THE ILLUSION OF ENTITLEMENT OHANAEZE NDIGBO: A BELEAGUERED MOTHER ELEPHANT OUR MBAISE PRESIDENT - VOL.3 23-29AUGUST2020 - The Journal

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 THE ILLUSION OF
 ENTITLEMENT

 OHANAEZE NDIGBO:
 A BELEAGUERED MOTHER
 ELEPHANT

 OUR MBAISE PRESIDENT
VOL. 3 23-29 AUGUST 2020

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 CONTENTS

 Economy
 25. The New CAMA and the Rules of ‘Karma’
 28. The Imminent Death of the Cinemas
 31. How Content Lavy Could Hamper Creativity, Increase
 Unemployment

 Culture and Lifestyle
 33. Saving the Book Industry
 35. Burna Boy Struggles to Rise in Twice as Tall
 37. Year 2020: Travel Destinations in Nigeria
 42. Reopening Cinemas in Nigeria
 44. A Period to Celebrate Women

 Health
 45. The Hunger Pandemic

 International Affairs
 47. Akinwunmi Adesina: Struggling with the Image of Nigeria
 3. Stories Around the Globe
 3. NIGERIA
 Great People
 4. AFRICA
 50. Simon Bako Lalong: Peace and Development in the Plateau
 4. THE REST OF THE WORLD
 Outstanding Careers
 From the Editor-in-Chief
 52. Mallam Bello Maccido
 6. The Illusion of Entitlement

 HERstory
 Cover Story
 58. Benedikter Molokwu
 8. Power is not Served on a Platter
 11. Our Mbaise President
 14. The South-East:
 No Longer at Ease in Nigeria
 18. Ohanaeze Ndigbo:
 A Beleaguered Mother Elephant

 Obverse
 21. The Historical Vantage of Nigeria’s
 Problem
 Dr. Iwebunor Okwechime Website and social media handles
 Dr. Aminu Umar The Journal is a Pan-Nigerian online newspaper that engages all
 Dr. Moses Yakubu segments of the Nigerian life. The Journal provides objective and
 Dr. Abiodun Bello professional analysis on national and international issues with a
 www.thejournalnigeria.com critical and progressive balance.
 Editor The Journal is published by May University Press Limited.
 Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Femi Morgan Address: 51c Gbolahan Awe Close, off Jubril Liadi Street, off
 Dr. Udu Yakubu Emmanuel Keshi Street, Magodo Phase 2, Lagos.
 Creative Director
 Editorial Board Aduroja Olawale Contact:
 LT. Gen Chikadibia l. Obiakor (rtd) Editorial: Femi Morgan
 Chief Bisi Ogunjobi CORE VALUES Email: editoratthejournal@gmail.com
 Prof. Yima Sen Truth Tel.: 08068108018 | 08174717765
 Prof. Mohammed Bhadmus Objectivity
 Dr. Niyi Osinowo, Rear Admiral (rtd) Integrity Adverts, Business and Partnership: Gabriel Esemokhai
 Amb. Dr. Chijioke Wigwe Analytical Reasoning Email: partner_thejournal@gmail.com
 Dr. Isaac Mankilik, Commodore (rtd) Empirical Research Tel.: 08087193172 | 09069340828
 Prof. Adoyi Onoja Constructive Criticism Instagram—journal news
 Dr. Anthonia Yakubu Professionalism Twitter— thejournal Nigeria; LinkedIn—-thejournal Nigeria

 The opinions expressed in the articles published in this newspaper are completely and solely those of the authors, and do not necessarily represent the views and
 perspectives of persons, groups and organisations associated with The Journal.

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 STORIES AROUND THE GLOBE

NIGERIA NIGERIA’S 6 MONTHS MAN KILLED BY
 MILITARY KILL MATERNITY LEAVE NAVAL OFFICER
7 SSCE STUDENTS ISWAP LEADERS IN OYO OVER N250
TEST POSITIVE Major General John Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, the Osagie, a 34-year-old
FOR COVID-19 IN Enenche, the Coordinator, Oyo State Commissioner mechanical engineer, was
GOMBE Defense Media Operations, for information, culture brutalised to death for
Dr. Habu Dahiru has has disclosed that the and tourism, has unveiled trying to settle a dispute
announced that seven recent air interception the 6 months’ extension between a Naval Officer
WASSCE students of missions have led to the plan for nursing mothers and a spare parts seller.
Government Girls’ elimination of Sayinna, in the state. According The late Osagie, who tried
Secondary School, Doma, a top commander of the to Faosat Sanni, the to pay the officer the sum
in Gombe State have tested Islamic State of West State’s commissioner for of N250 for a plug that
positive to the Corona Africa Province (ISWA), Women Affairs and Social was bought and returned,
virus, summing up the total also known as Boko Inclusion, the extension was beaten to death by
of eight infected students in Haram. The successful of the maternity leave was the officer who saw the
Nigeria. The commission operations of the troops necessary to ensure that action of the deceased as
further said: “we gave were commended by the adequate care was given to an embarrassment. Bala
preference to students military high command babies, while their mothers Elkana, spokesperson for
returning from epicentre who further urged them also have the time for the Lagos State Police
states like Kaduna, Kano, to maintain the onslaught proper self-care. Command, confirmed
Yobe and Lagos; places against enemies of the the incident and said
that have registered high country. N13 BILLION FOR investigation into the
cases of the COVID-19”. COMMUNITY incident is ongoing.
Ihuwa Yahaya, Governor 48M BARRELS POLICING
of Gombe State, affirmed OF CRUDE OIL - Laolu Akande, the AFRICA
that all students found to MISSING OR NOT spokesperson to the
test positive would receive MISSING country’s Vice President,
medical care and would Senator Solomon Adeola of Professor Yemi Osinbajo, MALI PRESIDENT
not be allowed to miss their the Lagos-West Senatorial has stated that the approval FORCED TO
exams. District has raised the of the 13 billion naira RESIGN
 issue of alleged missing by President Buhari is Ibrahim Boubacar Keita,
OONI’S PALACE barrels of crude oil and the reflective of his plan to President of Mali, has been
ON FIRE unapproved yearly budget revamp the security system forced to step down hours
Panic filled the air in the of the Nigeria National in the country. “At today’s after he and his Prime
ancient city of Ile-Ife as fire Petroleum Corporation NEC, Osinbajo asked Minister, Boubou Cisse,
razed one of the buildings (NNPC). Mele Kyari, the Governors, Secretary to were taken to a military
in the palace of the Ooni Group Managing Director the Government of the camp in Bamako by soldiers,
of Ife, Oba Adeyeye (GMD) of NNPC, in his Federation (SGF), Finance due to a coup that followed
Ogunwusi. The fire, which response to the allegations, Minister, and the Inspector- months of mass protests
was suspected to have said there were no records General of Police (IGP) against alleged corruption
emerged from an electric of ships that sailed out of to work out modalities on and maladministration of
spark, started around 1:14 the Nigerian shore. He how the funds would be the economy. Israel Wague,
p.m. and lasted for about further affirmed that no well utilised to ensure an Mali’s Air Force Deputy
23 minutes. It was later barrel of crude oil was effective implementation Chief of Staff, said that
put out by the fire service missing, as falsely alleged. of community policing in their intent is not to hold
from the state government. Kyari said that they are Nigeria, and then report on to power, but to work
There was no record of ready for investigation. back to NEC,” Akande towards the stability of the
casualties. noted. country.

