By Michael Onwuka
The Igbo people native to the present-day South-East and part of South South Nigeria are one of the three largest ethnic groups in the country.
According to renowned historians, archeologists and anthropologists, Igbo civilisation in Nigeria dates back to the 18thCentury with Nri Kingdom dated radiocarbon 14 as having existed from 900AD and, therefore, the oldest kingship institution in present day Nigeria.
Ndigbo are ingenious and among the best in any profession they identify with. They have over the years achieved some form of broad cultural homogeneity by bequeathing peace, equity and fairness to society.
However, they have been objects of stereotype and negative profiling as well as victims of class conspiracy, leading to a situation where it has been very difficult for the Igbo man to thrive in a multi-ethnic Nigeria.
It should be mentioned that this existential threat began in August 1911 during the famous ‘British Liquidation’ when the early British missionaries and the Colonial government attempted to destroy the sacred foundations of Ndigbo through the ‘Igbo Enwe Eze’ dictum.
This seeming conspiracy has continued in today’s Nigeria where ones ethnicity determines their chances to excel and also their position in the social relations of production.
This subjective display of ethnic sentiments has led to mutual suspicion and hatred among the peoples of Nigeria, resulting to the subjugation of Ndigbo in a country their forebears laboured to build.
Furthermore, the current political structure and governance in Nigeria have become oppressive, difficult, complex and an existential threat to Ndigbo.
Worst still, there is no political confraternity within the Igbo nation as most politicians from the area are either stooges of the Caliphate or are after building personal empires.Political analysts believe that an average politician from the Igbo nation is greedy, self-centered and can sabotage the common cause of his people in exchange for material things.
The National President, Igbo National Council (INC), Mr Godsent Chilos believes that there is an ongoing psychological warfare against the Igbo nation which the political class from the area has succumbed to due to their selfish desires.
Chilos, who was special guest during the inauguration ceremony of INC, Enugu State Chapter, said that the population of the Igbo nation is estimated at 80million people while the Fulani tribe in Northern Nigeria is estimated at about five million people in a country of about 200million people.
In spite of this clear numerical strength, Igbo politicians, including those aspiring to govern their respective states with distinct geography, ideology, faith and creed usually resort to political pilgrimage to the Caliphate to seek for political blessings.
To Chilos, these type of politicians will never speak truth to power and are the reason for the continuous subjugation of Ndigbo.
He wondered why in spite of the contributions of Ndigbo in commerce and industry, there is no functional sea or dry port in the area while the fear to open up the area to the world is the reason for the suppression of international flights at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.
He said that the Igbo dilemma in the context of one Nigeria requires urgent pragmatic solutions, including empowerment of youths and other budding politicians as well as organising deliberate leadership mentorship programmes.
Chilos said that INC was formed to develop the leadership competence of the people of the area as well as provide solutions to the fast eroding value system in Igbo nation.
“The mobilisation of Ndigbo for self-preservation and sustenance is our priority. INC will support the establishment of cooperative societies and mobilise funds so that we will be able to nurture experts with corporate investments in different areas of interest. Our people must have clusters of investments,” Chilos said.
Also, a Senior Lecturer at Ebonyi State University, Dr. Jerry Chukwuokolo, said that the way the Nigerian government responds to issues emanating from the Igbo nation has become scary and suspicious. Chukwuokolo described the Fulani as the major problem of Nigeria and heightened by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
He said that the security of Ndigbo in Nigeria has become a great concern to many, adding “we are the most vulnerable and victims of violence in today’s Nigeria.”
He said that the unprovoked wanton destruction of lives and property by Fulani herdsmen has gotten to a stage where every Igbo man must be security conscious and defend himself.
The don said that there is a well orchestrated and deliberate effort to subjugate Ndigbo due to jealousy and fear of Igbo dominance in the country. He noted that in order to neutralise such plans, Ndigbo need to be intellectually and financially ready. He advocated for the liberation of the youths from poverty by supporting them with capital to run their businesses.
Chukwuokolo called on industrialists and investors of Igbo extraction to repatriate part of their investments to Igbo land in order to build the economic and industrial base of the area and ultimately create job opportunities.
He, however, said that domestic and foreign investments in Igbo land will only be possible when there are friendly investment policies and legislations. He expressed concern that some governors in the area have scared big investors away on the basis of differences in state of origin and other selfish considerations.
Conclusively, the yearning of Ndigbo for justice, equity and fairness in Nigeria has been tortuous and perilous. Sociopolitical analysts believe that if nothing urgently is done, most people from the Igbo nation that will launch themselves into political leadership positions in the next 30 years may have no political footings.
Therefore, it has become more necessary to nurture and indoctrinate the next generation of political leaders in Igbo land to understand and invent a well defined common cause and sense of direction. This is what INC stands for.
