I am quite aware that there is injustice, marginalization in Nigeria. It can be argued that it is more noticeable in the south eastern part. But the biggest injustice, marginalization for me remains, that of the economic giants, political elites against the poor, governed. I am still in the debate against the approach, method adopted by Nnamdi Kanu and IPOB as the last resort; it was a wrong strategy/approach. Some of us must have done research, read about the Biafra – Nigeria civil war, and still reading at exactly what happened, who played what role. One of the stories had it that the late Owelle of Onitsha, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe approached the late Biafra leader, Chief Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu for a possible political solution to the crisis then rather than indulging in a meaningless war. According to reports, Ojukwu refused vehemently preferring for a fight to finish war. The war was fought, the Igbos lost a great number of their best, millions of men and women, our economy ruined, politics shattered, land devastated and, till date we have not fully recovered.
It will be unwise, a wrong calculation and strategy for the Igbos to again embark on another costly war. Ndigbo cannot continue to wail and blame the northern oligarchy and other parts for our woes, for how long? Igbos are well endowed, very sophisticated group on earth, we head the commerce and industry, science and technology in Africa, unfortunately, very unfortunately our elites have refused to organize the eastern zone for relevance on the Nigerian political table. Since 1999, when democratic governance returned to Nigeria, I have not heard that any federal allocation, the Paris club refund, excess crude, VAT, every penny, kobo, and naira accruing to any of the eastern states was held back by the Federal Government. Between 1999 and 2015, the Igbos produced the senate presidents, deputy speakers, ministers, DGs, Chairmen of parastatals, military, and security chiefs, what happened then?
Today, the northern states are building rice, chicken, flour mills, industries, giving their youth scholarship within and outside the country for further training. This is to position them to run the northern and Nigerian economy now and in the future. What are the Igbo state governors doing for the zone? For instance, why is it difficult for the Abia state governor to build a shoe cum textile factory in Aba to train and make shoes and clothes for Nigeria and African market? Let us agree and say it, the eastern governors since 1999 are the real reason we have backwardness in the zone. Our governors have contributed immensely in building this army of unemployed youth that are frustrated, and are presently willing tools in the hands of any disgruntled politician. Once the governors of the east realize their role and begin massive investment in the economic growth and development of the zone, the better for us.
Politically, we must re-strategize. The presidency cannot be given to us on a platter of gold. We must play the politics; jaw-jaw is more favourable to war-war. Other zones are beginning to think, draw their political plan, plot, and strategize for 2019 and beyond. Ndigbo must also begin to think, talk, plan and strategize; politics is all about give and take. Why do we want to shed the blood of our youth again? Are we cursed?
Again, the federal government must also double its efforts at building the country for the sake of justice, peace, unity and development. It is because the FG has failed in its numerous responsibilities that have encouraged these youth restiveness in the north-east, south-south, south-west, south-east, farmers/herdsmen clash, religious war, ethnic killings. FG must ensure justice, fairness, equity for all person and groups. Since 1960, the political class and their cronies have amassed the state wealth abandoning real governance, nation building thereby cursing the poor. Nigeria, with over $600 billion of oil profits, our roads are still in bad shape, power generation is a disaster, hospitals are in the condition that has made our number one citizen to always seek for medical attention in far away London, education a failure, economy on its knees, unemployment skyrocketing.
Corruption seems to be thriving. We came from PDPs government to APCs with high hopes of a better Nigeria but it is glaring there is no change in sight. It is the same old ways. The APC have shown every citizen that they came to power ill-prepared to tackle Nigeria myriad of problems.
Written by Uzodinma Nwaogbe.
