Ekerete
In the next few weeks, the remains of General Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu-the Ikemba Nnewi will be committed to mother earth-thus ending in a physical sense the life of man who will remain forever a colossus in the annals of Nigerian history and our struggles to form a prefect or mutually respectful union. Given what has happened in our polity lately- the drum beat of war and internal anxieties, given the concerns of safety that has been manufactured and nurtured by Boko Haram and given the inflammatory rhetoric that are being spewed by certain ethno-cultural organizations, one is left with no choice but to wonder whether it is déjà all over again!
In 1966, Nigeria was on a precipice-and its corporate soul and essence were dangling precariously on the edge. Six years after independence, the chasm and zero sum tendencies of the ruling elite had alienated and poisoned the fountain of unity. Hard ball political tactics were employed by those who commanded the instrument of power and coercion. Those who legally constituted themselves into viable voices of opposition were hounded, traumatized and eventually jailed. Thousands of innocent lives were wasted at the altar of depraved political gods and as the military watched and squirmed at the wanton level of corruption and carnage, they stepped in and cleaned the Augean stable.
The January 15 coup- led by Major Kaduna Nzeogwu had disproportionately killed the cream of the northern political and military class. The spirit of revenge on the part of northern soldiers was thick and palpable. Whether by design or by accident, the leaders of the January coup had been mostly Igbo speaking officers mostly from today’s Delta state. The northern soldiers had concluded that the coup was executed to foist Igbo hegemony over the rest of the country. It didn’t help matters that the man who succeeded the rump of the Balewa administration was the highest rankling military officer in the land-the Igbo-Umuahia Ibeku born General Thomas Umunakwe Johnson Aguiyi Ironsi. To the northern military and political establishment, the Igbo hegemonic thrust that the late Northern Region Premier-Ahmadu Bello had warned in 1952, was now a clear and present danger.
In the counter coup that ensued, Major General Aquiyi Ironsi-the highest ranking officer who in the order of military tradition, had stepped in and assumed the leadership of the county, was brutally murdered by the northern coupists. Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon-the Chief of Army Staff-not easily the most senior officer, but the one ordained by the coupists was named the Head of State and Commander- in -Chief of the Armed Forces. The Eastern Region Military Governor-Lt.Col. Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu- being a stickler for military tradition and order, refused to accept the leadership of Gowon-insisting first to know what had happened to the substantive Head of State-Aguiyi Ironsi and second, why Brigadier Ogundipe-the next most senior army officer did not automatically take over the reins of the country.
The blood-letting that was going on in the military-targeting the Igbos and other easterners soon devolved into other levels of the society, as Igbos were hounded in the north and slaughtered like rams. Easterners were advised to come back to their regions by Ojukwu, many of whom were attacked and killed on their way back to the east. After series of talks and meetings aimed at resolving some of the knotty issues of our existence as one nation- issues that were unfortunately not resolved, the country was plunged into a 30- month long civil war that cost billions of dollars and millions of lives.
The war ended in 1970 with the “No Victor no Vanquished policy “. Ojukwu who had led that secessionist bid was offered asylum by Houphouet Boigney-then the President of Cote’d’Ivoire. He was later pardoned by the Second Republic administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari, from where he plunged into the political waters and ran for a senate seat in the then Anambra state, losing to a little known medical doctor-Edwin Onwudiwe- a move many had felt was orchestrated by his own party, fearing that he would dwarf and take center stage were he to be elected into the senate.
Until he died last November, Emeka Ojukwu has always asserted that we should come together at a national conference and talk things over about our corporate existence. He has always asked for the implementation of a true federalism-fiscal and political and that the issues that led us to war in 1967 were still prevalent with us. Sweeping them under the carpet while thinking all is well with the polity is akin to postponing the evil day he has always cautioned.
Now fast forward to the present. In 2010, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan-an ijaw academic from the Niger Delta state of Bayelsa was thrust into the presidency by the National Assembly legal construct called-“Doctrine of Necessity”. The country had been almost plunged into constitutional crises following the refusal on the part of then President-Umaru Y’ardua to hand over power to his deputy as the constitution stipulates following his illness which had rendered him incapable of executing the office of the president of the republic. The machinations and despicable subterfuge that was pulled by those who came to be known as “The Cabal” had rubbished the spirit and letter of the constitution and had pitied the south against the north. The underlying reason for the lack of proper handover of power to Jonathan many had observed was the morbid fear by the northern establishment that President Jonathan will interpret a different script were he to be allowed to succeed Ya’rdua- a script that may write or pare down their power and influence. For such narrow and parochial instincts, the nation in their reasoning should plunge into an ungovernable pit. The Doctrine of Necessity rescued the nation from that near constitutional crises.
