There was condemnation of the molestation, beating, embarrassment and crude treatment meted out to former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB in Nuremberg, Germany. Few days ago, Senator Ekweremadu was in Germany to honour an invitation as a special guest at the new yam festival celebration of Ndigbo in Germany but, somehow on his arrival the IPOB members became unruly, molested, slapped and kicked, tore his clothes. The distinguished Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was chased round the venue like a common pick pocket. This is in compliance to a directive from their leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kalu, to embarrass, molest, beat, all South East political leaders who betrayed the demands of IPOB anywhere they are seen outside the shores of Nigeria.
It is no doubt that there are lessons to be learnt from that incident in Germany no matter where we stand on the issue. Our (Igbo) religious, traditional, socio-political and economic leaders must braze up to the reality that is steering us all on the face. The days of reckoning are here, the bottled up anger are about to explode and no fire extinguisher will be enough to douse the fire outbreak. Since the beginning of this democracy in 1999, the masses with so much hope for better days are completely disillusioned, disappointed, sick and tired of the political class disappointment, poor performance, looting of the treasury. The average politician carries on with so much impunity, disregard for the electorate.
This is the 20th year in this democracy; the poverty rate has become so deep and wide with no serious measures in place to cushion it. The political elite are busy amassing so much wealth to themselves at the detriment of the masses of the country who they are supposed to protect from hardship and poverty. There are no serious socio-economic programmes anywhere to reduce the sky-rocketing poverty, hunger, sickness, infrastructural decay ravaging the land. To them, it is about Me, Myself and I, and not about the generality of the people. We must change that attitude; Governance is all about service, reducing poverty, organizing the country and humanity positively. Justice, development, are needed ingredients for peace, unity, patriotism of citizens in any country, without justice and development, a time bomb has only been planted.
The number of unemployed youths in the South East region and the entire Nigeria is mind boggling, and a disaster waiting to happen. This unemployment has pushed many to crime and other social vices. Our leaders must realize that, ‘vanity upon vanity, all is vanity.’ The reason why they are in power is to organize the society to function decently, make the people live a worthy life. Like the late Yoruba sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo said, if we fail to educate the children of the poor today, they shall come after our educated children tomorrow.’ Igbo and indeed Nigerian leaders must realize and save the country from going up in flames. They cannot continue to get richer while, the majority of the population wallows in abject poverty. The country is so wealthy that all it requires from our leaders is a proper organization of the wealth to benefit all and sundry.
The SE is greatly lacking in socio-economic infrastructures; there are no factories, industries in the 5 states of the Igbo race, yet our political elites carry on as if all is well. All the ones built by the first and second republic leaders are today a shadow of the past glory. Our leaders since 1999 have not thought of how some of these socio-economic industries could be revamped for the benefit of the sons and daughters of Igbo land. It is not there concern after all they and their families are contented. The rich commercial and technological advantage of the SE are not been tapped into for the region’s advancement. Do they need permission from Abuja to think and develop their region? For instance, whenever I visit Aba, I shed tears. This is a money extractive industry, no government over the years have thought it fit to invest in this commercial city. Is it the responsibility of Abuja to come and develop the city?
The Yoruba leaders are meeting to organize and put proper security measures to check the growing insecurity within their zone, what are our own governors doing? Do they think it is only pronouncement, press conferences and shedding crocodile tears that will cure this ailment?
There are no federal roads in the SE zone but our political representatives are not bothered. Are they not supposed to be on the presidency neck to ensure the roads are rehabilitated, built to reduce the suffering commuters go through daily? During Presidents Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan and now Buhari, we were promised 2nd Niger Bridge, till date it is still a mirage. What is delaying the construction and completion of the bridge? Does it take eternity to build a bridge of that length? Our political elites have been part of the deceit, whether in PDP or APC, playing politics with our lives? What could arrest the growing animosity, anger and violence of the youth against Igbo leaders remains the visibility of improved social infrastructures, employment opportunities, conducive business environment that will engage majority of the able bodied men and women.
Why are our political gladiators, governors, ministers, parliamentarians not involved in massive campaign for the development of seaports within our region and, that of the South-South region? There is no functioning International Airport within the SE zone; these are some of the worries of the average easterner that makes them feel un-Nigerian. How can a country shouting one Nigeria not also think of other regions development and inclusiveness? Do you abandon a section of the country and expect they go to bed, sleep and snore away? Equity, fairness, justice and development are necessary tools needed for peace in any country. Our political representatives must as a people deny themselves of their personal gains, think of the survival of the Igbo race, and work towards it for the greatness of the region.
Our leaders must cry out against the invasion of security agents in Igbo land, the maltreatment, harassment of our people, especially our youths by police and military personnel. There are so many police and military checkpoint, patrol teams on the streets, roads of Igbo land than anywhere else in Nigeria. They extort, brutalize, and unleash mayhem on the people of Igbo land as if they are a conquered territory. We cannot continue on this premise and think that the people of that zone will be happy, work and support the unity of Nigeria, they are humans for crying out loud!
Written by Uzodinma Nwaogbe /Â 0708.438.1845