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ECOWAS SUDAN SACKS THE REST OF THE MASTERCARD
SANCTIONS MALI FOREIGN MINISTRY WORLD FOUNDATION ON
 SPOKESMAN THE CHANGING
The Economic Community Haidar Badawi, Foreign NATURE OF WORK
of West African States Ministry Spokesperson for RUSSIAN ACTIVIST A report released by
(ECOWAS) has suspended Sudan, has been sacked POISONED MasterCard Foundation
Mali from the regional over recent remarks made Alexei Navalny, a 44-year- on Secondary Education
body, following the on behalf of his country. old Russian opposition in Africa stresses the need
military coup that forced The remarks were based on activist and an outspoken to groom students for
President Boubacar Keita normalising relations with critic of the Russian future work. Reeta Roy,
out of the presidential Israel. The controversial President, Vladimir Putin, CEO of MasterCard
seat. The regional body statement made inferred was reported to have been Foundation, said findings
also closed the country’s that Khartoum was poisoned. It was suspected show that changes in
land and air borders, and engaging in a peace that he drank the poison in the nature of work have
stopped all economic trade agreement with Israel. his tea at the airport café in placed a premium on skills
and financial transaction Sudan has no diplomatic Omsk, on his return flight that help young people
flows between ECOWAS relations with Isreal. Omar to Moscow from Omsk to be adaptable, improve
member states and Mali, Qamareddin, Sudan’s in Siberia. He is currently productivity, become
pending the time effective Foreign Minister, disclosed in coma. A mobile video resilient and be creative
constitutional orders is that the government of showed medical personnel problem solvers. Reeta
reinstated in the country. Sudan never discussed the rushing onboard the plane said that digitalization,
 issue at any point and in when Navalny screamed in automation and
12 PRISON any form. agony. Vyacheslav Gimadi, technological advancement
WARDERS a lawyer with Navalny’s are changing the nature of
ARRESTED IN SOUTH AFRICA foundation, attributed work in Africa.
SOMALI ELECTRICITY the incident to Navalny’s
 C O M P A N Y political activities. COLOMBIAN
Hassan Hussein, Somali C O N T I N U E S EX-PRESIDENT
Justice Minister, has POWER CUT FORMER CIA RESIGNS SENATE
declared the arrest of OFFICER TRADES SEAT
nine inmates, six civilians Eskom, the South African US DEFENSE Alvaro Uribe, former
and twelve prison electricity company, has SECRET TO CHINA Colombian President,
warders, totaling 25, after extended scheduled power has resigned his senate
concluding an investigation cut as a result of the power Alexander Yuk Ching Ma, seat after being placed on
on illegal trading of system being seriously a naturalised US citizen house arrest as a result of
weapons in a prison in constrained. The load born in Hong Kong, was the allegation of witness
Somalia. The weapons shedding which had been arrested on Friday after tampering and fraud raised
smuggled were used in planned and scheduled being accused by federal against him. The 68-year-
a shootout by prisoners was put in place in order to prosecutors in the US for old ex-President said it was
against security officers avert total blackout of the selling highly sensitive impossible to return to the
guarding the prison, in the overstretched power system information about the senate he had served due to
capital Mogadishu, in an of the country. CIA’s personnel and the allegation held against
attempt to break out of tradecraft to the Chinese him. He is the first former
detention. government. Ching Ma President to be detained in
 served as a CIA officer Columbia.
 between 1982 and 1989.

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 From the Editor-in-Chief

 THE ILLUSION OF ENTITLEMENT

Appreciated from its experiential and sociological
dimensions, illusion signifies the occurrence of an
erroneous or misjudged perception or understanding
of an experience. It is the other side of truth or reality,
especially a faulty reality that that emanates from
poor judgement, prejudice, or a laid back mental
attitude. Modern history is replete with examples of
countries that had the illusion of becoming prosperous
postcolonial climates simply by default. In this utopian
frame, it is assumed that some other powers have paid
the vicarious price for our development; so we can laze
around and hope that the mechanisms of state would
produce the prosperity we desire. But history has shown
otherwise.

Befuddled by state and systemic failures resulting from
miscalculations and, in very many cases, the greed
and excesses of political leaders, many African states
are paying the price of living in the illusion that post-
independence development was a given. In some cases,
especially in nations with many ethnic groups, a culture
of entitlement had replaced such values as deferred
gratification, hence the failure to establish a purpose-
built economy positioned for sustainable growth. While or already in operation. Perhaps, with the prognosis
an illusion is a false belief, an entitlement mentality of these socioeconomic prospects, the nation and its
describes a state of mind in which an individual or a peoples grew slipshod, withdrawing into cocoons of
people assume that privileges are the same as rights. entitlement. Each state of the federation became a close
According to Luanne Ramsey of the Rosen Group, watcher of the economic wealth to access its share of
‘workers with an entitlement mentality are characterised the ‘national cake.’ This of course is one of the tragic
by a persistent “What have you done for me lately?” consequences of being a rentier state.
attitude,’ such that even when things are out of balance,
there is a resounding feeling of expectation for more. In spite of the ever-present economic challenges of the
Invariably, this creates an overindulgent populace, nation, both the leaders and their peoples are cooped up
or an overindulged workforce at the business and in collective impatience and alacrity in the competition
organisational levels. for the finite resources. The trend of contesting for
 “rightful shares” of “free money” from the federation
The situation in post-independence Nigeria has not account has held sway over the whole nation, and for
been far-off from these theoretical scenarios. From many decades Nigerians leaders and peoples would
independence, Nigeria, in terms of her economic rather wait to devour the last pieces of cake that are
fortunes, had prospered, progressed and showed good available at any time, than follow the hard, tortuous path
prospects of a brilliant future, with more than a few to real development of the economic commonwealth
new industries either in process of being established, for the sustainable benefit of the nation.

