The Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, has accused the Igbo in Akure of insubordination.
He accused them of violating the tradition of the ancient capital of Ondo State.
The 48th Akure monarch alleged that the Igbo have no respect for him or the town’s culture.
According to Oba Aladetoyinbo, Igbo traders often violated the town’s culture and tradition. He said efforts to caution them had failed.
The Deji, who spoke through the Asamo of Akure land, Rotimi Olusanya, alleged that the Eze Ndigbo, Sir Gregory Ilehohika, recently embarrassed him and some of his chiefs in his palace.
The Igbo last week alerted to alleged plot by the Deji-in-council to dethrone the Eze Ndigbo.
They protested against the planned closure of their businesses and markets in Akure.
However, Oba Aladetoyinbo alleged that the Igbo trading at Mojere market recently contravened the rules guiding the market, which he said led to the invitation of some Igbo leaders, including the Eze Ndigbo, to the palace.
The monarch noted that the Eze Ndigbo refused to carry out his order to eject illegal traders from Mojere market.
He stressed that Akure is reputed to be peaceful, loving, accommodating and law abiding.
Oba Aladetoyinbo said: “We shall continue to allow integration of all Nigerians, but we will not allow anyone to degrade or trample upon our tradition and institution.”
But the President, Ohaneze Ndigbo in Ondo State, Okechukwu Okorie, earlier said the Igbo are law abiding and peaceful, adding that they respect their traditions and those of other ethnic groups.
He said the Igbo leaders who went to the Deji’s palace to honour his invitation were beaten up by some irate youths at the palace.
Okorie said the Deji was being misinformed by some individuals on the activities of the Igbo in Akure.
The rich cultural heritage of the Igbo was on display on October 10 as Igbo community in Lagos celebrated this year’s New Yam Festival. CHINAKA OKORO was there.
For several hours on Saturday, October 10, guests from far and near joined Ndigbo in Lagos to celebrate this year’s New Yam Festival.
The Nwachukwu Drive, venue of the event, was literally shut as huge crowd made their way to the Lagos State Igbo Community Centre to behold a cultural spectacle and catch some fun usually experienced once in a year.
There was heavy drumming, singing, trumpeting and breathtaking dance steps by cultural dancers who thrilled guests who had seated before the arrival of the dignitaries.
It was all glamour and show of opulence, as an estimated crowd of 10,000 that included members of Ndigbo in Lagos, friends, well-wishers and some prominent indigenes of Lagos State, participated in the celebration of the long-standing cultural carnival for which the Igbo are known. The weather was clement as the sun shone brightly out of the azure sky.
As early as noon that day, the spacious Igbo Community Centre which was built primarily for the festival and where Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu hold-sway had begun to witness massive influx of spectators.
There was a spontaneous jubilation and a loud ovation rent the air as Eze NdigboGburugburu and leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike made his way into the arena with a retinue of his unarmed security men who wore all-black attire.
The roomy Igbo Centre was largely suffused with beautifully coloured masquerades and traditional dancers who entertained the people. Gaily dressed Igbo women known for their panache and active social lifestyle were a marvel to behold. The men equally in their beautiful Igbo attire swirled to the suiting rhythm of drums and other musical instruments in that somewhat balmy afternoon. It was a gathering of who is who in Igbo land.
Commenting on the significance of the day and the place of yam in Igbo culture and tradition, the chairman on the occasion, His Excellency Cliff Nzeruem went down memory lane on how the festival began.
Chief Nzeruem, who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive of Hotel Ibis Royale, said: “An old Igbo myth records that during a severe famine, Igbo (from whom the tribe takes its name) was told that he must sacrifice his son, Ahiajoku, and his daughter, Ada, in order to save his other children. Obeying the instruction, he sacrificed his first son (Opara) and his first daughter (Ada).
“After they were killed, their flesh was cut into pieces and buried in several different mounds. A few days later, yams sprouted from the flesh of Ahiajoku, while coco yams sprouted from the flesh of Ada. Igbo and his other children survived the famine by eating them. Since then, the spirit of Ahiajoku became the god of yam.
