaders who may not be mentioned here but a new leadership has emerged in Igbo land and they should take us to the promise land. They should learn to work with our brothers and sister in South South and South West then within Nigeria as a nation. They should carry the ideals of the Igbo nation as their own cause and these leaders should be groomed, supported and encouraged to give Igbos a new face lift for a change. When a strong and responsive Igbo leadership is groomed we will be able to have a strong and vibrant southern Nigeria and a strong Nigeria. We have to support them with the experiences of the older generation and prepare them with the challenges ahead for Igbo nation.

(1) Some emerging Igbo leaders whom have shown grasp and understanding of the challenges of Igbos are all the present Igbo governors and I believe that with their meetings and gatherings(South East Governors Meeting) they have been able to identify Igbo problems and speak with one voice – Good job

(2) Other Emerging Igbo Leaders with track records among others who are not mentioned here and are carrying the mantle of leadership with a new understanding for Igbos , examples are Senator Ayim Pius Ayim – The Senate President – He is learning and he has a good temparement to lead Igbos. Other Igbo Senators who should be be given support are. Senator. Mike Ajaegbo – Anambra State Senator. Nnamdi Eriobuna – Anambra Senator. Chris Adighijie – Abia State Senator. Adolphus Wabara – Abia State( Potential Governor of Abia State) Senotor.Slyvanus Ngele – Ebonyi State Senator.Vincent Obasi Usulor – Ebonyi State Senotor. R. E. Osakwe – Delta State Senator. Ifeanyi Ararume – Imo State Senotor. Fidelis Okoto – Enugu

(3) Igbo Members of the House of Representatives who are emerging Igbo leaders and making progress working for Igbo ideals and goals for a strong Igbo nation among others not mentioned here are: Barrister Ned Nwoko – member of the House of Representatives From Delta State ( Potential Governor of Delta State) Mr. Nduka Irabor - Member of the House of Representatives From Delta State Nwuche Nwabueze – Member of the House of Representatives From Rivers State( Potential Governor of River State) Mr. Wilson Asinobi - Member of the House of Representatives From Rivers State Mr. Austin Adiele - Member of the House of Representatives From Rivers State Chinonoyerem Macebuh – Member of the House of Representative from Abia State( Potential Governor of Abia State Mr. M Ohuabunwa - Member of the House of Representative from Abia State Mr. Alexander N.Nwofiah – Member of the House of Representative from Ebonyi State MrS. Patience Ogodo – Member of the House from Ebonyi State Mrs Linda Ikpeazu – Member of the House of Representative from Anambra State Mr. Chudi Ofodile – Member of the House of Representative from Anambra State Mr. Tony Eneh – Member of the House of Representative from Enugu State Mr. Sylvester Ugwuoke – Member of the House of Representative from Enugu State Barrister Tony Anyanwau – Member of the House of Representative from Imo State( Potential Governor of Imo State) Mr. Cajethan Dike – Member of the House of Representative from Imo State( Potential Governor of Imo State) and others.

(4) Federal Executive Members Chief Ojo Maduekwe – Minister for Transportation Chief Ogulafor – Minister for Economic Matters and Special Project Chief Dan Chuke – Minister of State for Defence DR. Nwosu – Minister for Health DR. Menakaya – Former Minister for Health Chief Kema Chikwe – Minister for Aviation Engineer Ernest Ndukwe –Executive Chiarman – Nigerian Communication Commision, etc Chief Onyema Ugochukwu – Chairman NDDC and others not mentioned

(5)Local government Levels and emerging Igbo leaders who are making wonderful progress and giving faith and hope to Igbos among others examples are:

Mr. Okechi Kanu – Brother to Former Military Governor, Commodore Ndubuisi Kanu both of whom were NADECO members and fought for justice and democracy. He is the Vice- Chairman of (Algon) Association of Local Government council of Nigeria and the Chairman of Isukwuato Local Government of Abia State and potential Governor of Abia State.

Chief Felix Merengini Okite – Chairman Bende Local Government Area. An Architect and Town Planner by training. He studied at University of Nigeria Nsukka and at University of Newcastle – Upon Tyne in England. With his collabotative and excellent work with the Governor of Abia state, this is a truly emerging Igbo leader who deserves our support because of his track records. He is also a potential Governor or deputy Governor of Abia State.

Mr. Okey Muo Aroh – Chairman of Idemili North Local Government Area. He is doing a wonderful job and also his effort with ( AVC) Anambra Vigillantee Service ( Bakassi Boys) on fighting crime. – Anambra State

Dr. Nkem Okoro – Chairman of Arochukwu Local Government Area. A lawyer by training, He is working very good for Arochukwu people .

Chief Vitalis Njoku – Chairman Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area. He has improve local government facilities in Aboh Mbaise LGA – Imoh State

MR. Goddy Osele – Chairman Aguata Local Government Area . He has proven record in his LGA– Anambra State

DR. Emmanuel Ngwu – Chairman Ngwo Local government Area. Dynamic and a good negotiator - Enugu State

MR. James Nweke – Chairman Afikpo/ Ivo Local Government Area – Ebonyi State. Persistent in producing results .

I believe that if Igbos will renew and groom emerging leadership who will not forget their Igboness and like Alauda Equiano who believed in the strength of his Igbo heritage, then and then will this century be a century for Igbos.

In conclusion, I have done my part to identify new and emerging leaders in Igboland and they are many more whose name did not appear here and the Igbo nation know them by their actions and responsibilities. Every Igbo has to go to his/her local level and identify which person based on record and genuine achievement can we trust to work for Igbo nation.

Ugo Harris 

Nigerian Democracy and Justice Project Washington, DC