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The pendulum of agitation based on entitlement has For the Igbos, the quest for entitlement has in recent
always oscillated within the Nigerian polity depending years metamorphosed into a growing agitation for a
on the state or political zone whose “rights and Biafran country. The emergence and activities of groups
privileges” are threatened. All sections of Nigeria have such as the Movement for the Actualisation of the
made an unfortunate and unpleasant contribution to State of Biafra (MASOB) and the Indigenous Peoples
this malaise, even well into recent times. of Biafra (IPOB) indicate quite some vigour around
 the movement. IPOB had adopted violent tactics in
For the Yoruba ethnic group, the reverberations of pursuing some of its agenda, and its leader, Nnamdi
separatism came in diverse forms and manners. These Kanu, was detained – based on charges that included
ranged from both direct and indirect calls for an treason and the operation of a pirate Radio Biafra – for
Oduduwa Republic, to the championing of calls for a two years by the current Buhari government. Though
Sovereign National Conference with the view to ‘decide mostly peopled by young Igbo men and women who
the fate’ of the federating units, and whether Nigeria never experienced the Civil War but are enamoured of
will continue as one entity or not. The Afenifere, the Biafra, the group has enjoyed the support of a critical
Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), the Yoruba Appraisal section of the Igbo intelligentsia, the traditional
Forum, and several others have pursued similar pro- leaders and the political class. This group of leaders
ethnic agendas over many years. The irony has been offers direction to a huge number of gullible masses.
that when there are bounties of federal entitlements Governors, lawmakers and other political leaders of the
flowing in their direction, the Yoruba political class has Southeast have made significant material and financial
adopted a disposition that is more accommodating of contributions to support the activities of IPOB, and
the nation’s shortcomings and foibles. So the cries for invariably the quest for a state of Biafra.
restructuring have become quite feeble, in fact almost
dead, in recent years. Though proscribed, IPOB has remained active in
 several ways and has not changed its secessionist agenda.
The North has itself been a champion of the entitlement Kanu’s claim that the mandate to restore Biafra is from
syndrome for several decades, and this became so heaven places IPOB on the same trajectory of a false
strongly demonstrated upon the untimely demise of and destructive religious ideology, like Boko Haram.
President Umaru Musa Yar’adua. President Buhari had Nnamdi Kanu and his lieutenants keep firing trademark
himself come to power riding the horse of northern propaganda darts at the Nigerian nation on a daily
entitlement. The Jonathan presidency was largely basis. The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze
unsettled and turbulent because he was perceived Ndigbo, have reportedly settled its differences with the
by a critical section of the north as an impostor, proscribed IPOB, and Chief Nnia Nwodo, leader of
notwithstanding the provisions of the Nigerian Ohanaeze, recently stated publicly that the two groups
Constitution. That presidency, however, raised the have agreed to work together. Working together to make
Ijaws to the elevated status of princes and kings in the Southeast a haven of real development that would
several capital cities in the country. stir the envy of the other geopolitical zones would be a
 great thing for Nigeria, and indeed for Africa. Or is it
The Niger Delta has been a hotbed of entitlement work together to access a bigger share of the national
discourses and activism in the last twenty years. The cake? Or work together to pursue the one critical idea
illustration would range from the festering idea of a of an Igbo President in Nigeria? Or work together to
‘Niger Delta Republic’ to the demand for ‘resource break away from Nigeria and become an El Dorado
control’ and the rise of militancy and insurgency that nation? There is a costly alternation between several
literally crippled the Nigerian economy. The Federal realities, and some of these centre around existing
Government’s Amnesty Programme offered some conditions of entitlement.
lasting appeasement, and the creation of the Niger
Delta Development Commission (NDDC) was a Without doubt, there is a widespread feeling of
development strategy that should have transformed alienation and dissatisfaction among the various
the region into a Dubai. But entitlement has often constituents within the Nigerian federation, and this
connoted the pillaging of the commonwealth, not only derives largely from how much people are able to
in the South-south but in all parts of the country. grab from the centre. We think so much of the centre

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 for a state of Biafran on the right, and the quest for an
that we have refused to develop our states and local
 Igbo presidency on the left. How are the nuances of
governments. The failure to develop the Southeast
 ethics and the vagaries of entitlement coloured by the
and to make it as prosperous as Israel or Japan is not
 contradictions of a secessionist agenda? Or could all
because the Igbos are still a part of Nigeria, and have
 of these at best be symptomatic of just an entitlement
not received as much as they should from the centre.
 syndrome, and the illusion of it in a clear sense?
It is because their leaders are just the same as leaders in
 Understandably, in the absence of a true referendum,
other parts of the country, south and north. They are,
 it may be difficult to ascertain whether the ‘talking
like all of us, the product of the entitlement syndrome
 leaders’ of an ethnic group actually stand for the true
that has entrenched a culture of rotational pillaging of
 yearnings of the people they claim to represent. But the
the nation’s resources. Unfortunately, that pillaging has
 signals are good enough for the question, what exactly
never translated into real community development in
 do the Igbos want?
any region of the country.