The myth of Ahiajoku is re-enacted during the New Yam Festival each year. Each household places four or eight new yams on the ground near a shrine. After saying some prayers, he cuts small portions off from each end of the yams to symbolise the sacrifice of Ahiajoku.
“The yams are then cooked with palm oil, water, and chicken to make a dish that symbolises the body and blood of Ahiajoku. The Igbo people consider the yam to be so sacred that at one time, anyone caught stealing it would be put to death. Today, such thieves are banished.”
Continuing, he said: “We are here today to give thanks to God for giving us a bountiful harvest this year. The harvest is not only in terms of farm yields, but also in terms of life, good health and progress. As we gather to celebrate today, peace and celebration of good things will be the portion of Ndigbo in particular and Nigerians in general.
Congratulating the Igbo community in Lagos on the event of their New Yam Festival, Senator Oluremi Tinubu said she will always identify with the Igbo because of their industry.
Represented by the Executive Secretary of Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, Mrs. Omolola Essien, Senator Tinubu said the celebration of new yam festival by the Igbo in Lagos indicates that they are rooted in the culture and tradition of their society.
She noted that the Igbo exhibit the spirit of oneness and unity which Nigeria needs by making anywhere they find themselves their homes and contribute immensely to the socio-economic and political development of their host communities. She enjoined every Nigerian to embrace unity for peace and harmony to reign in our country.
This, she said, will engender the much-needed united Nigeria in which everywhere is home for all despite where one comes from.
Senator Tinubu, who holds the traditional title of Ezinne Ndigbo, urged all Nigerians to pray for President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to succeed in giving Nigerians and Lagosians good governance.
Speaker after speaker described Senator Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who loves Ndigbo and renders assistance to them when necessary. Chief Nzeruem narrated how Senator Tinubu was of assistance to stranded air travellers at Abuja Airport whose flights were cancelled. “She”, he said, “walked into the Departure Hall and invited those going to Lagos to join her in her private jet; without minding who you are or where you come from. It takes a mother and a humble person to do that.”
In his speech, Dim Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, the Ijele Ndigbo and Eze Igbo Gburugburu expressed his happiness identifying with his people. He said celebration of new yam was a tradition handed over to us by our forefathers. It is a festival that unites all Igbo.
Urging Ndigbo not to be afraid wherever they are, he said they should ensure they are law-abiding and respect constituted authority of their host communities.
Differing from Chief Nzeruem’s position that an Igbo appointed into the cabinet of any government outside Igbo land is a privilege and not a right, the MASSOB leader noted that “the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not recognise indigeneship. Every Nigerian has a right wherever he or she resides. That is what is in the constitution.”
He urged Ndigbo to strive to be at peace with their neighbours wherever they reside, adding that they should not be afraid of anybody as far as they are law-abiding citizens of Nigeria.
He said: “I love to come and identify with you in order to give you courage, the confidence that nothing will happen to you. Nigeria cannot do without the Igbo. In each state of Nigeria, the Igbo are the second largest group in every city.
“It may not be possible for the Igbo to speak with one voice because they are from a great tribe, what matters is the voice of the majority.”
Earlier, Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State and Co-ordinator/Igbo Mobilise in APC, Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu said the new yam festival or Iri ji is one of the significant cultural events in Igbo land. He added that the event provides the Igbo man the opportunity to thank God for bumper harvest in yam and other farm varieties.
“In Igbo land, men plant yam while women plant cassava and cocoa-yam and so on. As man is the head of the family, so is yam the head of everything in the farm in Igbo land.
“For the Igbo man, the new yam festival day is symbolic in the sense that it is a day of enjoyment after the cultivation season, and the plenty is shared with friends and well-wishers. A variety of festivities mark the eating of new yam. Folk dances, masquerades, parades and parties create some joyful experiences for the participants,” he said.
High point of the event was the cutting and eating of tubers of roasted yam by participants.
•Representative of Senator Tinubu, Mrs Omolola Essien, eats the new yam.