President Jonathan, in the full exercise of his constitutional rights, offered himself as a candidate for the presidency of the republic-setting himself and the south on collision course over the principle of zoning which the north had claimed was reserved for them to produce the president, even if Y’Ardua succumbed to death through natural means. The resultant fight over who would become the presidential candidate of the PDP had seen the Adamu Ciroma led northern group selecting former Vice President-Atiku Abubakar as the Northern Consensus Candidate. Needles to repeat here, Atiku Abubakar lost at the primaries and was routed by President Jonathan who went on to campaign and win the presidential election in April last year.
The election of Goodluck Jonathan-Nigeria’s first Niger Delta born president appeared not to have been accepted by a cross section of the people-especially some from the northern part of the country. There has been talk-largely unsubstantiated- but clearly not without foundation, that certain elements in the north had promised to make the country ungovernable in the aftermath of Jonathan’s election. To these people, the new political alignment represents an affront-an assault on their hitherto stranglehold on power.
The step-up efforts of the Islamic sect-Boko Haram to sow fear and mayhem through the novel idea of suicide bombing to some analysts represent the upping of the ante on the part of those who are determined to derail the Jonathan administration. The spate of bombings-first at the Police Headquarters in Abuja, the UN Building also in Abuja and the sickening slaughter of innocent Christians who had gone to church to celebrate the birth of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ in Niger state on Christmas day, the senselessly slaughter of Igbo traders in Mubi-Adamawa state and the drum beat of war that has been going on all over the country present s clear and present danger to the corporate existence of the nation.
Like 1967, southerners based in the northern states have started heading back to their states of origin and vice versa for the northern in the south. The chord of unity appears to be dangling dangerously and is held together by a very tiny thread that could snap if mature handling is not expended.
As preparations get under way to commit the body of the late Head of State of the defunct Republic of Biafra-General Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, perhaps we should ask ourselves this question: Can we all get along at least for the sake of our children? Must we, for narrow reasons attempt to plunge the nation into another needless ethnic conflagration? Is the nation not bigger than a sectional interest or should we sacrifice all we have archived since 1970 at the altar of political tin gods who must always exercise power, failure of which the nation must go down in flames?
In the middle of this, it was heartening to read the thoughts ascribed to former military President-General Ibrahim Babangida where he canvassed for true federalism and asked Jonathan to seize this moment to restructure and institute a regime of social and political engineering aimed at devolving power form a highly centralized one at the center to those of the federating units. That was what Ikemba fought for and died, still believing the moment would come. Making power at the center less attractive will lessen the zero-sum tendencies and parochial impulses that our political class exhibits. Mr. President, this is a moment to do just that: Please seize it! And kudos to General Babangida for initiating this conversation.
Sowore of Sahara Reporters Escorted out by Police after he Disrupted New York Town Hall Meeting
Omoyele Sowore, the publisher of Sahara Reporters- the popular muck raking site was escorted out of the Hyatt Regency Hotel, on the East side of Manhattan-venue of The Town Hall Meeting held by the by the visiting Minister of State for Foreign Affairs-Professor Viola Onwuliri and Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe-Nigeria’s former Ambassador to Austria to discuss issues of fuel subsidy and the threat of Boko Haram.
Omoyele and his group “Occupy Nigeria” had stormed the venue and disrupted the proceedings for almost an hour, chanting anti-government slogans and acting in a manner that confounded guests at the event. All entreaties on the part of the audience for Sowore and his group to hold their peace and allow the event to proceed were met by more anti-government slogans. Eventually, the NYPD was called in, and they were escorted out of the venue.
The conduct of the publisher of Sahara Reporters shocked and alarmed a lot of his admirers. Most were heard saying it was wrong for him as a citizens’ journalist to come prepared to drum out opposing viewpoints. He has every right to oppose government’s unpopular policy which most people at the event believe the fuel subsidy issue represents, but for him to disrupt the proceedings was a strategic error of judgment.
Muck-raking which is what he practices on a philosophical level is a welcome development. It was muck-raking at the turn of the 20th century that brought about the Progressives Era in American politics which provided most of the enduring people-centric public policy initiatives that America still enjoy today. It was muck-raking that exposed the evil side of capitalism and the morally objectionable means and approaches that the Gilded Age barons had employed in making their money at the back of the poor and the weary. Muck raking with its marching motto which was as to “comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable”- remains today a shining moment in advocacy and citizens journalism. Sahara Reporters could position itself to doing that, but it must not see itself as the sole repository of morality and governance ethos and to condemn others who do not buy into such train of thought.
It must be noted that the Minster-Professor Onwuliri, the Consul General-Habib Baba Habu and Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe conducted themselves in a most dignified manner while the whole shebang of Sowore and his group lasted. The Town Hall meeting was very successful as poignant questions were asked by Nigerians most of whom represented various professional and socio-political organizations in the New York TRI-State area. The general consensus was that the timing of the fuel subsidy removal was wrong and that continuous consultations with the stakeholders and the Nigerian public should continue. The minister and Ambassador Ugokwe were very persuasive while fielding questions.