The growing expression of entitlement today is with
the Igbo, and the emerging perceptions may improve
or diminish their chances in the current political
manoeuvrings and stratagems.
 Dr Udu Yakubu
While an entitlement mentality is a despicable
syndrome which we as a people must rise above, there
are questions that should be answered in the context of
festering political realities. The Igbos seem to bear in
their hands two swords at the same time – an agitation

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 Cover Story

POWER IS NOT SERVED ON A PLATTER
Abiodun Bello

Political players and their proteges, both in Nigeria and such as ethnicity and competition for the control of
the world over, never forget to remember that, in politics, the structural frameworks of the state as well as reward
there are no permanent enemies; only permanent system, often prevent the existence of national or
interests. In the instance of Nigeria, the political wheels nation-wide political associations and the emergence of
have always been driven and oiled, before and after nationally acknowledged political leaders. This is not to
Independence, by a metaphorical lubricant of alliance. say that a country such as Nigeria has not, at some point
The political history, context and climate of Nigeria have or the other, created histories of alliances in its political
been shaped and reshaped often by constant alignments matrix. However, alliances are always made with the
and realignments, depending on what side one belongs consciousness and guiding intention of guarding against
and what the crystal ball of political permutations is the domination of one group by another. It is to this
dictating at a particular point in time in any political effect that the legal structures or constitutions of many
dispensation. multi-ethnic states usually provide that the central
 governments must be formed by the parties or candidates
Many political scientists and social critics tend to agree with the overall majority of either parliamentary seats or
on the view that the establishment of alliances is one of total votes cast in general elections.
the perpetual characteristics of the political landscape
in many multi-ethnic states. In the Nigerian example, In a political arrangement like Nigeria, the importance
the federal nature of the nation provides the basis of political alliances at party levels and the formation of
of competition for natural resources and economic alliance-governments at both state and national levels,
opportunities, which makes certain dimensions of cannot be over-emphasised. While constructing alliances
ethnic rivalry to play out among the federating units. across ethnic and regional divides, lots of political
In the view of some political scientists, a slant of plotting, manoeuvrings and intrigues often take place.
competition is frequently observed in how factors Political coalitions often take the form of consensual

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agreements and the formal cooperation of two or more the Niger.’ The merger of a number of political parties
ethnic groups or political parties with the aim of reaching in Nigeria into one party – the All Progressive Congress
political objectives, which include the short-term aim of (APC) – in 2013 ahead of the 2015 presidential election
winning elections and mid- and long-term objective of re-awakened an already recurring tendency and trend in
controlling state resources and reward systems. Most the Nigerian polity.
often, these political covenants and arrangements have
consequences that shape the direction not only of the In view of Nigeria’s political history, it would seem that
fates of political actors, but of the federation as a whole. there have been more instances of formation of alliances
 between the Northern and South-western sections
Historically, Nigeria’s First Republic was widely of the country than between any other two sections.
characterised by the regional dominance of political Unlike the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which had
parties. Political parties mostly won elections based on laid constant claim to being a national party on account
their popularity among the people of a region, rather of its national spread, the emergent APC of 2013 was an
than by the formation of alliances. The unity of Nigeria amalgam of all major opposition political parties before
appeared quite vulnerable as a newly independent the 2015 elections. The political alignments and alliances
country and young democracy. In 1964, two dominant that preceded the 2015 election are an archetypal reference
political alliances, which reflected the country’s regional on how the confluence of national spread and strategic
arrangement, contested the federal parliament seats in ethnic, regional and party alliances can determine the
the country’s first national elections. The large Northern pendulum of an election in Nigeria.
region which was clearly the stronghold of the National
Nigerian Alliance (NNA), contended with the three To these ends and in view of the current political
smaller southern constituents, apparently a stronghold atmosphere in which there are rising calls in certain
of the opposition United Progressive Grand Alliance quarters for a possible Igbo President, it is important
(UPGA). As with any political calculations, the stakes to ask to what extent the Igbo are willing to go into
were high for the region that had control of the federal making alliances, just as the South-west and a large
parliament. There were the prospects of job patronage, section of the north did in the recent past. What are
industrial and trade contracts, and the lobbying for there obstacles, complications or other factors that may
the location of new industries in the constituencies of prevent the South-east from achieving this feat? Could
political stalwarts. the acephalous nature of the Igbo as an ethnic group be
 a debilitating factor? Contemporary history has shown
It was understandable that the Northern region, which that a major challenge for the Igbo has been the inability
was less economically advanced, had maintained the to have a common front and direct all energies and
control of political power due to its size and large synergies of money, materials and alliances towards a
population, while the three regions of the south shared goal.
with a supposedly extensive contact with Western
civilisation, had unsuccessfully attempted to make In the annals of Nigeria’s history, power has always been
political inroads to the centre. The Northern Region’s contested, rather than served á la carte. The regions that
NNA, with a majority in the federal parliament, formed have hitherto got the presidency had contested for it.
the government at the centre under Prime Minister Even when, upon the death of President Umaru Musa
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. Yar’adua in 2010, there were positions and counter-
 positions about the legality of a ‘doctrine of necessity’
These political intrigues highlight the stiffness of and the constitutional logic of having a Vice President
competition among political actors when the contest succeed the late President, the succession process was
for power and state resources is in question. However, yet subject to contestations of different kinds, preceding
in the current political dispensation of Nigeria’s Fourth the subsequent emergence of Goodluck Jonathan. The
Republic, lessons seem to have been learnt that no massive support by the Igbo for President Goodluck
one region has singlehandedly helped itself to the Jonathan in the 2015 presidential elections did not
nation’s presidency except through a well thought-out, produce the needed result, majorly because of the
formidable and workable alliance with other groups or negative indices in the economic and developmental
parties, as well as tactical inter-ethnic ‘handshakes across graphs of the country at the time.

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 their support for Peter Obi in the last elections. In
However, in the run-up to the 2019 presidential
 another vein, another Igbo group, the Centre for Equity
elections, the Igbo section of the country was yet found
 and Justice, recently released a list of nineteen possible
to have had about three of their own contesting for
 Igbo candidates for the 2023 presidential election, with
positions related to the country’s presidency – Oby
 six potential Northern vice-presidential candidates. The
Ezekwesili and Kingsley Moghalu were presidential
 Igbo Leadership Development Foundation (ILDF) also
candidates, while Peter Obi was a running mate to the
 recently released its own list of potential Igbo candidates
PDP’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. This
 for the 2023 presidential elections.
had the strategic implication that bloc voting was made
impossible for the Igbo. Also, the possibility of a well-
 With these intriguing developments from political and
fashioned alliance with other regions of the country,
 socio-cultural groups, it yet remains a vital questions
politically and ethnically, was completely upset! In 2019
 whether the Igbo are actually doing the required hard
as in 2015, the Igbo did not play their cards well, going by
 groundwork of constructing a common dominant front
the results of the elections.
 towards pursuing the kind of politics they want to play.
 Importantly, the Nigerian presidency is not an á la carte
Whether the South-East has learnt any lessons about
 menu, and is never served on a platter. How much have
their past failed attempts at the presidency, or whether
 the Igbos given for it, especially in recent years? And are
they have reasons to count their political-cum-electoral
 the Igbos ready to give all it takes to build the required
losses and fashioned new directions for actualising this
 ethnic and political bridges that may take them to the
political ideal, remains for time to reveal. Not too long
 presidency anytime in the near or distant future?
ago, a faction of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, led by Uche
Okwukwu, had come forward to apologise for enlisting

