Mereonye Emeribe

Time was when Nigeria was less populated, less developed and poor, yet the country had colourful, exciting and more committed leaders. Those were the days of the Azikiwes, Awolowos, Ahmadu Bellos, Balewas, Okparas, Osadebeys etc.

Growing up in the then bubbling Enyimba city of Aba, we admired all of them in our different ways. Most importantly, there were Igbo in business and politics. Ojukwu Nnewi, D. D. Onyemelukwe, Agina etc (all from Nnewi), Nnyamah Jos, Z. C. Obi Mbadiwes, - too many to remember now. We saw many of them in our later lives and some we never ever met but their names were household names. They were idolised, they were honoured. They were Igbo leaders and elders from every nook and cranny of this great Igbo homeland of ours.

The schools we attended, even from the kindergarten through primary to secondary were great citadels that molded most of us old men and women who are still alive. It did not matter then where one came from. Efik, Ibibio, Igbo, Anang and even Cameroonians shared seats and dormitories. Ethnic rivalries were unknown and when they came up, there were cursory, insignificant and even healthy. Dr. Okpara, I think even developed a paper "Tribalism, a pragmatic instrument for Unity."

Today, our Nigeria, the new Nigeria is more populated, more developed and even richer (thanks to the black liquid gold). It has all it takes to be a great nation. Alas, it has changed for the worse at least in political cohesion and stability. Ethnicity is manipulated in the new Nigeria to increase and sustain political tensions. Some ethnic units have however 'matured' and 'moved' on and ahead in the country. I wish I can say so about my people (Ndi-Igbo). This brings me to the significant aspect of my essay.

I think it was Wole Soyinka who referred to our generation as the 'wasted' one. The more I think about it, the more pain I go through. Posterity is NOT going to smile on us of this Igbo generation specifically for the pain and punishment being inflicted on the younger Igbo already here or about to be here after we have departed. Neither Igbo leadership nor the eldership has anything worth writing home about. We have nothing to bequeath to future generation because we have been torn apart by the lack-luster performance of below average and mediocre leadership of often self-appointed, political liliputs who are masquerading as "leaders."

It hurts and pains more when one knows that out there, is a population of well educated Ndi-Igbo in several disciplines at home and abroad. For most of these, it has come down to personal and family survival. Apathy, borne out of frustration of a people has led to the proliferation of charlatans "strutting and fretting on the Nigeria stage. When these charlatans speak on behalf of all of us Ndi-Igbo, it is mere talk and hollow sentiments. When they write for us to read, they make idiots of themselves and inflict more pain and anguish on the psyche of an already battered, bastardised and rudderless Ndi-Igbo. Herein is the Igbo predicament not only in business and politics but also in survival strategies. Most glaring and worrisome is the naivety of these Igbo 'Leaders and Elders.' The Oha-na-eze Ndi-Igbo, in my old man's view, is one toothless cock that should be slaughtered for the lunch of the more organised and more pro-active Nigerians.

This so-called Pan-Igbo organisation has contributed very significantly to the scramble, balkanisation and destruction of Ndi-Igbo When the 'leaders' are not scrambling for contracts in Abuja, Kaduna and Sokoto, they are hovering around Igbo-led Government Houses, and pitiably hovelling, scrounging, begging and clapping for pennies and peanuts. Yea, in public, they look pitiable and pitiful. They therefore command neither respect nor followership from the rest of us.

Today in Nigeria, Igbo are just passengers in the Nigerian nation-boat. They can and will easily be jettisoned into the sea in order not to rock the boat and "keep Nigeria one." That is true and WE all know so. Whatever positions they may occupy in any political party in this country are cosmetic. In virtually all Igbo states, we are saturated with the stark realities of the misuse of public funds - our common wealth. You turks in form of mediocre governors looted the treasuries dry and planted their surrogates in vantage positions to protect the loot and sustain the status quo. The Igbo who have the gift and force of intellect are few. Many have been compromised or intimidated into submission by threats of death. Non-Igbo States with lesser endowments not only in men but also in material resources are moving on. The orderliness and cleanliness and Calabar is proverbial. The markets and motor parks in Uyo are worthy of management emulation. From the Ebeano dynasty in Enugu to the Okija-cult dominated regimes of Abia, the story is not different from the dilemma of silence to the impudence of lawlessness.

Abia State case worries me to my bone marrow. The mother-son-satan triarchy straddles the power in this unfortunate state. When the baton was passed on to the surrogate T. A. Orji, no one was told and no one has been told how much was left in the treasury. The man does not even have the clout or impunity to ask. T. A. Orji is a sorry sight at home and in public appearances. He looks doomed and dazed. His case is worsened by the pressures of an ambitious wife and a rampaging son. For the interim that he is saddled with "His Excellency" appellation, he is in deep trouble, surrounded by Orji Uzor's Okija disciples (from the ADC to his Chief of Staff).

Poor Abians, where are you heading? Your existing roads in your Umuahia Capital must be bifurcated for DUALISATION. Your due share from the Federation Account must be siphoned via Zerock, JPROS and Technco - Companies owned by Lebanese in partnership with your leaders past and present. Your civil service has been completely destroyed in order, qualification and seniority. Indeed, any charlatan can become a Permanent Secretary. The reformer and reformer have a case to answer! Civil servants' salaries can only be paid in tranches because the Orji dynasty must take out its own and you must pass on some to blackmail and ingratiate the justice system. Billions of naira for the upliftment of Abians are being transacted for personal enrichment through allies and partners aided by the dishonesty group straddling the civil service. The story is the same with the Local Government Service. The events in Abia are a tragedy. We know it as much as those who claim to be "men of God" who trumpet falsehood consistently in newspapers and their Radio/TV stations. In Abia, Government officials (Public/Civil servants) share the commonwealth and move out with large chunks in estacodes even to new born-babies and sisters-in-law. What an injustice to the rest of us. The code of conduct regulation in the constitution is not for Abia State.

The tribunal verdict which classically and fundamentally knocked out this evil dynasty/surrogate only served to accentuate the looting spree. This is unchecked and some Abians are collaborating without blinking an eyelid. It is unnerving since Ndi-Igbo in general are trivialising the Abia holocaust. However, in God's Judgment there is no appeal. His mercies will visit Ndi Abia in particular and Ndi-Igbo in general.

In God's good time, the change, the rebirth and growth will take firm roots in this land.