Dignitaries at the event were Executive Secretary of Isolo Local Council Development Area, Alhaji Segun Jubril; the Ideh of Ite-Owerri, Prince A. W. Lams Nwizu; Chief Cliff Nzeruem; MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike; ministerial nomiee Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, who was represented by Hon. Chief Ajayi Nicholas; Apostle Chris Ezegbu; Chairman Igbo Community Oshodi/Isolo Local Government, Hon. Tony Ofoegbu; Chief Anslem Udoka; Pastor Ndubuisi Nwachukwu; Peter Osuji; First President Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State, Chief John Uche; National Coordinator Greenfield Traders of Nigeria, Mrs Evelyn Okere; President-General Market women and men Association of Nigeria, Chief (Mrs) Folashade Tinubu-Ojo who was represented by a group of Iyalojas and the Executive Secretary, Lagos Mainland Local Government Area Mrs Omolola Essien who represented Senator (Mrs) Tinubu.
The Eze Ndigbo of Mushin, Chief Peter Umeh, has said Igbos in the council area will remain law-abiding.
He spoke when he visited the Executive Secretary of Mushin local government area, Jide Bello.
A statement by the council’s Information Officer, Akinyemi Olusegun, quoted Bello as saying that Igbos were always welcome in Mushin.
“Mushin is a home for all-the Igbos, Hausas, Ijaws, Tivs and others tribes. We have inter-married, belong to the same political parties, same social groups, cultural groups and other connections,” Bello said.
He urged Umeh to encourage Igbos living in Mushin to be law abiding and begin to see issues objectively rather than spread rumour of tribal sentiments
“Mushin council was home to Igbos even before the Western region was created. We have always lived and done our trading here peacefully from time immemorial,” the council chair said.
Umeh said Igbos, especially traders, will continue to cooperate with the council.
His words: “We are here to assure you that we the Igbos living in Mushin identify with and support your administration.
“We voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the instructions of some of our elders. Having taken this risk, we deserve assurance of safety and a place in this government.
“Initially, we were apprehensive when the issue of demolition of shops at Ladipo market was raised, but on careful analysis, it became crystal clear to us that it was a decision borne out of necessity and not ethnic cleansing.
“We commend you for the wisdom to undergo extensive dialogue and consultations. This is indeed a dividend of democracy in our land during our time.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Southeast has called on Igbo leaders to stop desecrating the long-standing Igbo tradition in the name of defending former President Goodluck Jonathan.
A statement by its spokesman, Osita Okechukwu, said the timeless Igbo tradition, which admonishes “us not to steal and not to defend or associate with rogues, or even alleged rogues,” was being breached by prominent Igbo sons.
The statement reads: “We are yet to locate any sentence where any of them denied the mindless and unbridled corruption which governed Jonathan’s tenure; we stand to be corrected.
“The latest in the defence of Jonathan’s administration is that of the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Joe Nwaorgu, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to probe past administrations beyond Jonathan’s administration– ‘…if the President is probing, he should go beyond the last administration or else it will be witch-hunting. He should go deeper than that; Chief Obasanjo’s administration should be probed…’
“In making his hate-speech, he failed to consider President Buhari’s profound statement –
‘I believe it is time for Nigeria to change course. That is why I sought for election. As President, I am determined that Nigeria must move away from the course of endemic corruption that was leading us to perdition. There can be no question of our wilfully allowing anyone to get away with corruption. No matter the pressure and entreaties, the anti-corruption war will continue and all accused persons will have their day in court’.
“May we appeal to Chief Joe Nwaorgu and his cohorts, if actually the interest of Ndigbo is what they fight for, to come down from their high horses, drop their ancient stereotypes, stop the hate narratives and embrace the true position that Ndigbo stands to gain more from President Buhari’s administration than we gained from our support to former President Jonathan.
“It is our view that Ndigbo, as all groups in the country, stand to gain more from a transparent administration, which caters for both the talented and the needy, than a predator administration, which dispensed only patronage to cronies.
“Secondly, the Igbo ethnic merchants and gossip-terrorists, who bandy all manner of conspiracy hate theories against President Buhari, must come to terms that an eight-year tenure of the man of uncommon integrity is the surest route to the actualisation of a President of Igbo extraction, given the zoning convention.
