By Anny J. u'Dorphia
The issues that degenerated to the present trends in social media and which informs writing this piece border on the mistakes of people whom we have indirectly handed the mantle of leadership to and who do not curt good manners in their utterances.
Nnamdi Kanu insulted GEJ; Reno Omokiri responded with equal measures. And to spice it up a bit, he brought in Nnamdi Azikiwe. Many argue that the import of his involvement of Azikiwe was misunderstood. Many say it was intentional foul. So, some Igbo sympathizers who worship the Azikiwe as a god-head rain thunder and brimstone. Others call for boycotting of his book- an assault on intellectual property which we own very little of as Nigerians. The verdict remains same in all: call for the heads of those that believe in something different from what you believe in.
This is a wrong verdict.
"When you decide to urinate on the head of some other people's idol; expect to come back and see your own shrine razed and your gods lying decapitated in the mud."
Nnamdi Kanu should learn this lesson. The few Igbos that are ranting over Nnamdi Azikiwe's demystification by Reno Omokiri should know this. Reno- as well as many others- is as loyal to his own mentor like any other person. Reno too must also learn to refrain from thinking himself to be the spokesperson for every GEJ bad-mouthing.
There's no need to throw tantrums, or we would have been reduced to mere market women.
Recall, that when the Niger Delta Avengers- a strong militant group operating out of the creeks of the Niger Delta- came out with a list of its yearnings and demands from the Nigerian state; demanding Nnamdi Kanu should be fred and the IPOB group be apologized to for their persecutions by the merciless arms of the Nigerian military, it didn't do that because it was an Igbo group. Rather it did, because it had identified that the marginalization and oppression of the people of the lower Niger is universally shared and borne by the whole of Southern Nigeria. This is the state of mind we must all adopt. If we must survive in our struggles, we must put an end to sibling-like hand wrenching and tongue wagging and face the common enemy (that is if we agree that we have identified any). The Nigerian state has failed us all. We need to agree to restructure or we move away. I wish beyond all things, that the former happens. It is less tasking and simpler cheaper- in terms of technological and economic cost. It's even conservative- in terms of human blood that could be saved from waste.
It will always be easier to think of ourselves as one Nigeria nomatter how much of the connotation of the concept of oneness has been corrupted.
Thus, I implore all to let go of these inconsequential ethnic bickerings and face the real issues. At this point, we need either a referendum or a decentralized Nigeria. If none is attainable, we should ask out.
But if it comes to the later, what do we ask out for? Or who do we ask out as? BIAFRA or RONDEL.
Biafra appeals to me more- for its sheer geographical size, long suffering, international cognizance and fame.
But, the ideals that defines a true federal constituent of the various ethnic constituents are reflected more in the terms of a RONDEL State.
So, if it must be Biafra, it must be one that takes cognizance of its potential constituents and harmonizes a true federal character with each of the other ethnic nationalities that occupy diverse regions in the Biafran Confabulation. The Igbos particularly must understand this. The doubts that were raised during the war must be cleared. Other tribes and sub-units must be consulted. There must be a round-table talk. We need our own confab. It is the only methodology that will ensure a consolidation.
Very few people know that 'Biafra' is not an Igbo term.
The term was coined from the Bight of Biafra which is nearer to the ethnic minorities that it will ever be to the Igbo-land. This makes other minorities as Biafran as the Igbos. Ibibios/ Efiks are Biafrans but not Igbos; same with the Urhobos and Ijaws.
Therefore, let's start now to structure a polity that reflects total inclusiveness or we will be left staring at the same wound that festered into a gangrene in the Nigeria state, even if we were granted a republic at the end.
Then the end to our collective struggles would have been nought.
The time is now.
