NEGATIVE PROFILING OF NDI IGBO AND THE BENJAMIN KALU COUNTER: An Opinion by Henry Madubuike
From scholarly research, the term, ‘Federation’ is used to refer to GROUPING of states, often on a REGIONAL basis, that establish central executive machinery, to implement policies or to supervise joint activities.
In some cases, such groupings are motivated primarily by POLITICAL or ECONOMIC concerns. In others, military objectives are essentially paramount.
Furthermore, a Federation, also called a FEDERAL STATE is an entity characterized by a UNION of partially self-governing provinces, states or other regions under a Federal Government.
The afore, tactically emphasizes DEVOLUTION, which is the statutory delegation of powers from the central government of a sovereign state to govern at a Subnational level, such as a regional or local level.
Loosely translated, Devolution is decentralization, even disconnection.
From the outset, it will be deduced the a group of states, with a central government but INDEPENDENT in internal affairs, is a Federation.
Now, simple deductible logic will show that to ‘federate’ is a function of negotiation, if going by the fact that a “federation is a group of societies or other organizations which have JOINED together to share a common interest”.
Unfortunately, the Igbo nation, as part of the federating units in Nigeria, going frontally to the kernel of this piece, has evidently been profiled as an endengered specie in the socio-political and economic order, which has continuously given rise to separatist tractions making demands and insisting on exploring every means necessary to drive home their obviously justifiable plea.
Every agitation has the Igbo nation bearing the brunt as though they have become public enemies in a land they are said to have equal stakes, with lives lost, businesses destroyed and psyche, stupendously injured, marinated with insults of aggravating proportions.
A video made the rounds, before the #EndBadGovernance protests, that the Igbos were behind same, with the intention of distabilizing the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, when Ndi Igbo, across the length and breadth of Nigeria had openly distanced themselves from such, toeing the path of peace, integration and nation building.
#IgboMustGo is still being championed by a particular section in Nigeria, yet Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, the Deputy Speaker, Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives, is toeing a surprisingly different line, still seeking togetherness, making sacrifices, urging his people to fly the olive branch, just as a task to keep Nigeria one. If a genuine and sane mind is not driven to tears by this Benjamin Kalu stance, then humanity is gone and lost to self centered brutish and animalistic misdemeanor.
This profiling, negatively destructive as it is arrogantly fille with satanic mischief a misrepresentation of who and what the Igbos represent is a clear manifestation that they are not wanted anymore in the federation, and giving in to pretences shall be seen for what it is: infantile. As it is said, a man does not acquire a dog that frowns at him.
Igbos are not cowards. It is obviously so. Rather, they are the highest contributors to national growth, economic development, cross bridge bonding, national cohesion and adhesion, promoters of national healing and the likes, yet, they have been consistently reminded of the 1967-1970 systemic annihilation, the 20 Pounds systematic emasculation and the abandoned property saga. Reminiscence is a great reminder.
This piece must not be misconstrued as a threat, implicitly or otherwise, but a ventilation of pent up worries, which if not unbundled, is capable of causing more danger to it’s bearer, which might snowball into self destruct.
It must be stated that the only restraint to reprisal, today, is the emergence of Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, the incumbent Deputy Speaker, Federal House of Representatives, National Assembly, Nigeria, who has demonstrated genuine concern for the integration of Ndi Igbo to the national grid of politics in Nigeria.
Today, the ruling All Progressives’ Congress, regarded initially as “Party Hausa” has made tremendous inroads in the South East geo-political zone, following the strategic marketing of same Party by Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, as the Party is gaining acceptance and making massive imprints in Igbo land, yet this negative profilers are not at rest, obviously pursuing an annihilist agenda.
This negativity shall not be tolerated by the Igbo of this generation anymore, as the people have shown enough restraint because of the inroads of the likes of Rt Hon Kalu.
Benjamin Kalu, has through his actions, showed maturity, exhibited his desire for the oneness of Nigeria, sued for peace, built bridges and fostered togetherness, yet his people are continuously profiled as persona non grata.
What is their offence? Industry? Entrepreneurial ingenuity? Strength of character? What exactly have they done wrong?
Do they want to drive Ndi Igbo into the sea of oblivion? Do they think 1967-1970 is 2024? Nigeria is ours and Ndi Igbo shall not be bullied into submission of abandoning her for anybody or group. As it is said in the streets, “we die here”!
While Ndi Igbo are mourning the demise of their illustrious sons, who are yet to be committed to Mother Earth, like Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Ifeanyi Uba, Amazon Onyeka Onwenu and even Elder Emmanuel Adaelu, the provocation shall get to a stage where nobody shall be pushed and told exactly where to fall. This is no threat. It is just what it is: truth and naked fact.
No union is cast on stone. No toxic marriage ought to be endured. A union can be “dis-unioned” if it cannot be made to work, most profoundly important, when there has remained a perpetual fear, for whatever reason, for one or two of the units. Yet, Ndi Igbo sue for peace and unity of Nigeria.
As it is said in Igbo, “m mere gini bu ogu o”! “Oji ofor g’ala o”! They want to stay, desirous to sacrificially make contributions to Nigeria’s peaceful coexistence but must not be told they are just be tolerated.
Though Igbos are Republican, respect is also given to leaders.
As Ndi Igbo presently are looking up to Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu for the enigmatic and charismatic leadership he has shown thus far, it shall not be tolerated if the traducers make them think that they shall sit and watch the labour of these men look like a gourd of water poured on the leaves of a coco-yam.
After all, Okonkwo, in Things Fall Apart said he will not sit down in a cowardly disposition of suing for peace and watch a man come into his father’s compound and defecates there and walk away with the swag of an untouchable conqueror!
Throughout the South East, Ala Igbo as it were, since the protests started, Ndi Igbo have gone about their normal businesses because of the respect shown to leaders like Utabiri Gburugburu, whose has refused to alienate himself from his roots.
If and only if it shall not be used as a smokescreen, the South East Development Commission, as orchestrated by Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu should serve as a pedestal to addressing the imbalances against Ndi Igbo, with a view to properly reposition them, after over 50 years of well calculated and devilishly implemented neglect against the most industrious and enterprising tribe in sub Saharan Africa.
Finally, when the stakes of progress of Nigeria shall be measured, pray, show the Geo-political zone that has been sacrificed more than Ndi Igbo.
“Onye si n’anyi agaghi ebi, ikuku buru ya o.”
We are Igbo. We go even where spirits dare. Enough of the nonsense! Enough is what it is: enough! Give peace a chance as wisdom is profitable to direct.
HENRY MADUBUIKE writes from Igbere and the Convener, Centre for Excellence and Performance in Governance, CEPG.