“In the context submitted above, it is time to think out of the box and reason that Ndigbo’s support for President Muhammadu Buhari is a win-win game for all.”
Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju was governor of Anambra State from 1999 to 2003 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In this interview with reporters in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), he faults the antagonistic posture of the Igbo to the Buhari administration and enjoins the Southeast to vote objectively in future elections. Assistant Editor GBADE OGUNWALE was there.
You were in the PDP for about 16 years, but you defected to the APC recently. How would you assess the two parties?
Your question is lopsided, given the fact that PDP has been a party on the ground for about 16 years, and the APC is just about a year. But, the issue I think is “performance” and not necessarily the number of years each party has been in existence. Defection from a political party to another in a democratic setting is not new to politicians. But this was rare in the Shagari era. But since the Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, and Jonathan years, there have been incessant defections from one party to another, and unless the APC’s slogan of change takes root and cuts down drastically, the number of defections will continue to increase unless the judiciary intervenes. In my case of defection from PDP to APC, it was not for fun that I did it. It was from a new angle that I began to tell my friends that I didn’t defect but that PDP defected. I said this having in mind the question of performance as between the PDP and the APC. The PDP was a party destined to save Nigerian’s democracy but it failed. And because nature abhors vacuum, the PDP was no longer able to take care of its members, and I became one of its victims. PDP became a party of the past not party of today and tomorrow. It also became a party of “use and dump” according to its National Chairman. From this point on, what I did was “to keep moving” from PDP’s injustice to justice; from PDP’s rigging machine to winning election by rule of engagement; from PDP’s godfatherism to cheating and to avarice, greed, corruption, waste, and ostentation. That was not the PDP I helped to nurture from 1999 when the PDP faithful gathered at the Jos convention. Instead of Chief (Dr) Alex Ekwueme clinching the presidential ticket after working very hard for it, he accepted the wrong done to him by his party (PDP). For this, all Nigerians owe him a debt of gratitude. So the PDP began from the Jos Convention in 1999. Anyone who said he would remain in PDP with all the load of insincerity, greed, corruption, killing and more, the person will know he is also an accomplice. The PDP of 60 years to come has become a dream and a PDP that could hardly manage a PDP of 16 years and thus the APC has gone ahead.
President Buhari will soon clock 100 days in office. How would you access the administration so far?
I don’t really know which visible accomplishments will be authentic more than the other. All I know is that political opponents from PDP never gave Buhari any chance or any hope that APC will ever win the last election. But these elections have come and gone, and whereas Buhari was to them an “under-dog”, they now have seen after the elections that indeed Buhari remains the man to successfully pilot the ship of the Nigerian state. But what I didn’t understand was the opposition view that Buhari was not in line to win, perhaps relying on their rigging machine. Some even said that the candidate was looking “fragile” and may not be able to conclude the election campaign nationwide. All the opponent’s speculations failed as they kept seeing the same Buhari growing stronger, virile, and traveling all over from Europe to America, to G7 and ECOWAS nations and many places both at home and beyond. Many Nigerians have not yet seen the type of zeal the President has displayed, which has put shame on the face of opponents who see nothing good, even with his accomplishments everywhere.
Buhari has not appointed Igbo people into his government. Is it that he hates them, or that they didn’t vote for him in the last election?
Answer is none of the above. As for appointments, some Igbos across the Niger are also complaining. Even Jonathan whom Igbo gave almost all their votes did not deliver. So what did Igbo get from Jonathan? Nothing. Is it the 2nd Niger bridge or Onitsha to Enugu to Abia to Port-Harcourt roads? I’m not holding brief for President Buhari but truth is that the President still has a lot of appointments to make running into hundreds if not thousands. Should Igbo need to antagonize the President at this early stage? There’s no evidence yet to show that the President hates Igbo. If Igbo had given their votes to Buhari, obviously Igbo will have gotten their own fair share of appointments. But I’m saying that appointments are not yet done and over, but it’s still a reward of what was done. It is not by antagonizing the President, or by force that he’ll give Igbo the said appointments. Rather, Igbo should find a way to reach out to the President and plead, not by force. It should be a friendly encounter. So as Jonathan failed Igbo, we must try and see the best way to reach and relate with the President and relate with him properly. President Shehu Shagari worked well with Chief Alex Ekwueme as Vice President, and through Ekwueme, Igbo got more than anticipated. Such can still be repeated. To get more appointments for Igbo, they must vote for candidates that can win and be useful as one sage said, “he whose bread I eat, his song I will sing”. This means a lot for Igbo. During the campaigns, Buhari visited the South-East several times, up to seven visits to Igboland. Still Igbo believed that Jonathan would win. But he lost. Was that because Buhari hated Igbo? Our people should not eat their cake and have it.
