By Agha Egwu
It amuses me when some silly IPOB youth rain abuses on me because I ask uncomfortable questions. They accuse me of being sabo, being sponsored, or not supporting Biafra. In many ways, many of them are correct. I have been going along with the Biafra cause, but I do not support Biafra because I don’t think it is realisable. We like the name, but is the reality possible or impossible?
I have always made my position clear. I want Igbos to form their own country and not dream of resurrecting the Biafra 50 years ago. The time and possibilities of that Biafra have gone; the synergy and opportunities destroyed by 50 years of ruthless propaganda persuaded the coastal tribes that Northern tribes, who exploit their Oil, are better friends than their Igbo neighbours, who have never caused them harm.
Even our Igbo brothers, Ikwerre, Etche, Obigbo and those in Delta have been so systematically damaged by this ruthless propaganda that they have a severe identity crisis: they speak Igbo and answer Igbo names but deny being Igbo. Only an Independent Igbo State of the future hopes to launch the fact-based education and information campaign that can reverse this State of affairs.
The conditions of unity of Eastern Nigeria that made the Biafra of 1967 possible simply no longer exist. Trying to resuscitate it is not different from Zik waiting on Northern Nigeria in 1957 to liberate the entire black race in the Niger Area (Nigeria) from British domination. Zik really could not see the future then and could not predict that a mere ten years later, Jihadism would destroy the Nigeria dream and become an ever-growing nightmare that would make the Nigeria State impossible.
I have always made it clear that there are only two reasons for fighting for a separate Igbo State.
- Jihadism: I do not hate Muslims, but wherever there are Muslims, there are always some of them that believe in the expansion of Islam by violence. For this reason, I am convinced it is foolish to coexist in a 50-50% Muslim-Christian country like Nigeria. We will always have to deal with Maitatsine, Boko Haram, Iswap: Muslim minorities and ruthless Christian killers. We need our walls and armies to keep away these killers. We need peace to build an excellent economy.
- Economic Development: A separate Igbo State will rise rapidly and productively to become an African or global economic powerhouse.
Entanglement with Nigeria suffocates Igbo productivity at every level. Strangely enough, Igbos think they are being marginalised in Nigeria, but other Nigerians think Igbos are marginalising them. When Igbos control the retail market, right down to the villages of all Nigerian States, then who would be afraid of who? The other big ethnic groups have conspired to seize the political space to suppress the Igbo economic onslaught. With their political and military power, they have taken the Oil and gas of Igboland and the Coastal States – Checkmate.
Release Igbo from this tiresome economic, political chess game that steals and misuses our resources, block our seaports, barricade our airports, limit our freedom of expression, action and trade. Our entrepreneurs will explode across Africa and the world, using our unique system of Igbo apprenticeship and business mentorship and incubation. Only the Jews used a similar approach to conquer global trade.
For the past two weeks, I have been sending out cryptic messages to help people rethink old assumptions about the old Biafra and the new Biafra cause. I have been stressing the importance of respecting and loving all our Igbo Heros warts and all. To our benefit, advantage, and pride, it will be to tell the world that an Igbo man called Zik liberated Africa.
Do you know Hollywood Blockbuster films of Zik, Akanu Ibiam, the first black President of the World Council of Churches and the feeding of Biafra, as well as the story of Ojukwu and the Biafra genocide, can put the Igbo people firmly on the world stage like films of Gandhi and Mandela.
We call Zik Sabo because we do not know the true story and how he sacrificed his reputation to save us from the massacre. But, unfortunately, it is the war propaganda of Radio Biafra and Radio Nigeria that we carry over till today as history. But still, propaganda is usually false and not a real account.
I have also stressed the importance of criticism of the modern Biafra cause spearheaded by IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu himself. The way we revere Nnamdi Kanu is unhealthy for the success of both IPOB and Nnamdi Kanu. Criticism is the live-wire of success, and the tendency to explain away and justify serious mistakes by Kanu and IPOB has led to more severe errors.
Since my cryptic messages began, I have received tons of abuses and happily blocked many such people who have tiny thinking faculties and think abuse is their best way to respond to criticism. A lack of critical education and reasoning skills can lead to abuse rather than clear thinking. I can’t engage in any project without inviting intensive criticism to polish the concepts, strategies and practise of delivering that project.
