Opinion: Why you should not cry for the Igbos

by Nwobodo Chidiebere

igbo“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” –Martin LutherKing, Jr.

It is no longer news that President Goodluck Jonathan of PDP, gallantly lost to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress, who is now President-Elect of Nigeria. Congratulations to the nation’s indefatigable President-Elect, Gen.Muhammadu Buhari, who defied all odds to emerge as the nation’s democratically elected president, but a million congratulations should go to President Goodluck Jonathan who made it possible for the long-silenced voice of Nigerians to be heard now by creating an enabling political environment that enabled our votes to count, by providing Prof Jega’s led INEC adequate resources and  independence it required to deliver the much-needed free and fair elections.

Most of the self-righteous opinion writers are of the school of thought that it would be difficult for an Igbo man to govern a heterogeneous nation like Nigeria based on the current political permutations. Unfortunately for them, an average Igbo person is productive, progressive, industrious, self-determined, republican in nature; and independent of government at the centre to survive. This explains why Igbo has remained the most adventurous nation in the entire black race, which positioned them as the engine propelling Nigeria’s economic development. It is an irrefutable assertion that Lagos State as the economic capital of Nigeria attained this enviable status because of economic dexterity and investment prowess of the wise men of the East who migrated to the city of excellence in search of greener pasture as a result of their metropolitan nature and adventurous spirit.

Political power or not, Igbo nation would continue to thrive, survive and progress in any corner of the globe where human beings have the innate ability to survive. Therefore, those crying for the Igbos for expressing their quest for justice, equity and freedom should spare their tears for other noble causes. President Jonathan lost the election, but the Igbos won the war against agents of divide-and-rule by uniting and speaking with one voice for the first time, which is sending jitters down the spine of those who have being using divide-and-rule to incite Igbo brothers and sisters against each other. Never again will any Nigerian with Igbo blood flowing in his veins be treated as a second class citizen in this forced marriage called Nigeria. Why is it that other region expressed their franchised without fear, but Igbo nation is being vilified for upholding their fundamental human rights by voting for candidates of their choice? Must everyone be intimidated into voting for a particular candidate? Igbos are not against President-Elect, Gen. Buhari but the proponents of marginalization and inequality, who view Igbos as a conquered and defeated race that must be kept down at all cost. Igbo nation is ever ready to give their maximum support to the incoming administration provided it will prove to us through its policies and programmes that civil war has ended and Nigeria of 21st century is no longer the same country of 1960s, that every Nigeria irrespective of his language and faith is free to live and work in any part of this country without fear of intimidation or segregation.

As long as humanity persists, Igbos will continue to co-exist peaceful with other fellow Nigerians in any part of this country. To my fellow Igbo opinion writers, who insult the sensibilities of Igbo nation in other to project themselves as pan-Nigeria, or those who have sold their conscience and birth right to be able to eat the crumbs falling from their masters table, posterity beckons! Why I am at a very high risk of being tagged an ethnic bigot for standing up for justice and freedom of my people, I will like to state clearly that a man, who is not ready to die for the cause he believes in; is not worthy to live, apology to Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Nwobodo Chidiebere, is a social commentator, wrote in from Abuja.

 
Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

Comments (3)

  1. The writer has reported nothing new. The igbos are very energetic, dynamic and and very industrious. My candid advice to them is that they should unite and start building and improving their own “lands”. There is no sense or patriotism in migrating to other lands and improving these places when they don’t look back to improve their own lands. “Charity truly begins at home” – There is truly no place like your “homes”..

  2. I agree with you completely. So called opinion writers and apologetic Igbos should save their tears for themselves. The average Igbo man does not depend on government appointment for survival. All he requires is fairness and justice which if denied him he will fight for with the last blood of his life. Those who crave for public appointments even against a principled position are not worthy to be called Igbos. They are ready to lick the feet of anybody just to belong and lack the courage to be themselves.

  3. I agree with you completely. So called opinion writers and apologetic Igbos should save their tears for themselves. The average Igbo man does not depend on government appointment for survival. All he requires is fairness and justice which if denied him he will fight for with the last blood of his life. Those who crave for public appointments even against a principled position are not worthy to be called Igbos. They are ready to lick the feet of anybody just yo belong and lack the courage to be themselves.

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