Have Igbo Leaders failed?
By
Martins Chiedozie Ugwu
+234 (0) 8037553190
johnmartinsworldonline@gmail.com
"i owe it to posterity, to speak unalloyed truth to unconscionable powers, and to clarify the position of my people, the Yoruba of the, Nigerian state, so that whenever I might be recalled home, it shall be said of me, that I not only did my bit, I indeed said my bit, and the position of the Yoruba people and Afenifere, were clearly and succinctly enunciated.” Chief Ayo Adebanjo
The purpose of this piece is to try to bring to view the social-political and psychological perspective on the roots and understanding of the relationship between the much touted nationalism and patriotic ideology. At its heart is the open debate on how individuals develop feelings about and attachments to tribe or country. I will try to explore how such loyalty to a country or tribe can constitute subversion or treachery or can be translated into stereotypes that are shared by individuals and can shape the collective behavior of groups, and can also help differentiate the multiple groups that define their political environment or wellbeing.
Throughout human history, nations or tribesmen have demonstrated a tremendous need for leaders. In times of danger, crises or threat to the people's collective interest, leaders have helped guide their people toward desirable outcomes. Leaders help their people coordinate their actions with one another, establish and prioritize their goals, and pursue the paths that are most important to the success of their collective agenda. As Chief Adebanjo vow to lead the Yoruba people on restructuring, my question now is, who will then be leading or pursuing the igbo interest? Is it those self-appointed power brokers that couldn't lobby or work to fix the roads in their various states or those other petty and self acclaimed advocates and comrades, whose loyalty or ideology is dictated by their stomach or political appointment. Who will speak and who is actually speaking for the Igbo nation?
Indeed, Indecision in leadership is an anomaly and so dangerous because decision making is at the heart of leading. Leaders are paid to make decisions that will improve the lots of their people. So, when leaders are hesitant about making decisions or taking position on critical issues especially as it affect their people, that automatically signals leadership failure, because unless decisions are made, situations do not change. When the situations do not change, no success can be recorded. So why is it that difficult for igbo leaders to take a position on critical issues? Why is it difficult for the south east leaders to come together and genuinely speak under one voice without any of them going to the back later to say or do a different thing. Why are the Igbo leaders so afraid to speak up on issues that affect their people? Why are leaders in the south east so desirous of their selfish end or ambition? Why do we have the worst federal roads in the country and no one is talking about it? Why do we have the worst human right abuse and neglect by government agencies and no governor or elected officials in the east deems it necessary to speak the truth to power because they don't want to be tagged tribalistic, as their selfish political and economic interest stand above any other thing.
Regrettably, it is an experience worth confessing, that I was ashamed of our political leaders the last time I travelled to Onitcha from Enugu, the experience of motorists and the state of Enugu - Onitsha road is a typical example of a people without genuine leader(s). The Enugu - 9th mile -Nsukka road, (all federal roads) presents a clear picture of Animal kingdom or deserted place. How does it sound to know that political leaders outside the South East are the ones speaking up against the injustice and anomalies going - on in the east. Why did it take the south east leaders such a long time to agree to form the starved, ill equipped security structure called Ebubeagu, which only exists on the pages of newspapers. A mockery of regional security and a display of cowardice and like the Larry Niven's Puppeteers; 'two-headed three-legged creatures of a vast empire, whose culture is dominated by cowardice and traitorous.'And one will ask, at what stage did our leaders start deteriorating? At what stage in our socio-political life did our leaders begin to miss their priority? Who is actually to be blamed for the igbo leadership woe. Is it that the new generation of masses in the east are such difficult people to govern or that their leaders are such self-serving leaders engrossed in their self gain to the detriment of the masses they are supposed to protect. Honestly the ugly situation and untold hardship of motorists in the southeast region can force one to denounce his tribe if caution is not observed. But we have people who parade themselves as the leaders of the Igbo Nation, who only care about their political ambition and pockets. But if you think otherwise, why will it take the agitation and pressure from their western counterparts for the governors in the east to sign the anti grazing bill even though they are the worst hit by the activities of herdsmen, still unlike their Yoruba counterpart none of the governors in the east could summon courage to enforce the law of anti open grazing. Why keep silence on the rot going on in their various states? This is totally not acceptable and very unbecoming of a leader.