The idea that closed-door criticism through the “right channels” is better than the freedom to criticise openly is a mirage that will turn a few leaders and Kanu himself into dictators rather than democratic leaders. The essence of all Igbo leadership has always been open debate in the village square. That is a fundamental plank of our Omenana, and for IPOB to draw everyone into that cosmopolitan unity of purpose, we must choose the open path of Igbo democracy.
The paths to Igbo freedom cannot be gained by demonstrations and grandstanding. All the shutting down of the East and rally at the Nigerian Jihadi Courts of Injustice, under a Jihadi Government, may titillate our egos. Still, it is a lot of motion without functional movement. We have been doing that forever, and with that method, we have been going and will keep going nowhere.
The British are making no moves whatsoever to assist Nnamdi, a British citizen that has committed no crime. That tells you where their interest lies. Yet, the Nigerian Govt will not kill him because Britain is holding them to human rights standards. Britain will continue to support the Nigerian Govt until we unite our leaders – businessmen, elders, politicians and intellectuals and offer a better economic option to Britain. Being a World Power is not beans. If you don’t align with them or play their game, they will mash you up real bad.
Nnamdi Azikiwe lost power to Ahmadu Bello because Zik drove the British out of Africa. The same Zik you all mock defeated the British through diplomacy, without abusive words; As Gandhi did for India, Zik began the movement that liberated Africa and Nigeria from colonialism. The British never forgave Zik for that.
Ojukwu lost to Gowon for a silly reason: he refused to stand up for the British High Commissioner at the Aburi conference. The British Consul after that favoured the ‘humble’ Gowon and described Ojukwu as ‘uppity’. However, Ojukwu’s wealth and Oxford University background made him realise how the British Empire exploited Africa with his history degree.
He was never prepared to bow to the British, but we might have had hope if he had played complex diplomacy with the British and offered our Oil. With his superficial O level, Sandhurst military training and poor background, Gowon was no match for Ojukwu, but he could be manipulated for British interests. He aligned with a World Power, which aligned with other World Powers behind Nigeria, despite the genocidal crimes of Nigeria.
Nnamdi Kanu is also taking that well-beaten Igbo path of fighting the British. In his case, he has thrown in curses and abuses. For that alone, Britain would not want to help. I know that IPOB officers feel threatened by the British M16. But, in my own opinion, this is unnecessary. Realpolitik is all about protecting economic interests.
The British can rely on Nigeria to protect their oil interest and see Nnamdi Kanu and co as challenging their economic interests. So they will happily support Nigeria and let Kanu rot in jail with 1000 court adjournments. They can play that game forever.
Yet, Igbos have a unique offer to the British that is more valuable than the Oil in their land. The Igbos have the most significant trading network across Africa. More than any group of people, they have been responsible for the spread of Chinese goods across the continent and have done that without extracting any economic value from the Chinese State.
The Igbo trading network across Africa is a far more valuable commodity than the dying oil market. The Igbos can use it to negotiate for Chines protection for our freedom. Given our known commitment, we can also offer Israel as the ‘Black Jews’ of Africa.
Since Brexit, Britain has wanted more cooperation with Africa and its commonwealth heritage to export British goods. Can Igbos do for Britain what they did for China across Africa – the wide distribution of British interests in a new wave of British post-Brexit economic revival? That is what the British Government is looking for, and Igbos have the network that can deliver that to them.
I have always wondered if IPOB can mature overnight and evolve from a rabble-rousing, protesting organisation to a behemoth that can use its power to unite Igbos comprising politicians, business people, elders, intellectuals and youths instead of cursing the elders.
What these people need is patient persuasion, not name-calling. The same goes for our “lost” Igbo brothers like Ikwerre. They all need influence.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
It is not for the people to understand the freedom fighter. It is the job of the freedom fighter to patiently teach, gently persuade and involve their people without irritation, cursing and abuse.
Only IPOB has the network and strength to achieve such a project and create jobs and businesses for millions of youthful followers. Only Nnamdi Kanu has the devotion, following and charisma that can make it happen quickly and effectively.
It is a project that can win British support, investment and protection. Once we can show that we can deliver more effectively as a separate and independent State and are willing to let them share in our Oil and gas, we can win our freedom like Nnamdi Azikiwe – on a platter of gold with work, instead of words, for our industrious youths.
I will be more than happy to consult for IPOB on harnessing such a project.