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Cover Story

OUR MBAISE PRESIDENT
Mark Nwagwu

I was told by a source I consider reliable that the call engage in such a desultory debacle. The question for me
has gone out: send us your curriculum vitae, every Igbo becomes not where the president comes from but will he
man or woman who wants to contest to be president be our shepherd who will watch over us, shelter us, and
of Nigeria in 2023. He assured me that the two major keep us in safety in our kens not exposed to the wolves?
parties, APC and PDP, have zoned the office of the If he is from my place, Mbaise, I am certain he will take
president to the Igbo people. Another person, not far care of Mbaise people and in the process take care of
from reliable, told me I should not mind him, that it is me. Aso Rock will have Mbaise professors, engineers,
all a ruse, a scam; that the issue has not been considered lawyers, artisans, etc. walking the corridors of power.
for even a second by the two top parties and no serious Stockfish sales in Abuja will hit the roof as the president
consideration would be given to such an ambition. dines his guests on ugba and stockfish. The next Federal
 university, University of Culture and Citizenship will be
Well, I told the latter that there would be national in Mbaise and the world will come to know my people
conventions at which the flag-bearers of both parties better. My mind now runs to the immortal poem, The
would be nominated and that the Igbo might as well Bridge and the Wall, by the inimitable spoken word and
get into the affray and fight to a finish. He smiled performance artist, Dike Chukwumerije
and said that these matters are settled long before the
conventions and everyone knows already the party’s ‘If it’s okay to say it’s not okay to marry someone /Just
anointed candidate. The Igbo can contest but it would because they are Kalabari
be a futile effort and no Igbo man of worth would That every tribe should have its own tide /Are we not

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practicing…Apartheid? in Monrovia who have partners in Slovenia. Is this not
If you cannot buy land unless you are native,/And primitive?
cannot find work unless you are native,
And cannot feel safe unless you are native/How can we Who is our shepherd? Let us ask, what do the flock
then say we are not primitive?’ want? First is safety from the wolves. We are the flock,
 how safe are we? I am eighty-three years old and have
Indeed, we are primitive. If my shepherd is from lived most of my life in Nigeria at the campus of the
Mbaise will he shepherd me as efficiently when I go University of Ibadan. There are several cogent reasons
to Ogbomosho to visit my in-laws? If he does not, I for a university campus of which safety is the primary
shall persuade him please to mount full proof security concern. Feeling secure, we could do our work for our
for all Mbaise people married to fine Ogbomosho country unperturbed totally committed to our research.
girls. And when I visit the University of Ibadan the There was a time, I think in the eighties, when robbery
Vice-Chancellor will give me letters to Aso Rock. To was rampant on campus and the staff volunteered to
demonstrate to him my powers I shall call the president keep watch over their homes continually patrolling the
when I am in his office and ask him to have a word with streets. We kept a roster and chose nights when we did
the Vice Chancellor. Mark Nwagwu would, all of a not have early-morning lectures the following day. We
sudden, become a powerful player in Government and became our own shepherds. We were the flock; we were
I shall be sought after by anyone seeking a favour from the shepherds.
the president. This is the government that will be my
shepherd, mine only. When you tell me, what is good What do we have in Nigeria today? Travels are
for the goose is good for gander, I shall tell you what is treacherous and we are being seized for a ransom or
good for the goose is for the goose; the gander should worse still killed. Boko Haram keeps fighting and killing
run off and go seek its own good. This is what happens and we hear stories of this or that governor as their
in Nigeria today: we choose our presidents on the basis field marshal. Christians are being killed for no other
of WIIFM – ‘What’s in it for Me?’ Are we not primitive? reason than for their faith and the government appears
 nonchalant. My goodness, where is our shepherd?
Obviously, no society can hope to make any progress We have many; we elected a president, the governors,
in this manner. One problem with Nigeria is that, no members of the national assembly, members of state
matter what you say, someone else will come with some assemblies, local government council chairmen, and
counter-motive, selfish and sinister. When you call a members. I cannot believe we have this army of people
man a thief, he tells you I am not alone. When it is alleged and we the flock roam aimlessly like sheep without a
that the NDDC has wasted the nation’s resources, they shepherd. We did not elect them, they were appointed
say no, the lawmakers have the money. You know they – the army, the police, the navy, the air force, national
make the laws and receive contracts for good work they defence corps, etc. How do they make a difference in the
do in the national assembly. And they claim to be our life of Nigerians?
shepherds! If you ask WAEC to account for missing
sums of money, they tell you the pile was eaten by rats; A police man dies on duty in the attempt to save
that the money was all smeared in suya and egusi soup. lives and months, even years after, he is not paid any
You ask a suspected criminal what is your name and he compensation, nor pension and his family may even be
faints seeking immediate medical assistance. His name, forcibly ejected from their quarters. The same applies to
when sought by the police, sets up a blood clot in his soldiers who have died on duty combating the evil forces
aorta; suddenly he cannot breathe. Here I am, an Mbiase of Boko Haram. How much are we spending battling
man, whose president is also an Mbaise man and all I get the enemy? We hear of funds meant for weapons being
out of it is to grow fat, build houses on lagoons and sea diverted to personal accounts. I guess the bank vaults
shores so there is no land left in Bayelsa State and I shall are all loaded with the latest in armoury and the defence
not live in any of them! No, sir, all I need is the rent chiefs can just go there and collect their weapons. During
from the oil companies who must pay or be in danger this COVID-19 pandemic, when school children were at
of being blacklisted for illegal oil lifting. I might even home, I read that we spent billions on free lunch for the
secure a number of off-shore drilling licences and then children. Am I a fool? If I am, are we all fools? If our
sell them to my partners in Pretoria, who have partners president is an Mbaise man, will it make a difference to