There are too many abandoned projects left behind by Jonathan, but which were budgeted for. What is your reaction?
Your question on this subject is the same question right-thinking Nigerians have been asking too. The question is where is the money? Nigerian money belonging to Nigerians? As we ask for the missing Chibok girls, so also Nigerians are asking about their monies which are on flight to different parts of the world. This is the dilemma President Buhari has been confronted with. One man alone cannot handle this problem. There is need to expect Nigerians to help in this national dilemma of “monkey dey work baboon dey chop”
The President has encouraged Nigerians to know that most of the funds stashed abroad must be found wheresoever they are hidden in foreign banks. This problem is not academic. It is not one we can fold our hands and ask government alone to do the job. This is the job for everyone; all hands must be on deck. It is hard for a common man to handle issues of billion of dollars and pounds or Naira missing in this country which President Buhari is labouring with his assistants and advisers to fish out. But we know that with God, nothing shall be impossible. This is the target, but it won’t be over-night. There may be initial resistance but “it shall be well” as Nigeria keeps working.
What can you say about politics in your state, Anambra. How would you assess the present government in the state?
I have the feeling that the Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano is an easy-going gentleman who came to Anambra to do a job and will not be distracted from that mission. I welcomed him on the day of his inauguration and I took space in the newspaper to congratulate him. I visited him at his lodge only once and I noticed a passion in him to transform Anambra. In the course of our discussion, I mentioned a few problems unsettled by former Governor Peter Obi since 2003. But Governor Willie Obiano promised to look into the matters. When I went to Awka during my tenure as governor, there was not much on the ground. The military just went back to the barracks and left nothing in the treasury. There were times revenue allocation gave Anambra N200 million for a monthly salary of 483 workers in the state. Nobody could believe it. With good management, we started paying workers as when due, and cleared the three months salary owed workers and began to pay them Christmas bonus which no other government did till today. I went to Umuleri Aguleri and Umuoba-Anam where natives fought for 50 years and buried their dead in wheel-barrows. I invited the then President Obasanjo to visit us and he did. After that, I developed a blue print for the community, and nobody had fought there till I left. As for security, Anambra was very secured under my watch throughout my four years in the state. It remained the most peaceful state and in a national competition I took first position on security and welfare and in the competition of 36 states, I was awarded a gold cup, first position. I can go on and on but time and space will not allow me. The present Anambra state governor is from Aguleri and he never neglected doing everything for God and for his people and for the state as a whole. As for the oil, I was the first governor to begin exploitation before others after me. Anybody entering Awka now will see things differently in road and bridge constructions. The slogan at Awka now is “Willie is working” and I agree. The politics of Anambra remains what it shall be. For example, I was the person who established the Anambra State University for the first time. But, the governor after me, Dr. Chris Ngige, took the university away and tried to put it in his own town, but it failed. He then returned the university to where it was. Peter Obi took his turn and carried the burden of removing the university again and putting it in a place nearer his local government area. Perhaps, another governor may arise any time and may still return the university where I kept it from the start.
What will be your advice to the President Buhari in his effort to ensure that the impact of governance is felt by ordinary Nigerians?
Well, President Buhari must first bake the cake before sharing. The President does not even need advice as to what he has already done, what he is doing, and what he will do. The Buhari-Idiagbon period worked well but was short-lived. So, what Buhari did before, he will surely do again. I believe that perhaps with some modifications. Nigerians will see what will develop as the years roll by. President Buhari has a good vision of what he wants Nigeria to be and this is where the concept of change will be more useful. Buhari is the architect of change and he will carry it to its logical conclusion. For him, this is just a start where first thing should be first. Buhari will raise an army to lead in the direction of what is, what was, and what is to come.
