By: Tai Emeka Obasi.
Please, the ‘man’ used in the above heading is in the biblical context.
Let me state that my happiest moment in a long while was witnessing the bold presence of HE Peter Obi, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Victor Umeh and others at the burial of the parents of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Why both parents should decide to go together is a curiosity only the creator can decipher.
I know some people would want me to remove one name from the aforementioned trio but facts are facts. Besides, someone’s present is what I judge him/her with. We all make mistakes and if God forgives us our sins on a daily basis, who am I not to praise one who acted appropriately? And more, I may not approve of most of Senator Umeh’s methods but on issues pertaining to the emancipation of the Igbo man as an entity, he never pretends.
It was equally gladdening the number of traditional rulers of the Southeast that were present. Bless former senate president, Senator Adolphus Wabara for showing presence too.
Forget the fact we were defeated in the war, yes…we were, nothing to be ashamed of, considering the mountain of odds heavily stacked against us. But the Biafran spirit was not and will never be defeated.
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When the great leader, the five star General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu embraced APGA party over three decades of that scam declaration, No Victor No Vanquished, the slogan, ”onye aghana nwanne ya”, was very thoughtfully added to drive home the Biafran spirit. But along the line, the custodians of the party embraced greed and truncated the ideals of a great party that was already a movement.
That again was another defeat of a Biafran dream but the spirit lives on.
Let me repeat here that any Igbo man that totally condemns Nnamdi Kanu needs his DNA reexamined. And let me also repeat for the umpteenth time that this very courageous son may have his excesses but his struggle is a very genuine one.
He may have followers who may be too young to understand that their practice of cursing anyone who doesn’t agree with their methods is off the mark. Branding fellow Igbo men as enemies – to the extent that they perceive more enemies within than the one they really should be fighting – is truly not a tactic that would lead to actualizing the otherwise unique goal.
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But keeping the methods aside, who in his right senses would ever blame Kanu and IPOB?
Who would blame a group questioning the idea of continued belonging to Nigeria when no Igbo man is deemed qualified to be her president after 50 years the war ended?
Who would question a group asking why the last time an Igbo man got close enough to the presidency was by Dr. Alex Ekwueme over 36 years ago?
Do you blame them to insist on election boycott in a country where INEC and the Supreme Court, and not the electorate, decide winners?
Who would question why a group should agitate in a country where they are treated as third rate citizens and rubbing it in their faces?
And to crown it all, the presidency labeled such peaceful movement terrorism and proscribed them! In a country practicing democracy?
Once more, I may not support some of Kanu’s methods but I support the vision by 100%. Maybe I’m a weakling but I don’t want any operation that will get to any loss of lives. Biafra has lost over two million lives for Nigeria and that is more than enough.
Thank God Kanu listened to wise counsel and stayed away. Obeying the laws of the land while continuing the struggle is a very positive tactic.
IPOB should operate in peaceful protests when absolutely necessary, avoiding any act of violence at all times. They shouldn’t challenge the usually heavily armed soldiers the president forever takes delight in sending after them. Any day I hear that any IPOB blood is lost my heart bleeds profusely.
Unfortunately, despite the tension and heavy security presence at Umuahia yesterday, no governor of Southeast thought it wise to attend.
Believe me, the presence of Okwute and Abaribe migh
t have saved a lot of lives where the ever-trigger happy Federal Army could easily have gone haywire at the slightest sign of IPOB chants. Ihu dike na-akpu mma nko.
Leadership is not always by operating from behind the scenes. Okwute and Abaribe led from the front yesterday. They are great men who diligently respect the laws of the land on one hand but who also never shy away from identifying with their people no matter the odds and challenges.
Even if the youths of IPOB are overstepping, they shouldn’t be abandoned by our elites. Even if they resist it, they should be guided. The struggle is very worthwhile but they must all be careful to stay alive while it goes on.
Nigeria should accept us or let my people go. Some of us still believe in one Nigeria but it must, as a matter of urgency, be restructured to offer every citizen equal opportunities. Otherwise, let it be to your tents oh Israel!
Once more, God bless Okwute, Abaribe, Umeh, Nwabara, and others. Ikemba would definitely be very happy from the grave.
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