Itoro-Akpan Iquot-the Nigerian Information Technology whiz-kid.
He is one of the most sought after IT specialists in the United States. He has provided services to a wide variety of organizations and government agencies. Mr. Itoro Akpan-Iquot- the Atlanta based Akwa Ibom state born Nigerian-American has brought respect to his fatherland through his expertise in information Technology. From building user-friendly websites to handling IT related problems to many fortune 500 corporations, Itoro has become an authority. “As the Nigeria moves into IT age, and coupled with some of the security challenges, I think those of us with expertise in it would be willing to lend our knowledge as government tries to resolve some of those challenges.” Itoro had told me during a recent meeting. Itoro can be contacted at :itoro@bellsouth.net<mailto:itoro@bellsouth.net>
Stories that touch the heart
One night of wrong judgment and one hell of a painful experience:
Why every woman must read this story – Part 3
Continued from last edition
As we went back to our school, there was no denying the fact that Ken had realized he had not been completely accepted by my father, and he felt hurt and bruised by this. And on my part, there was no doubt that I love my father, and was therefore, not willing to dismiss his concerns simply because I loved Ken. I was torn between two extremes.
Needless to say that our love, though still solid, was beginning to signs of stress and strains. It was during this time, that, on a summer trip with my parents to Houston, Texas, I met a man who six months later, would become my husband. Tim was an imposing figure – I have never seen such a giant of a man at a close proximity – except those basketball stars that you see on television. He simply stood at about 6 feet 9 and was handsome without description. I can still vividly recall the moment he walked into the restaurant that evening and arrested everyone’s attention. You could hear a din of silence fall over the cavernous restaurant when he walked in. I remember my heart beating at a faster rate, when he came and took a seat next to us and introduced himself to us and how polite he sounded!
I can still recall the glint of excitement that danced around my father’s eyes after he introduced himself. It was obvious that the guy was from my father’s ethnic stock and he appeared to have known his family members. “My God”! I remember my father exclaiming “How long have you been here son? I know your father! My God this is interesting! In the next 10 minutes, my father and Tim were engaged in animated discussion. Tim, a pharmacist who had played college basketball and had dreams of a career in the NBA, but which had floundered, was a successful professional. At 29, he had everything a woman would desire in a man: good and stable job, never been married and with no children, highly educated and drop-dead gorgeous and to put an icing on the cake – from my ethnic stock – all key ingredients that my father desired in a future son-in-law. By the time we left the restaurant, the one recurring topic of discussion now was Tim. “Don’t you find him extremely handsome” my father had asked obviously trying to draw me out. “I think he looks good” I had affirmed. “That’s my daughter” my father had exclaimed. There was no denying the fact that my father wanted me to date Tim and he left me in no doubt as to where his mind was!
The thing he didn’t know was that the appeal that Tim had on us was mutual. I liked him and was open to dating him. By the time my father gave me his number, I was already overwhelmingly affected emotionally by Tim. I began to romanticize our future together – waking up and going to bed while lying on his imposing and huge shoulders. When I eventually called him after endless prodding from my father, it was as if he had been waiting anxiously for my call. “Oh it’s so great to hear your voice” Tim had enthused.
Hope you are enjoying Texas and if you don’t mind, may I have the honor of taking you out for dinner whenever you are free.” Tim had requested – an offer I quickly accepted.
I can still remember how Tim dwarfed me when he came to pick me up that Thursday evening. With a bouquet of flower in tow, he was the very definition of a suave and dapper gentleman. I remember being so enthralled to be in his presence that I may have exposed my emotional vulnerabilities. The dinner was great and we had such wonderful time and great conversation. Tim was not seeing anyone, he had told me, having just broken up with a long term girlfriend, whom he said had moved to another state and was now in another relationship. My coming into his life, he said was therefore, a blessing and he looked forward to celebrating love and affection with me.
By the time he took me home that night, there was no denying that I had been sold on Tim’s charms and was ready and willing to dump Ken and that was exactly what I did. It was not an issue for debate – I knew that my heart belonged to Tim and it had nothing to do with his accomplishments, because I, also, did not lack anything, as my father was wealthy enough to accommodate all my desires and wants. By the time we returned to Nigeria, Tim and I had become an item and we were essentially inseparable and there was no way I was going to continue seeing Ken, even though I loved him dearly.
Ken took the news of my break-up with him real hard and he didn’t want to rationalize the fact that my father, as he had witnessed, would never accept him as his son’s in-law, and that I, also, was not willing to defy my father to do otherwise. There was no need for us, to live a lie, because that would be what our relationship would amount to, if we had continued with it and Tim had by now, told me he was determined to have me as a major part of his future-a desire that also found expression in me. Three weeks later, I was back in Houston, Texas.
TO BE CONTINUED