London, United Kingdom (UK)-based Igbo group, Concerned Diaspora Enugu West, is worried about the crisis arising from the leadership contest in the Senate, in which Senator Bukola Saraki emerged as Senate President and Senator Ike Ekweremadu “put himself forward for the post of the Deputy Senate President”.
The group, in a statement signed by its convener, Ignatius Ozoilo, noted that while it conceded that Ekweremadu’s interest to become part of the leadership of the National Assembly was a legitimate aspiration, it was not a right political decision for the senator representing Enugu West, asking him to step down “with immediate effect”.
It noted that Ekweremadu was Deputy Senate President for eight years as a member of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with ample opportunity to use that position to improve the political, economic and social prospects of the country.
The UK-based group said regrettably, “he failed to demonstrate any particular sense of legislative acumen for the benefit of his constituency and Nigeria”.
Urging the senator to step down, it said Ekweremadu should be alarmed about the “consequences of his opportunism and lack of principle.”
The statement reads in part: “Nigerians were quite eloquent on March 28, 2015, that they needed the country to move in a different direction. It is an affirmation that is prescriptive of a collective desire to have a new set of leadership at both the Executive and Legislative arms of government.
“Senator Ekweremadu’s action is a clear aberration to that spirit of collectivism and clearly undermines the essence of opposition as an ingredient of constructive governance. Honourable Leo Ogor, the former Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, was rightly appreciative of that sense of change by turning down the offer to stand for the post of Deputy Speaker. It was a commendable political move, which Senator Ekweremadu ought to have emulated.”
It added: “As his constituents, we respectfully advise that Senator Ike Ekweremadu should stand down as Deputy Senate President with immediate effect. We further advise that he should devote the next four years to work for the people of Enugu West, whom he has utterly abandoned because he has been busy pursuing his own interest and personal ambition.”
Oba of Lagos Rilwanu Akiolu has showered his blessing on Igbo in Lagos.
He spoke in his palace when he received some Igbo leaders at a victory palace to mark the victory of Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.
The party was held to commemorate Ambode’s swearing-in, which held earlier that day at the Tafawa Balewa Square.
High Chief Azubuike Ekwerekwu (Obosi) quoted the Oba as, among other thing, praying for the success of the Igbo in Lagos at the event in the presence of titled chiefs. Different ethnic groups and religious leaders were also present. Oba Akiolu began pouring blessings upon the Igbo. He said: “They said I hate the Igbo, as a royal father, I’m mandated by oath to show love to every person irrespective of the state or nation you come from; but what I’m saying is that they should not exceed their limit. As the Oba of Lagos, irrespective of my position, I have my limit and will never exceed it.
“Truly, Lagos belongs to all, but it has origin and owners. Therefore, what will not be acceptable to you, please do not do it in Lagos State.
“Ndigbo, it shall be well with you, and your childrens’ children, the fertile land of Lagos shall continue to bless you.
“You shall grow old, you shall not bury your children; instead your children shall bury you at old age. Most importantly, we shall live with love and in peace as one people without a separate country, but only one nation Nigeria.”
Immediately after Oba Akiolu’s prayers, the crowd, including Ndieze Igbo, their titled chiefs and the Lagos State white cap chiefs went into dancing.
The Igbo monarchs were ushered into the Oba’s living room where they were treated to different kinds of foods and drinks.
The leader of the delegation, Chief Ekwerekwu (Obosi) who is an Igbo stakeholder and All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, said by the Oba’s statement, it is glaring that he never hated the Igbo.
He added: “Kabiyesi is a philanthropist who has feelings for the downtrodden. He stands by his words and never pretends. And according to him, Kabiyesi has been helpful to so many Igbo in different areas, including himself.
