Uncategorized
The Impossibility of Igbo Presidency……By Goodluck Okechukwu
Locked
in a little pocket on a big map, they grind, rumble and many times
tumble. Such is the history of the Igbo people, so many times accused,
perhaps rightly, for bringing emotion to a field only needing lobby and
reason—politics.
in a little pocket on a big map, they grind, rumble and many times
tumble. Such is the history of the Igbo people, so many times accused,
perhaps rightly, for bringing emotion to a field only needing lobby and
reason—politics.
And
sometimes he wins but some other times comes up short, but in both
situations, he look at himself and exhort his deeds. Yet since the days
of Azikiwe and Ironsi, he always comes up short and never have won any
attempt at this certain position, the presidency, and it is for so many
reasons that this persists. Nonetheless, the popular beliefs are not
entirely true nor sufficient explanation as to why an Okeke or Nwankwo
is yet to command the federal republic of Nigeria.
sometimes he wins but some other times comes up short, but in both
situations, he look at himself and exhort his deeds. Yet since the days
of Azikiwe and Ironsi, he always comes up short and never have won any
attempt at this certain position, the presidency, and it is for so many
reasons that this persists. Nonetheless, the popular beliefs are not
entirely true nor sufficient explanation as to why an Okeke or Nwankwo
is yet to command the federal republic of Nigeria.
The
Igbo is marginalized, claims a man who is no one else but Igbo. His
neighbor disagrees, only to later come to the same truth but casting
doubts to the degree of such subjugation. The debate rages on,
succeeding in dividing than landing a solution.
Igbo is marginalized, claims a man who is no one else but Igbo. His
neighbor disagrees, only to later come to the same truth but casting
doubts to the degree of such subjugation. The debate rages on,
succeeding in dividing than landing a solution.
For
a decade from now, at least, it wouldn’t be possible for the Igbo man
to emerge president. And when he finally does, he becomes a stooge
applying into administration the will of cabal enablers gathered in the
process of reaching office. To understand the tough nature of Igbo man
becoming president, it is necessary but not limited to understanding the
power expressway of Nigerian politics; the need for consensus and
compromise, deals across major ethnic lines. Can the Igbo man align in
thought and mellow to seal such imperative deals?
a decade from now, at least, it wouldn’t be possible for the Igbo man
to emerge president. And when he finally does, he becomes a stooge
applying into administration the will of cabal enablers gathered in the
process of reaching office. To understand the tough nature of Igbo man
becoming president, it is necessary but not limited to understanding the
power expressway of Nigerian politics; the need for consensus and
compromise, deals across major ethnic lines. Can the Igbo man align in
thought and mellow to seal such imperative deals?
Yet
it is not limited to this, it is rather revealed when as an Igbo you
try to wear the mind of an outsider and observe how you will be received
as president in light of historical precedence. Putting on this foreign
mind, I wonder what an Igbo man will aim to achieve with the presidency
and then I return to my own heart, sighing in acknowledgement of the
great obstacles.
it is not limited to this, it is rather revealed when as an Igbo you
try to wear the mind of an outsider and observe how you will be received
as president in light of historical precedence. Putting on this foreign
mind, I wonder what an Igbo man will aim to achieve with the presidency
and then I return to my own heart, sighing in acknowledgement of the
great obstacles.
The
inability of the Igbo to become Nigerian President is not solely because
of these obstacles, it goes deeper and roots in the psyche of an
average Igbo man. He lacks the desire to participate politically, taking
excuse in the perhaps misconceived belief that he is not wanted by the
country. It is not a question of Igbos lacking a united front or a
national leader as people over the years design to be the problem. It is
rather an issue of silent conspiracy craftily administered that keeps
him down and will continue to. Already his neighbor from Akwa-Ibom and
Cross River treats him with a fragile suspicion that easily can break
into disdain. “He is too colonizing, and ambitious, the Igbo man,” you
will always hear from the south-southerner. “Respect or fear him, but by
all means, be careful around him,” they conclude.
inability of the Igbo to become Nigerian President is not solely because
of these obstacles, it goes deeper and roots in the psyche of an
average Igbo man. He lacks the desire to participate politically, taking
excuse in the perhaps misconceived belief that he is not wanted by the
country. It is not a question of Igbos lacking a united front or a
national leader as people over the years design to be the problem. It is
rather an issue of silent conspiracy craftily administered that keeps
him down and will continue to. Already his neighbor from Akwa-Ibom and
Cross River treats him with a fragile suspicion that easily can break
into disdain. “He is too colonizing, and ambitious, the Igbo man,” you
will always hear from the south-southerner. “Respect or fear him, but by
all means, be careful around him,” they conclude.
Onye
Igbo—he enters with pride that shines so bright that in the eyes of the
others is taken for arrogance. But to him the Igbo man, it is
self-confidence, a necessary weapon he needs be armed with for survival
and for him to thrive.
Igbo—he enters with pride that shines so bright that in the eyes of the
others is taken for arrogance. But to him the Igbo man, it is
self-confidence, a necessary weapon he needs be armed with for survival
and for him to thrive.
