It is obvious today that, the forces of might may never crush the Biafra agitation. It is an agitation that has come to stay until when the fundamental issues that has given rise to their demands are attended to, with every understanding and determination required by the Federal Government to calm it down. The agitation is a genuine struggle by a group in a part of Nigeria that feels marginalized and less Nigerian though, wrongly and badly managed by the leaders of the agitation, whether it’s under Ralph Uwazuruike or Nnamdi Kalu. The message is simple, they are raising a fundamental question; Are the Igbo, Nigerians? If so, are they fully recognized by the FG? The Federal Government of Nigeria must listen to the cry of marginalization, lopsided federal appointment, projects against the Igbos been expressed by this group.
The federal government cannot go up in arms against these agitators and go to sleep, first, the Biafra agitators have never carried any arsenal against the State, though, you may accuse them of instances they disturbed free movement of other citizens but, they have remained, maintained non-violent approach to their quest for self rule. They have been able to mobilize, sensitize the consciousness of larger number of the South Easterners both at home and diaspora, using the non-presence of FG investments in the Igbo land. They have appealed every Igbo man to see the struggle as that of survival of Ndigbo, the struggle of their live.
Personally, I do not belong and do not intend to be part of any of the groups; MASSOB, IPOB, BIM, IPSSOB or whatever name they chose to call themselves. The agitation for the independent state of Biafra by some Igbo youths is a social problem created by leadership gap in Nigeria and the Igbo nation. Not forgetting that, our late literary giant, Chinua Achebe in his book, The Trouble with Nigeria, said emphatically that, ‘the trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else’, and this is a fact, never has Nigeria suffered any natural calamity. The agitation of these Igbo youths is the result of failure of leadership, leadership in Nigeria and, the Igbo nation in particular. The right things were not done by these leaders, so much deceit and wickedness meted out to the masses of this country.
The solution to the Biafra agitation do not lie in military engagement rather, it is the concise effort of the FG in genuine reconciliation, reconstruction, delivering good governance to all and sundry, nook and cranny of the country. The State reneged, abdicated from its responsibility since independence of its own side of the social contract with the people thereby, slaughtering patriotism at the altar of ethnic jingoism. The young Igbo youths in Umuahia, Aba, Onitsha, Owerri, Asaba, Okigwe, Abakiliki, Port-Harcourt, Enugu are not stupid to have risen up in demand for an independent state of Biafra, it is the failure of leadership that has encouraged and emboldened their mind, actions. It is the same leadership vacuum that has thrown up the Boko Haram insurgents in the North East, Niger Delta militants in the South South, as such the FG and the leaders of all these zones over the years cannot run away from the blame. When people are treated badly, shabbily, denied of basic needs, when they are shown no interest, the state do not invest in them, when they lose hope, feel used and dumped, they become angry, inconsolable, unpatriotic, it is the country that suffers. The Biafra agitation is only a reaction to the many injustices, exclusions, second class rating usually accorded the Igbo, and other forms of inequality that characterize the Nigerian state.
In fairness to the current Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, the real or imagined maltreatment, marginalization, discrimination or hatred of Ndigbo in Nigeria did not just begin in his government, but he can do something positive to reconcile every aggrieved part for the real change to truly begin with us. The average Igbo is interested in Nigeria, prepared to build a better and stronger country for all but, will never accept to be tagged a second class citizen in a country he has contributed in no small measure to build. The, no victor, no vanquished, statement of General Yakubu Gowon, must be treated sacrosanct. Nigerian leaders failed immediately after the civil war to begin genuine and massive reconciliation, reconstruction, re-orientation of all ethnic groups. The Igbo are blessing to Nigeria, the Igbo spirit is the future of Nigeria, and they will take Nigeria to greater heights, material and economic freedom, scientific and technological advancement. The Igbo spirit is the bearer of light and wherever light appears darkness disappears. It is all about leadership organization, in Nigeria, Igbo land and other parts.
There is something unique about every part of this country that is evidently advantageous to others. For Nigeria to achieve its glory, every group must be encouraged to contribute its best to the table. For instance, it is not in debate that the Igbo spirit is highly competitive and, it is this spirit that Nigeria needs to develop fast. It is this lack of recognition, respect for other group, by others, that has allowed Nigeria to still exhibit the attributes of a failed state. Nigeria must be re-organized, well administered for its great potential to manifest. We cannot quench this agitation by the Biafra youths, Niger-Delta militants pipeline bombing, Fulani herdsmen killing and Boko Haram insurgents with armoured tanks alone without addressing the under currents. When we continuously run Nigeria without the interest of its youths, even and adequate provision of infrastructures, give hope to the hopeless, protecting the weak and vulnerable members of the society, building our tomorrow today then, we are encouraging a state divided amongst, thereby dragging Nigeria to precipice.
A positive change is what Nigerians look forward to; it must occur and, has to start with our leaders. Had our leaders done the needful, our country will be on the march to greatness. There wouldn’t have been any need for the emergence of all these groups threaten the cooperate existence of Nigeria. The government at the centre must always prove that the citizens and the country sit on its palm for care and protection. Something very urgent must be done to give these teeming young men and women hope in their country. A country cannot be in peace, advance in this atmosphere, where a larger member of it feel completely ‘un-Nigeria’ or ‘under-Nigeria.’
Written by Uzodinma Nwaogbe.
