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 Daily
Independent Online.
* Monday, June 21, 2004.
Are the Igbos
capable of producing a President?
Someone might frown at this
question and even go beyond that by cursing me within his breath, irritated by what might strike them as my muddle-headedness .
Others might even go further than that by calling me names like betrayal and/or prodigal son. But
then, the question still remains: Are the Igbos capable of producing a
president, come 2007? Yet someone again will ask me ‘why not?’ Then, let’s
look at it again practically and perhaps, this might help us proffer an
accurate solution to the problem.
How would the Igbos actually produce a
president that will rule the whole federation judging by their
performance as the number three citizens? How many presidents of senate
have they produced with the current democratic life span of the country
so far? First was Evan Enwerem, followed by Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, then Pius
Anyim and finally Chief Adolphus Wabara who uptil now is still sitting on
hot potato not withstanding the intervention of the titled men of the
Igbo land. Who want him out? His brothers.
And how many Mr. Presidents have the
Yorubas within the period under review produced? And how many Atiku
Abubakar have the Hausas also produced? Your guess is as good as mine.
You see, even if it is not competitive for the Igbos to produce the next
president for the country come 2007, believe you me, it will not be as
easy as you think. Why am I saying this? My experience with the last
political dispensation could be my case study. As a matter of fact, the
Igbos had the greatest number of contestants: Chief Dim Emeka Odumegwu
Ojukwu, Alhaji Yaya Ezenmuo Ndu, Chief Rochas Okorocha, Chief Emmanuel
Okereke, Senator Ike Nwachukwu, just to mention a few. In fact, it got to
a point I started rumbling within me why NEC chairman did not approve
clans, hamlets, communities, and family names as political parties for
the Igbos to run presidential elections, if that will make them win.
But if really the Igbos are head bend in
producing the next president for the nation then they should apply a
little intelligence in their module: that is appointing a single
flagbearer to run for them 2007 presidential election for the interest
and good of every Igbo and then work as a team for fruitful result. Suffice it to say that the
scramble for presidency is, I must agree, a good idea though a feat not
to be achieved on pages of newspapers. Therefore, the Igbos should go
back to the drawing board, or, should I say, back to the blacksmith’s
workshop for a proper perfect finish.
The Igbos are referred to as intelligent,
resourceful and so on, but where is all their intelligence if it could
not work out a plan, so effective to give them a president? Where is
their superb commonsense if they could not give all support to their
brother - Chief Adolphus Wabara-the Senate President? A bird in hand is
worth thousands in the Bush, the elders say. Where is their sense if they could not form a common
front like others for their well-being? Where is their so-called
intelligence if they can not be their brothers keepers like the others?
Nonetheless, I am not particular about who
is ruling, I am particular about who serves the masses, makes food
available as at when due, provides shelter, good and qualitative
education for our children, irrespective of tribe, religion, and/or back
ground. I doubt whether the Hausas will ever be grateful to their
generals-Yakubu Gowon, Murtala Mohammed, Muhammadu Buhari, Sanni Abacha,
Abdulsalami Abubakar, al- Amin Dagash, Gado Nasko, and the rest of them.
Neither will the south - south forgive likes of Samuel Ogbomudia, Mike
Akhigbe, Augustus Aikhomu, Festus Porbeni, etc and the present
aristocratic class-the Yorubas with scores of ruled generals like Uncle
Olusegun Obasanjo, Oladipo Diya, A.K.Adisa, and Olarenrewaju. Nor the
middle belters with caterpillars like David Mark, Victor Malu, Jerry
Useni, etc. What have they gained as ones who at one time or the other
had someone in power? Nothing! Absolutely nothing! Rather you see beggars
littered every where and poverty stricken and the Yorubas- God have
mercy- you feel they are enjoying- far from truth. They even suffer more
than their so called subjects, who live in Mansions, duplex, Estate, etc
and driving expensive cars. Finally, my advice to the Igbos is that they
should forget the idea of producing a president at least for now until
they are ripe enough to do that or else….
Eze, Amaechi Emmanuel,
Lagos,
E-mail: [email protected]
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