The Igbo Nation is a people blessed with everything that makes a nation great. The human and material resources that are found in Igboland are enough to make Nigeria a great country. But unfortunately, the igbo man possesses one spirit that has continued to make her come from behind other tribes which is GREED. A quick look at the politics that plays in the South-east will show how our politicians, out of greed, has continued to compromise Igbo interest. The present group of governors in the south east as far as I am concerned are the worst things that have happened to the Igbo man in recent times.

These Igbo politicians, because of their inability to manage their resources and problems have decided to inflict war on the land. The war is still over the political control of the South-east. Fortunately, the combatants are still the same. It is now a no-holds barred affair as murder, arson, thuggery, and intimidation is now the order of the day in the South-east. The Igbo hand is something on a tinder box as the fight for supremacy among different coalitions takes on a murderous hue.

This is one reason why we'll continue to wonder and ask questions on how these governors managed to win the gubernational tickets of PDP in their various states despite the atrocities being committed in the South-east by these governors. The mysterious death of Navy Captain Anthony Onyeanigbulam and the attempt on the life of Dr. Julius Kpaduwa was as a result of their declaration of interest to run for Achike Udenwa's job. Similar incidents have taken place in other states in the South-east.

GREED has continued to create division amongst the Igbos and has made us unable to present a common front forour interest in the Nigerian Federation, and one will begin to wonder what will be the situation when we finally arrive at Biafra Take our neighbours, the Yorubas and the Hausas, for instance. We hardly hear of political killings and because of their unity of interest, in most cases, they've been able to manipulate the politics in Igbo land by using our greedy politicians to achieve what they want. No wonder the governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, described most politicians in the South east as mere "errand boys." The recently concluded gubernational elections of the PDP in the South-east was described by Kemi Edwards, a Tell reporter in Lagos as a fraud which was perfected at the PDP convention that saw Obasanjo emerge as the presidential candidate for PDP.

Indeed it is not in doubt that the political situation in the South-east seems to be unraveling in a very dangerous way and the traditional leadership seems to be in disarray. Ohaneze is fast losing its appeal because it has not been able to stay above the fray. "They are always quick to support a faction. They have competing interests" says a highly placed lawyer of Igbo extraction. The current leaders of Ohaneze are not credible as far as recent happenings in the South-east are to be considered. They are under some kind of economic pressure, many of them are still marrying new wives and paying school fees and that is why they'll always be available and vulnerable to the highest bidder in the political arena. The situation will continue to get worse until "Ohaneze is restructured to have credible leaders".

The inability of Ohaneze to offer direction also threw up an armada of presidential candidates claiming the mandate of Ndigbo. Rochas Okorocha, Alex Ekwueme, John Nwodo, Ike Nwachukwu, Jim Nwobodo, George Okoye, Chuba Okadigbo and Kalu Idika Kalu.

Leading Igbo politicians blame Ohaneze for its inability to halt the parade of the good, bad and the ugly, most of whom have made other tribes to call to question the South-east's readiness to produce the country's president. Among the Yoruba, the Afenifere leaders are well respected: The Hausa also revere Arewa Consultative forum(ACF) leaders. The same cannot be said of the Igbos. We say we want the presidency but the so called Ohaneze youths went to Aso Rock to urge Obasanjo to continue. How on earth are people going to take us seriously.

Finally, the deep political crisis in the South-east is not what the people want as political dividends. Our leaders should wake up from their slumber and see how democracy has improved the lives of Nigerians in other tribes.

Kelechi Ehirim
Lagos, BiafraNigeria