I am shocked that the Igbos are not speaking up at the apparent siege laid on their land by uniformed person of different categories.
They range from Army, Navy, Police, Civil Defence, Customs, FRSC, etc.
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My journey had taken me by road from Isele-Mkpitime, where I had gone to pay tribute to a Nigerian icon, Chief (Dr) P.K.C. Isagba, the Odogwu of Isele-Mkpitime.
He was one of the first Nigerians to believe in my ability as a young fledgling lawyer. I had been handling his cases whilst at Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s Chambers.
When I left as Deputy Head to set up my practice in January 1986, Chief Isagba personally went to Chief Gani Fawehinmi, to allow him move his files to me, to continue handling his cases; a request the amiable and selfless Gani granted immediately.
So, Chief Isagba became my first major client as a tottering practising lawyer, trying to find my groggy feet.
He became my bossom friend and elder brother.
My journey from Isele-Mkpitime, through Asaba, to Port-Harcourt, told me clearly that the entire Igbo land is locked down in a physical, psychological and mental siege, reminiscent of a civil war time.
When the Civil War ended January 15, 1970, the then military ruler, General “Jack” Yakubu Gowon, who became Head of State, at 31 and a bachelor, proclaimed the three Rs: “Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation”, which heralded his policy of “No Victor, No Vanquished”.
This was after the unfortunate failure of the 4th-5th January, 1967, of the “Aburi Accord”, that would have prevented the bloody war in which over 2 million civilians and 100, 000 military combatants were killed.
These policies were meant to quickly heal the gaping wounds of the gruesome bloodletting, forget the horrors and evils of the fratricidal war and quickly reintegrate the Igbos into the society. But, have these hardworking, gregarious “Jews” of Nigeria been reconciled, rehabilitated and reintegrated into the mainstream of the Nigerian society? I doubt it. Simple proof: show me any Igbo man in today’s all powerful cabal kitchen cabinet of PMB’s Government.
My journey from Isele-Mkpitime, through Asaba, Oba, Oraifite, Okija, Ihiala, Mgbidi, Awomama, Owerri, to Port-Harcourt, was a strangulating reminder that the Igbos, inspite of their unquantifiable contributions to the commerce, industry and innovations that drive the non-oil sector of the Nigerian economy and give it oxygen, are nearly a conquered people.
The check-points along the above stretch of road are nauseating and asphyxiating, as the security agencies, including para-military ones out-do each other to harass, torment, search, intimidate and extort money from travellers. As you are crossing one check point, a mere look ahead of you, of less than half a kilometer, will reveal another barricade. It is all so frustrating.
There is no war, or security breach. South East is not North East where Boko Haram still calls the shots (forget about government’s pet words of “we have degraded Boko Haram”; Boko Haram is still very potent, controlling large areas, killing and maiming people on a daily basis. Their representative said that much at the 2nd May, 2017, Re-Union meeting of the 2014 National Conference delegates at Daar Communications Centre, Abuja, where I delivered the keynote address).
Yet, in this Boko Haram-ravaged region, you would not find this armada of security, treating the entire geo-political zone made up of five states (the least in Nigeria; some others have seven states), like a conquered territory.
It is only the recent suit by my good friend, Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, (six of us founded the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) – the first human rights body in Nigeria-on 15th October, 1987), over “marginalization of the South East Region”, that has perhaps brought to the front burner, these disturbing tons of injustice.
That is why no one can ignore Nnamdi Kanu and his IPOB, Ralph Uwazurike’s MASSOB, etc, agitating for self –determination, a right sanctioned and recognised even by the UNO.
These fully armed and trigger-happy security personnel have never taken steps to protect the Ndigbo race, against rampaging Fulani herdsmen that raid their homes, to maim, kill and rape their wives (remember Nimbo in Uzo Uwani LGA in Enugu State). They have never repelled the incessant reign of terror by armed robbers, kidnappers, hired assassins and murderers.
