IT should ordinarily be another talk-shop for Igbo leaders, to bemoan the fate of Igbo nation, and wring their hands in helpless regret over past failures, but for the calibre of people behind the retreat. For the first time the younger elements from Igbo nation have decided to take constructive steps to assume more responsibility in shaping the destiny of their nation. It is clear from the theme of the retreat: "Njikoka: A search for fresh standards," that the organisers were keen to develop a new direction for the Igbo nation.
The Aka Ikenga-Ohanaeze retreat, held in Asaba, from the 29th to the 30th October, at the prestigious Grand Hotel, provided opportunity for a broad spectrum of Igbo professionals and political leadership to exhaustively debate this theme. Aka Ikenga, made up essentially of young Igbo professionals, entrepreneurs and politicians seems to have found fresh vigour under the new leadership of Chief Chris Asoluka, not seen in either previous leadership of the group, or in the umbrella group, Ohanaeze.
This development is seen by many observers as a good thing for the Igbo race. Because they say Ohanaeze though very much relevant, is however, a club of old men living out their last days in futile attempt to recapture the valiance of their youths, in a struggle that would demand more mental energy and physical exertions that they do not have any more.
Thus, the vacuum in the system may be erased with the dramatic intervention of the rejuvenated Aka-Ikenga. Many of them are young, rich, upwardly mobile, connected, and are increasingly showing signs of aggressive commitment to the renewal of their race. Indeed, at the Asaba retreat, one member of the audience noted with satisfcation that even though locating the retreat in Asaba, was a sound judgement, the decision of the leadership of Aka-Ikenga to pay courtesy calls on many leaders of Anioma area of Delta State, a day before the retreat took off was a master stroke.
He believes, and this view was shared across that such intimate interactions between Igbos of the South-East and those in Niger Delta, could halt the sense of increasing alienation of the Niger Delta Igbos, who nursed real or perceived grievances against the South-Easterners.
Chief Asoluka, President of Aka-Ikenga, did not fail to note in his closing remarks that he thought it was a sound decision, and from which he learnt a great deal about the feelings and thinking of leaders of the Anioma area. He said his group plans to consolidate this interaction with the hope of achieving a complete reconciliation across Igbo race. As a platform to aggregate views, there was no shortage of ideas of what is wrong with the Igbo nation, and the solution to the myriads of challenges.
Speaker after speaker lamented the state of Igbo nation, at the same time agreeing that the lot of Igbo people today, is far short of what they are capable of achieving, if they get their acts togther. Some speakers canvassed the importance of reexamination of Igbo value system; the reconstitution of the Umunna system, ( a council of elders in small hamlets of Igbo nation) the imperativeness of accepting the authority of responsible and organised leadership, and discarding the syndrome of Igbo enwe eze( Igbos do not have kings), or the so-called republican strain which enthrones individualistic pursuits, and undermines the collective will of the people; they need to embrace education, especially science and technical education, which the Igbos have a natural flair for; the need to redevelop infrastructure in the Igbo nation. In short ideas poured in from almost every speaker.
The retreat further offered the discussants the opportunity to look at the clamour for presidency in 2007. It was the common view of some of those who spoke that it was an objective worth every effort that is put into it. As tactics go there was a variant of opinion that suggested toning down the clamour for Igbo presidency, and a little more leg work if the objective is to be achieved. Prof Joe Irukwu, who was at the occasion, and indeed stayed throughout jotting notes did not fail to wonder whether there was no need for clarification by the contributor to help the struggle. Somehow because of the pressure of time the person who made the statement could not resume the stand.
As retreats go the structure of the Asaba talks show the conveners had a basket full of issues they wish people to make inputs on. They had as the Theme of first plenary session: Reconciliation and Consolidation, with Chief Fortune Ebie as Chairman. This was followed by a discussion on Institutions, leaders, Networking, Visioning, Persona. And thereafter a paper by Prof. Pat Utomi, on Ndigbo in Search of Strategy.
A three group break out session for more intensive discussion of some sub-themes was part of the programme. There was group 1, which was on Responsibility and Accountability-Ndigbo Executive and Legislative arms with Prof. Ben Obumselu, as moderator; group 2 was on Leadership Proliferation and Politics without principles, which was designed to explore the various nuances of Igbo leadership ethos, leadership styles of Ndigbo, leadership recruitment: leadership and values, the leader as a strongman. It had Senator Francis Ellah, as the moderator. The group 3 break out session, had as its theme: Regional Projects and Common Services: And Ndigbo Development Plan. Chief Chilo Offiah, was designated as moderator.
The second plenary session of day two was to look at Economic Empowerment: Ndigbo, in search of strategy. The Speaker was designated to be Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okojo-Iweala, she was not available because of her assignment in Tokoyo, Japan. The break out session also had the following sub- themes: Access to Finance; NEEDS: Commerce and Economic Resource Ndigbo Response; Our Environment: urbanisation without Governance, Markets without boundaries, erosion scourge. The third plenary session had as its theme: The New Frontiers for Ndigbo and Nigeria: 2005-2015, with Chief Victor Odili, as chairman of the session.
It was a loaded programme, which tasked everyone including the organisers, and the audience. Time management was an uphill challenge, and this led to adjustment of the programme to accommodate emerging reality. However, despite the tight regime the organisers were forced to run, salient issues came up that would be helpful to the Igbo nation. Significantly, one of the observations that caught popular imagination was the suggestion by Prof. Angulu Onwuejiogwu, an historian and anthropologist, that the disarray in the Igbo polity began in 1910, when the British invaded the Igbo nation and dismantled the Umunna system.
