THE PUBLIC SPHERE with Chido Nwakanma
The South-East has assumed prominence in Nigerian discourse once again in the epochal months of spring. Informed persons know that during this period, nature releases an outpouring of power into creation. “During early spring, the Earth’s axis increases its tilt relative to the Sun, and the length of daylight rapidly increases for the relevant hemisphere. The hemisphere begins to warm significantly, causing new plant growth to “spring forth,” giving the season its name”. Man utilises this outpouring of energy for good or ill.
Spring is significant for Nigeria for birthing many coups and disturbances. They include the first riots in Northern Nigeria in 1953, 29 May Araba in 1966, and even the May 1978 Ali Must Go in Lagos with significant consequences for student unionism. May, June and July are epochal months in Nigeria. Spring is equally the period when Christians realise a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Pentecost.
For this reason, endangered parts of Nigeria should approach the season with circumspection. I observed on Facebook on 12 May: “Pardon my ignorance, why is there a resurgence of debates on Ikwerre versus Igbo? Why? What is the trigger? Why are we suddenly dredging up the past? In whose interest? Igbo muru nu anya, biko. Pay attention to the many mini-wars to which many will drag you. Stay away from those fights. Unproductive.”
It is tempting to do a lamentation or to flare up in rage. Instead, I submit that Ndigbo should apply the ancient ako na uche. Ako is the intellect, while uche is the spirit. Ana ma ako ama, mana ana enwe uche. The uche is inbred and guides those willing to listen to its still small voice. These times call for circumspection and the wisdom of the serpent.
Please resist the urge to engage in the free-flowing denunciation and abuse of Malami and fellows of his ilk. His statement is part of the provocation to gather stuff with which to accuse you.
The Federal Government is playing a strategic effort to demonise the Igbo of the South-East as the trouble with Nigeria. Intimations of the plan came in snatches earlier in the year. Remember when the Code of Conduct Bureau chairman dragged himself in the mud of a street fight at a shopping mall in Abuja? He fought a young man from Plateau State but managed to pull in Biafran boys!
Soon after came the deluge. The script was and remained to blame the Igbo for everything that goes wrong in Nigeria, with IPOB and its Eastern Security Network a convenient fall guy. The many instances include the false flag operation of an attack on the epicentre of security in Owerri, Imo State; the Lagos State Commissioner of Police named IPOB for an alleged plan to attack Lagos when US Intelligence warned about attacks on Southern cities by Islamists. Reports now confirm the Islamists have taken over Sambisa Forest.
The Inspector-General of Police then made the plan an open secret. He stated, according to The Punch, “Don’t mind the media shout; do the job I command you. If anyone accuses you of human rights violation, the report will come to my table, and you know what I will do. So, take the battle to them wherever they are and kill them all. Don’t wait for an order.” https://punchng.com/ig-declares-war-on-biafran-agitators-criminal-elements/. By Friday, 21 May 2021, the Police had not denied or refuted this incitement.
Since the beginning of the Buhari administration, the rising hostility against the South-East Zone has become of great concern to even observers beyond the zone. Afenifere says, “This reality should also become a major concern to other stakeholders in the Nigerian project.” Gratitude to the likes of Afenifere for their appreciation of the issues.
Their statement came as the outburst of Barrister Abubakar Malami, SAN and Minister of Justice, trended. Responding to the resolution of all 17 Southern Governors to uphold the ban on open grazing, he went straight for the jugular of the Igbo by equalising open grazing with spare parts business!
Ndigbo should respond with equanimity to these deliberate provocations from the agitation and propaganda playbook. It is classic divide and rule. There is no time for bombast or egbe onu. Time to meet in the Imeobi. Time for elders to speak up and for young men to act wisely.
