₦airaland Forum

big mouths no action, says it all about the east, i have nothing further to add

strangerf: Igbo in fading shadows
By Ikenna Emewu
Saturday, March 17, 2012

I run the risk of somebody accusing me of tilting towards ethnic interest. But I am ready to carry the cross, but with a different name. I choose to call it personal interest. What one might call championing ethnic interest I rightly call championing my interest. I don’t know any law or rule or tradition that frowns at self-preservation. Even at the height of altruism, even in suicide, the personal interest is paramount. The one that takes to this does so in the interest of the self-gaining recognition or purging self of prevailing pains.
It gives me concern that the Igbo nation of Nigeria is fading away in so many respects and we don’t seem to care about this extermination. The most astonishing truism is that the end that stares Igbo in the face is self-destruction. It is not a case of anyone throwing blames across at other people on why he is not recognised.
It looks to me like the Igbo has hit a kind of strange psychosis where the self does not matter any longer. I think it is a good case in sado/masochism where the individual inflicts pains on self and makes no attempt to do otherwise because he enjoys it.

You might have noticed this commerce triangle that exists in Nigeria? I think it was unintentionally created by certain factors over time. From today, take your observation to the fact that when there is any business or outstanding event in Nigeria and places are mentioned, what you hear is Lagos/Port Harcourt/Abuja. I think it is only when there is all these funny drink-cough-shout-and win promo and concerts that someone mentions anywhere in the South East as a location of an event of national appeal. If it is about some corporate business – electronic warehouse, automobile sales outlets, aviation, trainings, services, telephone stuff, etc, you can’t hear a place mentioned in the South East.
The self-immolation comes in when you think of factories owned by people from the region in other places in Nigeria and none in the region they come from. Think of a situation where Zinox Computers, Coscharis Motors, Globe and First Motors and so many others have their outlets in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt and none in Igboland. But ironically, a good percentage of the people that patronise these businesses in the chosen fertile lands are people from Igboland. Does it convey the message of one hating and working against himself?

Now the cloud is gathering in the nation. Soon and very soon, the debate about true federalism will gather momentum in one form or the other. Already, the situation in the North has forced people who love others more than the self back into their hated region. They had all their life earnings and sweat in other places, and they head homeward to grapple with empty space. Does that development send any signal?

But for instance, there is no threat to Nigeria’s corporate existence, would that be justification for the abandonment of this region that is not lacking in factors of development? Why didn’t a people learn from their history even after fighting a bitter war for existence? I am baffled indeed.
Recently, I have been hearing and reading of the South West agenda. The focus comes in economic, cultural and political forms. Awareness is growing among the people because the signs in the horizon don’t seem to encourage anyone that the overcast sky might hold its moisture for a longer time. Last week and indeed as in the weeks and months past, the North, through all sorts of platforms, has been articulating its agenda. They come in form of new revenue sharing formula agitation by governors and other self-preservation antics by other bodies. And it seems in Igboland, everything is at ease, and there is no need for any action to set agenda and agitate the people into action like others do.

Between 1999 and today, I have seen three Aviation ministers from the Igbo enclave. Maybe by design or whatever, they have all been women. Prudent and calculative as women pride themselves to be, the South East remains the only geo-political zone without an international airport. The last time pilgrims left the zone, they were airlifted from the new Akwa Ibom airport. So, where is the place of Enugu airport and the promise of upgrade? I was a child growing up in Onitsha when I saw work commence on what they said was to be a seaport in that city. But where is it now?

I keep asking many questions and none gets an answer even when more questions nag my mind. If we had direction, there should have been a platform within the states in the region to organize the returning Igbo natives from the North into something cohesive and tap into their potentials so they can replicate effectively in Igboland those exploits they made in the places that pushed them out.

So, even within the context of a stable nation, is there any need for a regional plan of action to develop and empower the Igbo nation? In a situation where the nation you live in gets shakier with every passing day, won’t there be more compelling need to get one’s act right and think of survival? I am really scared my people are fading into oblivion. I might be wrong, but I need superior argument to be persuaded otherwise.
When others – South South, South West, North, etc are busy expressing their love for the nation by preserving themselves, the Igbo profess and express their love for the same nation by destroying self.

The last time I heard of any ruler from the region canvass self-preservation was what Dr. Emeka Ezeife articulated as think-home-philosophy in his days as Anambra State governor.

In about 2006, I attended the World Igbo Congress in Owerri as a reporter. At the press briefing, a reporter from the Igbinedion TV in Benin, and of course a non-Igbo woman asked the chairman of Ohanaeze then, Prof. Joe Irukwu what the body was doing about their kinsmen and wealth scattered all over Nigeria even in the face of threats to their existence.