13

our safety and security in this country? If it does, is it again to Dike Chukwumerije
owed to the fact that he is an Mbaise man and not Yoruba
or Ijaw? Do honesty, justice and equity ride on the back The fire we are quenching will only keep burning /
of certain tribes or ethnic groups? For that matter, does Which nation can stand dividing its people?/How can
corruption have tribal or ethnic preferences as to its one build on foundation so brittle? /If we cannot see
choicest bed mates of evil? We are indeed primitive. ourselves in each other/The journey ends here we are
 going no further.
We are dealing with complex issues. A dear friend of
mine once told me the North will never let an Igbo Are we not primitive? But we must go further and
man be the president of this country because the Igbo further yet. Our children and grandchildren will see to
killed The Sardauna. I could only reply, have the Igbo that. I can feel it in my bones. They act differently.
not suffered enough for their errors, real or perceived?
Thus, an Mbaise man or any other Igbo man cannot Mark Nwagwu is a professor of Zoology at the
be nominated by the major political parties to contest University of Ibadan, he lives in Obetiti, Nguru, in
for the office of president, whatever may be his personal Aboh-Mbaise, Imo State
merits, because of the perceived guilt of the Igbo. I go

14

 Cover

THE SOUTH-EAST
NO LONGER AT EASE IN NIGERIA?
Jude Nwabuokei

Since Nigeria’s transition into Democratic rule in 1999, the notion of Igbo Presidency which has continued to be
it was evident that there was some form of agreement a matter of contention in the nation’s body polity.
between the six geo-political zones of Nigeria to rotate
power. This process, which has been described as In order to navigate the political topography of South-
the zoning formula, was supposed to be the basis for Eastern Nigeria, one may need to delve into the concept
determining the ethnic group that would produce the of federalism as it relates to revenue allocation. Among
head of the executive arm of government as well as be in the numerous definitions of federalism that exist, this
charge of the centre. However, in a country where the treatise will focus on the one that refers to it as a system
‘centre cannot hold,’ do the citizens wait for anarchy to of government that divides the powers of government
be loosed on them? between the national or federal government and state and
 local government. A close examination of this definition
One ethnic group that has been constantly lost in the will reveal that the Igbos, like most Nigerians, constantly
labyrinth of this zoning formula happens to be the Igbo, look to the federal government rather than focus most of
initially disadvantaged by the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 their attention on their state government. In a country
to 1970, before rising to become the economic stalwarts where the centre wields so much influence in terms of
of Nigeria’s informal sector. The question yet remains, revenue allocation to the other component units, it
is democracy working for the South-Eastern States of is only natural that governance will be determined by
Nigeria? In addressing this question, it would be needful centrifugal forces. This phenomenon has unfortunately
to trace the historical trajectory of two concepts, the affected the Igbos who constantly blame the North
Igbo idea of governance and the position of the Igbos for their woes instead of holding their state and local
in Nigeria’s political landscape. Due to the disparities governments accountable. At this juncture, one should
in the pre-colonial Igbo system of governance and the critically examine the concept of revenue allocation and
present-day system of governance that has witnessed the how this can translate into the “dividends of democracy’’
emergence of autonomous communities in those parts of as most Nigerians are wont to call it.
the South-East without traditional rulers.
 Revenue Allocation and its impact on Nigeria’s economic
Hence, the Igbo political system could be better described development have captured the attention of scholars and
as an idea. This idea, in some sense can be equated with public affairs analysts in and out of the country. Looking

15

beyond the politics of Nigeria’s fiscal federalism one The protests and hullaballoo on marginalization all point
cannot but wonder what is being done with the allocation to the issue of effective management and distribution of
that is sent to the South-Eastern States. For so long many resources as seen in tangible things like good infrastructure
Nigerians, Igbos inclusive, have been swimming in the and welfare.
murky waters of ethnic competition for public resources.
This has blurred and prevented them from focusing their A critical analysis of the ethnic democracy of the Igbo
lenses on their State Governments. This is evident in people will reveal that the concept of leadership as
the comments of Nigerian citizens of Igbo extraction in reflected in their politics is one that is tied to achievement
relation to governance in Nigeria. Most of these comments especially at the socio-economic level. The popular Ozo
make constant reference to Igbo marginalization at the title and the ascribing of chieftaincy titles to people with
political and economic level. It should be made clear that certain levels of wealth and influence is a perfect example.
this discourse does not attempt to discountenance the The Igbos are known for their high sense of industry and
Igbo agitation for political relevance at the federal level, contribution to Nigeria’s informal sector. The success
rather it attempts to shift their binoculars from Aso Rock of most of their enterprise has been ascribed to their
to their respective State Houses. When the people of the apprenticeship system, which is highly infused with a
South-Eastern States of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu strong sense of community and solidarity. If this can be
and Imo realize that the real power to make democracy adapted at the political level, the people will consciously
work lies in their hands, they will apply the same level look out for leaders that have made a significant level
of tenacity to their politics as they do to their business of achievement either in business, academics or other
enterprise. endeavours. Rather than voting a leader who panders
 to the dictates of some political godfather, let them
Democracy as a system of government has its procedures. seek for someone who represents their ideals of grit,
These procedures are oftentimes too abstract for the determination, hard work and a genuine interest in the
average Nigerian on the street. So when it comes to well being of people.
measuring the performance of the South-Eastern States,
most Nigerians view it in strictly economic terms. Hence, Igbo perception of democratic governance in the South-
economic factors must be considered when it comes to East is also fuelled by the embers of relative deprivation.
assessing the performance of these states. In a recently In a broad sense, relative deprivation refers to feelings of
released report on Nigeria’s level of poverty by the deprivation or entitlement that stems from comparison.
Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the South Eastern Most citizens of the South-Eastern States of Nigeria are
States were mentioned with Ebonyi State ranking as the mainly preoccupied with comparing their state of affairs
worst with eighty percent of her citizens been described with that of other regions. The media, particularly Radio
as poor. The state with the least amount of poor people Biafra, has been used to sell the widely held narrative of
according to the report is Anambra with the percentage of political marginalization. Rather than proffer solutions,
the poor rated as fifteen (15%), Enugu ranks number two it has focused on secession and all the attendant emotions
with about sixty percent (60%) poverty level, Abia comes that go with it. This also brings one to the wider question
third with about thirty-one percent (31%) and Imo State of ethnic politics in Nigeria and how this has affected
at twenty-nine percent (29%). On the average, the poverty the Igbos. Nigerian Scholars like Okwudiba Nnoli who
level of the South-East was pegged at forty-three percent have written extensively on the subject of ethnic politics
(43%) in Nigeria have argued that ethnic groups strive to have
 access to state power in order to control and dominate the
These figures from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics state. This scramble for state power emanates from the
arguably portray the impact of governance on the citizens. primordial sentiments that are common to all the ethnic
When one ties this to the agitation of the Indigenous groups in Nigeria. Rather than approach ethnicity from
People of Biafra (IPOB), one is only left to wonder if the a negative and divisive standpoint, it should be used to
people of the South-Eastern States possess the capacity encourage healthy competition in terms of political and
to demand for better governance from their political economic resourcefulness. Hence, the Igbos should focus
leaders. The point is that democracy can work for the on their resourcefulness, get their political strategies right
people of the South-East if they can get more involved and strive to join political parties based on ideology and
with the leadership of their state and local governments. geographic spread rather than primordial inclinations.