He said the destruction of Umunna system scattered everybody, and thus created a void in the Igbo society, which has not been filled. He recommended that one of the way out of the Igbo problem was to reconstitute the Umunna system.
Onwuejiogwu, was to make further intervention when he debunked the notion that the Igbos never had kings, or the syndrome of Igbo enwe eze, which Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, corrected as Igbo amaru eze, which means Igbos do not recognise their kings. According to Onwuejiogwu, it is untrue that the Igbos never had kings, because from available anthropological records, the Ezenri had existed since AD 60.
He pointed out that Prof. Kennth Dike, had set up Institute of African Studies and part of the mandate of the institution was to look into Igbo history, and had from anthropological investigations found that there was indeed, kings in Igbo. Prof. Onwuejiogwu, explained that there were about 300 Igbo communities and that 1/3 of these communities had kings, which the British ignored, to set up the warrant chief system. He was puzzled that even though these findings and so many others were available in documentary forms, Igbos behave as if they have no history. His submission prompted calls that greater effort should be devoted to popularise Igbo history.
Discussing the Igbo history, and the ignorance surrounding it, dovetailed into the observation about the slow development of Igbo language. In fact one speaker noted that Igbos do not feel proud about their language, and challenged those making contributions to do so in Igbo. This challenge, though good, proved the undoing of many. Some attempts to use it failed, because a number of them got stuck and could not explain complex ideas in the language. It was apparent to all that the Igbo language was not a highly developed language.
One contributor, who came in from the US noted that over there children born to Igbo families are in complete ignorance of the language, adding that he was further alarmed when he discovered the malaise had spread to cities around the country, parents do not encourage their wards to speak Igbo. Noting this ugly trend, the audience agreed that everything must be done to halt the decline.
Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo, father of the Finance Minister, seeking a practical way of solving this problem tasked the gathering to examine the possibility of making Igbo language a scientific language in 14 months. He said the governors of Southeast should be encouraged to work for the promotion of the language in schools. Prof. Barth Nnaji, responded that it was possible because a lot of work had already been done in that regard, what is left he said, is for the leadership of Aka-Ikenga, and Ohanaeze to liaise with those working on it and the 14 month time frame can be met.
Debating the question of reconciliation and consolidation, various speakers believe this item represents the best possible way to get the Igbo nation moving forward. According to the lead presenter on this subject, Most Rev. Valrian Okeke, the Archbishop of Onitsha, reconciliation is the most important thing. "Is reconciliation not what the whole judicial system is about.
The greatest way forward for Ndigbo is by reconciliation." It was an emotional pitch, which touched the audience. In his own contribution, second republic Vice-President, Chief Alex Ekwueme, supported the notion of reconciliation being wonderful instrument that can be used to forge a better Igbo nation. He expiated further that for consolidation to be achieved, it is important for reconciliation to first take place. "The starting point for each person is to accept that nobody has monopoly of wisdom and righteousness. Consolidation will come if we put aside pull him down syndrome and I know it all."
There was even talk about how to harness various resources of the zone. It was suggested that the home video industry in Onitsha has over the years shown tremedous growth and should be supported with financial and logistic support. Imo State was presented as having the best corridor for oil and gas expolaration, that can help boost energy supply for the zone. The Anioma area was adjudged suitable for the information and communication technology centre, a Nigerian type silicon valley.
From the lead paper presenter Prof. Barth Nnaji, came a wide ranging submission on the state of Igbo nation, and the strategy to get the race out of the morass it has fallen into. Of importance, however, is his contribution on reviving education, Nnaji said: "We need to set a higher standard for students at all levels in our region. Primary school graduates should be able to read, write, add, subtract, and speak grammatically correct English, and Igbo where possible. The high school graduates should be capable of algebra, trigonometry, essay writing, poems and typing.
They should have good working knowledge of general science. University graduates should be a developing economic sub-group of Nigeria. What is stopping us from adopting UNN, UNIZIK and FUTO or others as centres of excellence for the production of first class doctors, engineers, and business graduates. What does it take for a few of our people to band together to adopt a particular faculty, or even a department to transform it into first class programme."
On the whole, there was a lot of talking points at the retreat, which should help Aka Ikenga, understand the degree of challenge before them as they gird their loins to help in transforming Igboland. That of course could be possible if they make a linkage with the political system. As one observer noted, talking and articulating positions is one thing, but implementing them is another game although. In other words, Aka Ikenga, must worry about lack of executive authority to implement ideas enunciated at the retreat. Because clearly there is little an organisation like that can do if it does not have persons holding political positions to push the Aka Ikenga agenda, and then give effect to all that was articulated.
At the same time it should not be out of place as the group contemplates what next to do, that they consider the option of funding political movements, that would pursue the struggle of emancipating the Igbo race from the grip of corrupt leaders, or in the words of Marcus Garvey ‘Misleaders’ who have festooned themselves on Ndigbo. Because many of those who have profited from the anarchy in the zone are not going to leave quietly, and this may really lead to violent political struggle. Is Aka Ikenga, ready for this? Does it have the stomach to push the dice to its logical conclusion? Preachments and high ideas have obvious limits, political changes do not come easily to those who are squeamish. How Aka Ikenga tackles these challenges will determine its relevance in the scheme of things.