During the early years of social movements, people bond together to fight for their rights in ways that make them feel like a tribe fighting for their survival.
These connections can feel as
deep as their ancestors’ bonds to each other in order to survive harsh elements and other competing tribes. Yes, selective pressures have sculpted human minds to be tribal, and group loyalty and concomitant cognitive biases likely exist in all races and that is natural and normal, because we are built to be tribal first before national and there can be no nation without tribe, so there is nothing wrong if the interest of your people comes first, provided it is not to the detriment of other tribes. So your tribe first and if anyone disapproves you because of your interest and stand for the good of your people, forget that person and move on, that person will still disapprove you even if you abandon the good and interest of your people to embrace theirs. And I have no doubt in me that if we all develope genuine intention to our various tribes, if we all can develope sense of patriotism to our various tribes, we can still come together with genuine nationalistic spirit to discuss and negotiate what will be good for our various tribes if actually we are patriotic as we claims. But sometimes when
tribalism goes too far, when a tribe or tribes are aligned to oppress or suppress others, when a tribe begins to develop this unnecessary hatred against another, thereby threatening the national security or interest, that is not heroic or patriotism and not even a reflection of strength, no matter which side of the divide you belong. But more dangerous and self defeat is when tribesmen start fighting one another and when they begin to promote tribal sentiment or fake nationalistic spirit, because of selfish goal of very few persons without minding the collective benefits or loss of their people or nation. So why are igbo leaders running away from their responsibility of standing up for their people. Why such public silence among Igbo leaders in favour of malfeasance? Why do we always display this kind of fake sense of patriotism any time we want to contest an election and go to sleep once we lose or win? Where is our sense of patriotism ? Do Igbos actually still have patriotic leaders or self-stays who are always rooting for their selfIsh goals.
To the supposed leaders of the east, remember that those citizens, those our founding fathers who pushed aside their own selfish desires for the good of the whole are not stupid, they are not fools but i'm proud and bold to say that, they are the backbone of our today. Even though they don't have much attached to themselves, still they died as heroes and not as villains and I hold them with pride because they laid a good ground for us to flourish politically and economically but it's sad to know how our supposed leaders of today are so irresponsible, very careless and selfish to have abandoned their primary assignment- which is to protect and advance the interest of their tribe. Too bad. You have abandoned your primary assignment to pursue your selfish agenda while your people languish in pain and suffer the worst bad roads in the history of this nation but you are proud to keep parading yourselves as leaders while doing absolutely nothing for this same people you are paid to represent. What a people?
To the rulers and handlers of our country Nigeria, I want to remind you that some decades ago, our founding fathers led a movement to liberate the country from the shackles of colonialism, they laid down their selfish and destructive agenda and unified under one ideology and it was a great success but presently, I mean the present leaders of our beloved country Nigeria, irrespective of political party or ideological affiliation, it will be important to let the people know exactly your political ideology, which movement or ideology are you championing or just your pocket or your destructive tribal ideology that will impoverish your people the more or is it the ideology based on self loathing, self interest and unmatched greed? Such a hopeless, counterproductive and futile ideology that has left the people battered, impoverished and porous. It will be important to note here that if our founding fathers had decided to run off and live like you, I am sure even you won't be where you are today. If they had decided to be such selfIsh, maximising their selfishness to the detriment of the masses, I am sure our civilization, freedom and advancement would have crumbled as a people. So what kind of society are you leaving behind? A country where leaders will wake up every morning to point accusing fingers on other tribes as the cause of the country's woes. A country where activism is a mockery and where greatness and smartness are measured by the highest looter. Just know that no one will celebrate you or your generation for betraying your people to enrich yourself. And the society will not fail to give it back to you and your generation for jeopardizing their interest for your selfish gain.
Finally, as we struggle in search of leaders who will be highly respected, equipped with the right skills and dispositions required to successfully ride on Nigeria political terrain, I pray that national interest, the good of the igbo and humanity at large form our guiding principle. Even though i don’t believe that a Nigeria president of Igbo extraction will perform magic, the success of this leadership task among the Igbo will be best determine now especially as we draw close to 2023, at least for the first time, let's drop our personal interest and ambition and work together to negotiate a better deal for Igbo and Nigeria at large.
Martins Chiedozie Ugwu
Johnmartinsworldonline@gmail.com