And Irukwu started: “We are happy about it. In fact, I don’t see anything wrong with that because we are strong believers in the oneness of the nation.” Before he could go further, the governor of Ebonyi State then who was sitting next to him, Dr. Sam Egwu literally snatched the microphone from the elder and answered the question in the opposite direction. His position was that Nd’Igbo should come home and develop their land like others do. But I have some confusion here while balancing action with words. I read that actors, actresses and producers in the Nollywood sector once visited Egwu as governor in Abakaliki and demanded a place to build a films village. Egwu made them promises from the moon and it ended there. Nothing is there, not even [b]words, in Abakaliki to give life to those promises. Yet the city needs development badly. If by tomorrow, the largesse in Abuja to states and LGAs stops flowing, I bet you that Igbo will be the first to die of hunger because our governments never think of self-survival. Otherwise, a Theodore Orji as governor of Abia State would [/b]not have seen firing workers from other Igbo states as means of generating revenue when he has a goldmine in Aba, which he won’t tap into.

Onitsha, with all the money there, is a mad house. No person that loves order will take any organized business to Onitsha. Yet the potentials are there. The money is a sea that never dries. What do we have today in Onitsha? Asaba, the neighbouring city that has some order reaps the dividends. People come to Onitsha for serious business and live in Asaba to visit Onitsha for the business. It is also that way for workers in corporate organisations in the city. The bankers, media men, telecoms workers and others posted to Onitsha live in Asaba and we care not. Governor Peter Obi has not shown any difference in bringing order to the chaos called Onitsha. Nnewi that is just developing is worse with factories haphazardly located all over the place. No road design, no city mapping, nothing to attract good and elevated business and that way the existing businesses suffer and we never rise beyond the pedestrian status. So, where is the Igbo think tank to articulate something to recreate this part of the nation because the night is fast coming on the Igbo nation.

what do you eat? are you stupid or what..

Dede1: There is nothing I shall read from NL. What the hell will Ndigbo do with livestock, Suya and perishable products? Even the moneychangers have never reported Ndigbo looted or took anything from them during sectarian riots originated in the northern region of Nigeria. The only region goods and money belonging to Ndigbo have been looted is northern region of Nigeria.

onitsha in february based on the rumour that a hausa killed an ibo bus driver which turned out to be false

afam4eva: Can you give me one example of where shops owned by northerners were looted? Stop making things u abeg.

every time their is a rumour, the first thing locals do is loot shops owned by northerners, when has such a thing happened in the north on easterners?

afam4eva: Have you ever experience the locals harassing anybody for doing better than them or you're just saying what you heard. Stop saying what you don't know since you've never lived in the east.

we have more questions such as what has she achieved for nigeria? or even for her village? apart from asking to be paid in us dollars instead of naira

afam4eva: What has the past presidents of world bank achieved for the world bank? I guess you don't know. The fcat that she's been part of the world bank means that she was integral to whatever the bank achieved within that period. Btw, what has Kim achieved for Darthmout university?

when we opened the halal bank who made the most noise? you guess it right, where there no accusations from the east even though the intentions were peaceful? try and be a non indigene and outdo the locals and see what happen in the east, we are not speaking of a commoner doing ordinary things such as trading, but a common man making serious money, when that happens people will speak, especially if a non indigene, accusations will even be made

afam4eva: People will speak what? The only speaking Igbo people will be trying to do is to go into that same business and try to take over. In Igboland, everything is about hardwork. If you're lazy, you're gonna die of hunger. Go to Ariaria and Onitsha market and see hausa, Yorubas hustling just like Igbos do in lagos and other parts of the country.

you do not just wake up and decide to start up a big business in the east, there rules and regulations and you have to go through channels, what i know for a fact is that ibos talk more than anyone, if suddenly an hausa opens up the biggest shop in anambra people will speak

afam4eva: You have a point there. But you have to know that there are niches that Igbos are not into that other tribes can take advantage of. For instance, there's no reason why a Yoruba man cannot own the biggest taxi service company in Aba or Onitsha. There also no reason why an Aboki cannot own the biggest bureau de change anywhere in the east.

it is not easy, easterners are much more harder to work with than maybe any other tribe, will they even allow you to succeed under there environment? it will be very difficult, it can happen, but it is 10 times more difficult than anywhere else in nigeria

happy she lost, who wants her in the world bank? ngozi the dreamer

someone is very angry that noi lost, relax i guess you cried the whole day

Nnenna1: @Namfav and Shymmex,

As I said, based on both of you's posting history there is BIG lack of objectivity as far as anything Igbo is concerned and I stand by it. That I am not too concerned about the world bank presidency and who wins it does not mean that I don't know when people use covert means to thrash Igbos using individuals as bait. Don't use Black power or pan-africanism here when you are from being examples yourselves.

I see that kobojunkie still has a thing for quoting me :/

i said she stand no chance and i called a tribalist lol, but guess what, obama is another tribalist

a sore one

shymmex:

Loser!!!

sore loser

well said

shymmex: How do you mean "your posting history?" Are you for real? When have I EVER attacked a qualified, and decent individual from a tribe, different form mine - who is vying for a job I may be guilty of throwing a couple of tribal tantrums in the past - but I had every right to do that back then, in context of what I was confronted with - when I first registered on this forum. I'm human, and I'm a arrogantly Yoruba - and you don't expect me to sit back - and allow people from a tribe, which is NOT superior to my tribe - in any way shape, or form - stereotype people from my tribe, based on innuendoes, and half-truths. Any ways, I have outgrown that now - and I know it's a norm on this forum.