16

Political parties play a huge role in determining the kind expect their government to deliver public services in a
of leaders that emerge at the Federal, State and Local way that responds to their needs and recognizes their
Government level. As long as Igbos continue to join human rights.’
parties solely on primordial leanings, their chance of
representation at the centre will be slim. Democracy in South-Eastern Nigeria needs to understand the nexus
Nigeria includes having effective representation in all between development and democracy. There is need for
the geo-political zones. This is especially the case with more transparency in budgetary allocations in the South-
the Legislature where bills become laws that can make Eastern States. These budgets must be available to the
or mar the polity. If democracy must work for the Igbo, public and the process that produces it must be devoid of
they must learn the Aristotelian concept of the primacy of secrecy. Budgeting is an integral part of good governance
politics. They must learn the art and science of politics in and it must be consultative and open. Due to the
the same way in which they have mastered the dynamics peculiarity of the poverty level of the South-East, there
of trade and commerce. The South-East needs a political should be a forum where the people at the grassroots
leadership that is informed by their collective ethics and can monitor and report on projects. The youths of the
ethos which will in turn yield the dividends they desire. South East must begin to learn the science of governance
 and become informed of government projects. Public
Oftentimes in talking about the impact of democracy Advocacy through naming and shaming of corrupt
in the South-East, the media’s role is barely mentioned. government officials is another means of strengthening
The role of a radio station, in the Rwandan genocide of good governance in the South-East. Civil Society groups,
1994, points to the power that the media, through Radio like the media, should assist in documenting abuse of
and Television, can wield in terms political education and governance processes.
participation in the South-Eastern States. While other
media platforms like newspapers, online and social media One overlooked means of making democracy work in
are equally relevant, the Radio and Television, through the South-East lies in revisiting the tripodal relationship
talk shows and robust political content can begin to that exists between religion, culture and the politics of
stir up the minds of the citizens to engage their public development. Religion has been rightfully described as
office holders. In those parts of the South-East where the the opium of the masses by Marx and Engels. Opium is
poverty level is reportedly higher, this can be achieved. known globally for its narcotic and medicinal uses but
Still on the media, online and social media can be used to there is more publicity on its narcotic use. In medicine,
engage those other parts of the South-East, possibly the it acts as an analgesic, a pain-relieving substance. The
urban areas, where mobile technology holds sway. journey to development for the South-East will be
 fraught with pain. Religion can be positively used to ease
In recent times, online media platforms have begun to use the pain and build their resilience in the face of challenges
Fact-Checking tools to verify information or claims made they will face. Nigeria is a country where religion thrives.
in public discourse. This can also be deployed to Fact- It occupies an important part in the hearts of most
Check and keep track of electoral promises made through Nigerians. In the world of religion, the premise and the
the manifestoes of politicians and their parties. When conclusion may not relate, yet it is accepted as true and
prospective or incumbent governors campaign during certain. Scholars, atheists and agnostics may be dismissive
elections, the South-Eastern electorate, with the help of of it yet it has the potential to be used as a vehicle for
these media platforms, should be made to follow up on development.
the progress made by their Governors, Commissioners,
Local Government Chairman and Councillors. While Igbo culture and tradition can also be used to (re)sensitize
doing this, they should be keenly aware of the activities of the people of the South-East. There is an urgent need to
the legislative arm of their respective states. This is where revisit the Igbo folklore that was, and still is, an assemblage
the State Broadcasting Services and well-funded media of the collective wisdom of the people. The relevance
establishments in these states can step in by covering some, of moral instruction as taught in folktales should be
if not all, of the sessions of the State Houses of Assembly. imbibed in children and teens that will later become the
All these are summed up in the concept of Democratic youths who will be the vanguards of change. A greater
Accountability as defined by the Institute for Democracy part of the Igbo epistemology can be transmitted via the
and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) which says that ‘citizens tools available through multimedia platforms.

17

The politics of development within the context of the Democracy as a system of government gives room for
damaged democracy of the South-East is about examining freedom of expression. In the midst of so much talk,
the effect of political factors on economic development in which is necessary for national cohesion, it will take lots
the region. There is a lot of focus on the economic factors, of political will to ensure that economic development
which is good, but it would be better if the people began goes beyond the bureaucratic fortress of documents
to pay more attention to the politics because it plays a tucked into file cabinets or computer storage systems.
huge role in human development. Professor B.K. Barber The individual well being of any Igbo man, woman, boy
of the Centre for the Study of Youth and Political Conflict or girl is centred on conditions. This could be the election
at the University of Tennessee explains that the power of of a governor who will turn things around for the good of
politics lies in the values associated with governing. These the state, better representation at the federal level or any
values are the most fundamental of human values. Barber other goal they decide to attain. Like the main character,
describes this value as control or regulation of access, Obi Okonkwo in Chinua Achebe’s novel No Longer At
opportunity, freedom, rights, self determination and self Ease who goes against his principles and takes a bribe to
expression. When these values are tied to the Igbo political solve personal problems, the Igbos have been boxed into
landscape, one discovers that even the agitations for Biafra going against the norms of their rich culture and tradition
are tied to control and regulation of resources, a desire for to accept handouts from their leaders instead of good
self-determination and self-expression. If these ideals can governance.
be genuinely pursued, the quest for secession will die a
natural death. Subsumed within the agitations for Biafra
is a call for identity, national pride and a strong collective Jude Nwabuokei writes from the United Kingdom
narrative created by the civil war and its aftermath.