No, they are stationed there for three main reasons: (1) check the bid for self determination by the Igbos; (2) extort money from the wealthy and poor Igbo traders who ply these routes; (3) remind the Igbos that the all powerful Federal Government is on ground to silence the people and force them to toe their ruling party line.
Wait a minute; is that why some prominent Igbos, including erstwhile leaders, members of the BOT and two-time governors for eight years under PDP, have been outdoing each other to decamp to a non-performing and fundamentally flawed party like the APC?
Let me end this piece by recommending to the Ndigbos, the legendary Hubert Ogunde’s immortal words, in his most famous 1964 play, “Yoruba Ronu” (“Yorubas, think”), a stinging satire that got his theatre company banned, which ban was later lifted in 1966, by the new military Governor. Ndigbos, cheenu echiche (Igbos, think).
NOW THIS
THE GATHERING RUMOURS OF A MILITARY COUP: GIVE DEMOCRACY A CHANCE
The recent gathering rumours of a possible military coup is not only worrisome, but is quite disturbing. It is not only the floundering APC party that should condemn and resist such an ignoble misadventure as alleged; but the entire beleaguered Nigerian citizenry will rise up and defend our hard earned democracy by resisting any intrusive military “Kakistocracy”, (rulership by the worst, least qualified and most unscrupulous persons).
To be sure, the worst form of democracy is absolutely better than, and preferable to, the most benevolent military dictatorship.
The recent startling revelations of hemorrhaging pilfering, crass barbaric and primitive acquisition of our national wealth and common patrimony, by the military class, has shown the military to be even worse and more satanically luciferous than our thieving kleptomaniac political class.
The military has proven itself to be a horrifically sad amalgam and complete negative approximation of the entire 1999 constitutional three arms of government joined together, and which some creative minds have derisively labelled as Legisllooters (Legislature, section 4); Executhieves (Executive, section 5); and the Judisharing (Judiciary, section 6).
The luxuriating gigantic iroko tree that has today become Nigeria’s endemic and cancerous corruption was conceived, incubated, planted, watered, nurtured, manured, cultivated and weaned by successive rampaging military juntas.
Because despotic military does not possess democratic blood in its autocratic veins of brute force, it can never give democracy (government of the people, by the people and for the people-US president, Abraham Lincoln, in his 19th November, 1863 Gettysburg Declaration).
AND THIS
The hallowed principle is “nemo dat quod non habet” (no one can give what he does not possess).
But, make no mistake about the rumours. There can hardly be any smoke without fire.
Lt-General Tukur Buratai, Army Chief of Staff, is quite worried: he made it public. Remember that the military has never ever written to, nor received a sweet-heart love letter of invitation from, their collaborative political class, before striking.
Before they strike, they watch the inclement season of anomie, the debilitating political and socio-economic environment of the particular time, the pervasive disillusionment, the haplessness and total hopelessness of the suffering hoi polloi, the smoldering flames of divisiveness and schism deliberately engendered and engineered by politicians in the polity, etc.
They strike on fertile soil. When Gideon Orka’s coup did not meet such fertile soil on April 22, 1990, it was crushed.
While calling for thorough investigation into this alarming scenario and the proactive smoking out of all possible culprits, my panacea remains that politicians who find themselves in government must deliver to Nigerians the positive “change” and democracy dividends they were promised.
The greatest antidote against coups is good governance, not moral platitudes and sentimental sermons. After all, the maxim is “pacta sunt servanda” (agreements must be respected). Even among robbers, there is honour and dignity in sharing.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
“When under siege, if we do not stand for our liberties and for the liberties of those who are unable to stand for themselves, then the great American experience will come to an end”. (Tim Huelskamp). “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will”. (Charlotte Bronte).
LAST LINE
Hope Nigerians, especially Ndigbos, are reading, digesting and still praying for the full recovery of PMB, as we await the next tranche of this Sunday Sermon on the Mount of the Nigerian Project, by Chief Mike A.A Ozekhome,SAN, OFR, FCIArb.
• Follow me on twitter @MikeozekhomeSAN
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