As for NamFav, he has every right to critique Nigerian official because he's a tax payer - and as for using his antecedents to judge his comment - that's unfair. You're not a mind-reader neither am I - and only Namfav knows why he posted the comment, I believe Namfav has explained his comment.

You seem to be the one supporting the woman blindly, based on tribal sentiments.

Is Ngozi Iweala qualified for the post? YES..

But as a Nigerian, if you're being fair - you would know, this woman doesn't like the Nigerian masses - and her elitist programmes have proved that. I don't care about a Nigerian being the world bank president - what I care about is what's in it for Nigeria and Nigerians - and if her antecedents are anything to go by - we are DOOMED. I won't be surprised if she makes the present WEAK president implement another enslaving SAP programme - which will further impoverish the next four generations of Nigerians.

yes, but i did not say that, someone respond to me after i said she is arrogant

Nnenna1: ^^^Thank you.

you are totally wrong and you know it

Nnenna1: I am actually indifferent to Iweala winning this position - however your posting history as well as Namfav's shows that your conclusions are not as objective as you all proclaim.

80-90% of Namfav's posts for instance, are dedicated to attacking Igbos at every turn. Will it be unreasonable to conclude that he is applying tribal bias here? Look -he implicitly admitted it here in this post:

very false

Nnenna1: LMAO from all indications it seems that many consider Igbos the arch-enemies of Hausa-Fulanis or something?

Nigeria....e go better sha.

you know as well as i do, if she wins
some people (you know them) will come here and profess their superiority, the same people saying that anyone not supporting her for being who she is is a tribalist

dubem3: you see,
thats what i've been trying to say
but maybe my deficiency in English is really doing me a bad turn.
go back and read what i said earlier on.
the only thing we are sur to gain is the fact that one of our
very own is there. it helps a little. it boosts our poor image
just a tad bit. and if she decides to work some things down here
by virtue of her position all the better.
you see,
tribalism and all these sectionalism is to nigeria what the knife is
to the cake...gradually cutting us in bits till we are so small
that its impossible to imagine we were so big.
hey man!!!
celebrate good and it can't help but come to you

no one is talking about her because she is ibo, stop being paranoid, people are saying she has no chance, which is true, her qualifications are not important now because the colombian was even more qualified than her, is she intelligent? is she qualified? yes
but since when is the world bank post about qualifications only? big questions

Nnenna1: You should follow your own advice too, in reverse. People should launching attacks against others because of tribe.

So you know she is more qualified, eh?

i have enough peace and rest of mind, people have to stop supporting someone just because they share ehtnicity, ones she wins she wont prioritise ibos or indeed nigeria, it is the world bank, no doubt noi is qualified but she wont get the job because america chooses can didate

Nnenna1: I hope you find peace and rest of mind soon. You need it.

that is the issue, if iweala wins nigeria problems will not be solved, i am not a fan of the world bank anyway, so whatever, i just saying as it is, iweala has no chance

dubem3: and whats in it for you if Kim wins?

being a former vice president does not make you qualified, iweala was never known as a diplomat for all the qualifications she has she does not interact the african vote is just pointless more powerful bric nations are behind the american, anyway she wont get it, she is a qualified economist/banker but not a qualified diplomat, her track record in nigeria is also poor, we'd get a better finance minister if she leaves anyway

dubem3: how exactly did she exude arrogance?
was she truly not nigerian?
is she really not more qualified than her opponent?
does she not deserve it atleast more than her opponent does?

wolfowitz was a political scientist, the current president has a political background not an economic one, world bank does not do technocrats at the top, iweala has to get it in her skull, it is not the qualification, world bank even had a engineer as president

abubaka101: Kim is not qualified, he knws it. Thats why he never granted any interviews. Okonjo-Iweala is the best for the job. Kim is Medical Doctor by profession, while Okonjo-Iweala is, you can say, a banker, an economist and also a former World Bank M.D., and V.P. Who is more qualified?

anyone who knows pdp tactics will see through this lies
sadly that is politics, a dirty game, why can't he sue them for defamation? this things happens to often in nigeria, with what is happening in nigeria what is no better tactic than to accuse your rival of supporting extremists? buhari have been accused, el rufai, sls etc.
but it is not only politicians guilty of these tactics, the general public too and the media

what is wrong is going on fareed zakaria and showing to the world how arrogant you are and saying you are nigerian, maybe if she said she was ibo instead, she did not show any respect to any other candidate and was speaking as if she deserve it

dubem3: remind me, whats wrong with being a nigerian?

sadly she was parading her arrogance as nigerian, i was ashamed

airmark: She is ibo, don't be suprised.

shes arrogant, did anyone see her on fareed zakaria? arrogant lady

today in nigeria someone lost his/her life under preventable circumstance

she wont win, just focus on being minister and doing a pathetic job