Early
this year a woman bearing Uche, fluently speaking the Igbo language in a
bus bound for Onitsha from Asaba, profusely denied culpability in the
sin of Igbo origination. I was too preoccupied with the tortuous
thoughts of my mum’s car accident that I avoided participation in the
grilling debate that seized the bus. That she bears an Igbo name and
speaks the language, claimed the Delta woman, is not enough criteria for
her to be Igbo. She defended this idea with some irrational reasons and
stood fast in her belief.
this year a woman bearing Uche, fluently speaking the Igbo language in a
bus bound for Onitsha from Asaba, profusely denied culpability in the
sin of Igbo origination. I was too preoccupied with the tortuous
thoughts of my mum’s car accident that I avoided participation in the
grilling debate that seized the bus. That she bears an Igbo name and
speaks the language, claimed the Delta woman, is not enough criteria for
her to be Igbo. She defended this idea with some irrational reasons and
stood fast in her belief.
And
this relates to a situation I found myself in at the Nigerian Institute
of Journalism trying, for a full one hour, to compel two Igbo girls to
speak their language. Born and bred in Lagos, reared in middle class
neighbourhood, they claimed to understand but not speak, blaming
unavailability of capable persons for the speaking barter. But it was a
lie, I know. Because when they did finally speak, their lips carried
shame. It was not because they lacked company for the speaking trade, it
seemed more like people finding no pride in a culture blighted by war
and defeat in national history. The Igbo person has mysteriously
somehow, in a country he must call home, been wired to be suspicious and
afraid of himself.
this relates to a situation I found myself in at the Nigerian Institute
of Journalism trying, for a full one hour, to compel two Igbo girls to
speak their language. Born and bred in Lagos, reared in middle class
neighbourhood, they claimed to understand but not speak, blaming
unavailability of capable persons for the speaking barter. But it was a
lie, I know. Because when they did finally speak, their lips carried
shame. It was not because they lacked company for the speaking trade, it
seemed more like people finding no pride in a culture blighted by war
and defeat in national history. The Igbo person has mysteriously
somehow, in a country he must call home, been wired to be suspicious and
afraid of himself.
I
find myself in this nest too. For times has been in the NIJ when the few
Igbo class members gather, and speak in the tongue and upon the
intrusion of a Yoruba, I stir the conversation to English, afraid and
unwilling to attract suspicion and negative reception going forward.
find myself in this nest too. For times has been in the NIJ when the few
Igbo class members gather, and speak in the tongue and upon the
intrusion of a Yoruba, I stir the conversation to English, afraid and
unwilling to attract suspicion and negative reception going forward.
Everyone
knows it and everyone is not saying it, at least loudly, for now. The
Igbo becoming president is finally granting them power to divide the
country or do something beyond collective imagination. Because that is
what he is capable of: doing anything!
knows it and everyone is not saying it, at least loudly, for now. The
Igbo becoming president is finally granting them power to divide the
country or do something beyond collective imagination. Because that is
what he is capable of: doing anything!
A
good number of Igbo men, if sincere, will agree that they are afraid of
their tribe providing the president. Afraid of what others think,
afraid of expectations and the pressure that will be applied to an Igbo
led office. It is this fear that many times disguise as indifference to
national politics and sometimes the pride taken for arrogance. Scarred
and scared, he takes to trade and money-lust globetrotting because that
is exactly what he has been made to be—indifferent, and afraid of
country participation.
good number of Igbo men, if sincere, will agree that they are afraid of
their tribe providing the president. Afraid of what others think,
afraid of expectations and the pressure that will be applied to an Igbo
led office. It is this fear that many times disguise as indifference to
national politics and sometimes the pride taken for arrogance. Scarred
and scared, he takes to trade and money-lust globetrotting because that
is exactly what he has been made to be—indifferent, and afraid of
country participation.
One
day, soon maybe, an Igbo man will surely be president. However, caution
should be exercised in expectation made of him, by his ethnic men and
the rest of Nigeria. As for the fear secretly nursed, it should be
assured, that the Igbo man won’t divide the country, wreck revenge or
arbitrarily declare the sovereign state of Biafra. And upon the
situation he desires such, he is incapable of realizing it, given the
institutional structure of Nigerian power.
day, soon maybe, an Igbo man will surely be president. However, caution
should be exercised in expectation made of him, by his ethnic men and
the rest of Nigeria. As for the fear secretly nursed, it should be
assured, that the Igbo man won’t divide the country, wreck revenge or
arbitrarily declare the sovereign state of Biafra. And upon the
situation he desires such, he is incapable of realizing it, given the
institutional structure of Nigerian power.
Ultimately,
to the people of his kin, they must at all times remember that the
power of an Igbo led Aso Rock will be very limited and checked, always
at the brim for reasons well known. In the national Igbo presidency to
come, rascal freedom of nepotic appointments, granted to presidents so
far in our history, will not be allowed the southeastern president. Such
granted to Buhari that he could mount world stage and divide us in
unpalatable equation: 97-5%. In such Igbo administration, true federal
character will be in full enforcement for reasons, again, well known.
to the people of his kin, they must at all times remember that the
power of an Igbo led Aso Rock will be very limited and checked, always
at the brim for reasons well known. In the national Igbo presidency to
come, rascal freedom of nepotic appointments, granted to presidents so
far in our history, will not be allowed the southeastern president. Such
granted to Buhari that he could mount world stage and divide us in
unpalatable equation: 97-5%. In such Igbo administration, true federal
character will be in full enforcement for reasons, again, well known.