18

 Cover Story

OHANAEZE NDIGBO
A BELEAGUERED MOTHER ELEPHANT
Femi Morgan

Ohanaeze Ndigbo is the apex socio-political pressure the need for solidarity amongst the Igbos, and a rallying
group of the Igbos. It was formed after the Biafrian point was the resurgence of the group called the Igbo
war to unify the third largest ethnic group in Nigeria National Assembly (INA). But the INA was also banned
and to harness the potentials of the Igbos-in-Diaspora by the Federal Government for fear that the Igbos may
to present a common socio-political front. Dr Akanu be plotting a grand agenda to disrupt the federation.
Ibiam and other prominent Igbos saw the need for In 1976, there was ‘The meeting of Igbo Elders and
the unity of the Igbo after the civil war. It was also an Chiefs’ where the idea of a socio-cultural group which
attempt to bring back the unity of the Igbo, which was would rebuild communities was mooted. Sir Francis
enjoyed during the brief years of the Igbo Federal Union Akanu Ibiam, Governor of the Old Eastern Region
(IU)and the the Igbo National Assembly (INA). subsequently formed the Ohanaeze Ndigbo with
 the support of prominent Igbo leaders including
The first unifying platform was the Igbo Federal Union, Dr. Micheal Opara, Dr. K.O. Mbadiwe, Chief M.N.
an unofficial collective of the Ndigbo which saddled Ugochukwu, Dr. Pius Okigbo, Prof. Ben Nwabueze,
itself with the social and infrastructural development and Sir Onyensoh Nwachukwu. Sir Akanu Ibiam
of Eastern Nigeria. The Igbo Union was established in became President-General of the group.
1944 before the civil war and was led by Chief Z. C. Obi,
and later Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe (1948-1952), Dr. Amanze, The Ohanaeze Ndigbo have members in all the states of
among others. The IU and all ethnic unions across Eastern Nigeria, and in Rivers and Delta States, among
the country were banned after the successful coup of other places. However, its primary financial contributors
January 1966 for fear of working against the federation. are the eastern states. Its core objective was not wound
The January 1966 violent coup had set the stage for a around any ideological context. It was set to unify all
chain of events that were precursors to the Nigerian Igbos to be better represented in the Nigerian political
Civil War. With the crises that preceded the war came space.

19

By 1984, The Ohanaeze Ndigbo had become torn President, Solomon Ogbonna Aguene, in an article,
because of choosing sides between the NPN and the noted that some ‘modern Igbos’ renege against collective
NPP. Subsequently, however, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, decisions of the group and disregard their ‘elders’ based
one of the founding fathers and the Executive Secretary on the fact that the Ohanaeze do not pay their bills,
at the time tried to resuscitate the group. But it did therefore cannot have control over them.
not gain much traction largely because the Igbos were Many Igbos who hold on to the dark nostalgia of the
traditionally disinclined to any semblance of monarchy Nigerian Civil War, who constantly educate their
and they saw the group as a subtle monarchical system wards on their own version of events and who assert
which reminded them of warrant chiefs, who used their marginalisation within the polity remain resolute about
positions to negotiate wealth for themselves during the the prospects of the Sovereign State of Biafra. These
colonial era. There was an admixture of suspicion and organisations, The Movement for the Actualisation
disinterest from various quarters. of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the
 Indigineous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) have always
During the years of military rule, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, expressed suspicion, disgust and vitriol against the
like many pressure groups, had to become a mere social Ohanaeze Ndigbo. They believe that the Ohanaeze
group without any political contribution. It was the constitutes a stumbling block to the unity needed to
obvious thing to do at that phase as the country was no secede from Nigeria. While the MASSOB had taken
longer governed by any semblance of the rule of law. the Nigerian government to the International Court
A scholar, Ebenezer Oluwole, had noted in his paper, of Justice over Biafra, and the IPOB had ordered the
“June 12 Saga and the Re-visitation of Igbo-Yoruba Cold boycott of elections and shutdown of commercial
War in Nigeria,” that the Igbos did not participate in centres in the eastern part of Nigeria during the 2019
the fight for the return to democracy through any socio- elections, the Ohanaeze had on many times shifted
cultural group or group activism because of the cold war goalposts in support of MASSOB, and had been silent
it had with the Yorubas who they believed were in the on many of the actions and inactions of IPOB.
good books of the Northern ruling class. Only a few of
their leaders engaged in some pro-democracy activities Many media reports show that the MASSOB and the
on their own volition. IPOB had accused the Ohanaeze Ndigbo of greed,
 doublespeak and underhand dealings, especially as
As soon as democracy returned, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo relates to political support and the proscription of
restructured itself for political relevance and power. IPOB in 2017. They had alleged that it helped the
It gained a lot of traction during the first four years Federal Government push out Nnamdi Kanu, leader of
of President Obasanjo because many politicians in the IPOB, into exile. Recently, the leader of IPOB had
Igboland were striving for political power at the centre accused Ohanaeze Ndigbo of collaborating with the
and in the states through the PDP, and later through Miyetti Allah to bring the culture, people and safety of
the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), a party the Igbos to great risk.
that was almost exclusively controlled by the Igbos. The
nature of APGA gave credence to the ‘elder’ status that ‘When the history of Fulani terrorist conquest of
the Ohanaeze Ndigbo needed to plot political direction. Igboland is written in the next 100 years, it will be
However, neither APGA nor the Ohanaeze became recalled that a certain group of men called Ohanaeze
successful at the centre. Things began to fall apart again Ndigbo and a band of traitors working for the Caliphate
as many rich Igbos began to assert themselves without sadly referred to as Igbo governors plotted the Islamic
any recourse to the reconciliation of the elders. The takeover of the land of their ancestors... Apparently,
Ohanaeze Ndigbo began to have factions that made all the Fulani terrorists did was to promise each South-
many Igbos in the city disregard them. This is the reality East state governor the same unrealisable slot of Vice
of the current Lagos State Branch of the Ohanaeze President of the Nigerian Republic.... For this token
Ndigbo. Their leaders have lamented that the seeming promise, each governor is now falling over themselves
egalitarian posture of the Igbo seem to go against the to please the Caliphate by ceding our ancestral lands
collectivism that it needs to present a strong socio- to the Fulani. These are the workers of iniquity some
political force. The organisation through its Chapter misguided people want us to regard as elders worthy of