Two recent developments, make it necessary to pre-empt the relationship, between the in-coming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and the Igbo political-power-elites. First, was the heart-rending experience of theformer Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji,with regards to his inspiring, but now dithering,Aba Integrated Power Project. An account he publicly rendered, recently. The other instance, was the GovernorOkorocha led visit, of Igbo members of the All Progressive Congress (APC), to the President-elect, and their half-hearted courage, to demand ‘for something’.
To appreciate the challenge facing Professor Nnaji, as he battles his Igbo cousins, who have used their humongous resources to appropriate the exiting national bureaucracy, against his power project; there is the need to examine the two variants, of the Igbo power-elites. Interestingly also, it is the absence of thedominant faction of the Igbo power-elite in the APC;that made Governor Okorocha to lack the confidence, to specifically ask for political posts, from the President-elect, as is the case, with some other interest groups.
As the President-elect, Gen. Buhari prepares to take over power in few weeks’ time, it will be interesting to see his preferences,from the variant Igbo power-elites, in the days ahead. Among that power-elites; there is the poorly educated, excessively rich and rambunctious faction, on one side. This group can be very useful to the President-elect, for carrying out duplicitous and unconscionable power-projects. Here, I mean the real power, the source from which other powers, cometh –political power. While they may have little or no formal education, they are well heeled in power chicanery.
If the President-elect will prefer the services of this group, he should consult former President Olusegun Obasanjo, under whose watch the group reached the apogee of their power in this republic. I bet he may have the master-list of candidates. I guess also that on that list, will be those, who years back, egregiously put the government of Anambra state to sword, under the watchful eyes of national security agencies. Well, if he prefers to consult a victim, he should call Senator Chris Ngige, for an eye-witness account. While Chris was the Governor of Anambra state, the leading lights of that faction, with the connivance of the federal power, choose to bring him to account. The macabre drama that followed that decision, can be better explained by the Senator.
There is also the other group. They are the fecund, cerebral and highly gifted Igbo power-elites; who would have a lot to contribute, if there services are needed. Professor Barth Nnaji happens to be one of them. The erudite professor is perhaps the most knowledgeable Minister of Power (here, I mean electric power); that we have had since 1999. Interestingly, it was former President Obasanjo that also brought him and similar others into government. This group have been outstanding in their contribution to national development, and there are many others on the side-lines, awaiting opportunity.
If the President-elect prefers the latter group, he could seek them out, and galvanise their God-given talents, to support his team from other parts of the country, to meet the great Nigeria expectation, from the APC. With little political IOUs in the South-East, since the dominant faction of the Igbo power-elites have been drowned with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); it will be a lot easier for the General and his Party leaders to choose only the very best from the Igbos, to serve in his government.Of course, this is not to discountenance the brave efforts of members of the APC, from the South-East.
Some of the Igbo brave hearts that stood for change, even as the majority pushed for President Goodluck Jonathan, during the last general elections, joined Governor Rochas Okorocha to visit the President-elect. Apart from Governor Okorocha and Senator Chris Ngige, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu also stood out, with Senator Osita Izunaso and a few others. No doubt, the highly educated Dr. Onu, deserves whatever promotion that may come his way in the APC, considering that he has showed great tenacity, all the way back to his days, at the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).As the leader of one of the legacy party that saw to the emergence of APC, it is expected that he would gain the necessary recognition and authority.
In opening up the south-east to the APC, the party would need to invest some of the outstanding party members, with political influence and privileges. This column is hopeful that the APC would see the Igbos, as an important partner in their Nigerian project. While a majority of lawful Igbo votes no doubt went to the PDP, during the last elections; there was a lot of unlawful votes, appropriated by the PDP, which in a transparent contest, would have gone to the APC. So, I have implicit confidence that APC has potentials in the south-east. Giving a good deal to the region,would be in APC’s long-term interest.
As for Professor Barth Nnaji and the potential beneficiaries of the Aba Integrated Power Project, their patriotic attempt to promote skill and ingenuity, for the greater good of our country, has been frustrated by the corruption and brusqueness of the alternate power elites. To appreciate what is at stake, Professor Nnaji, in his write-up said: “to date, we have invested over 500 million (dollars) or in today’s money over 100 billion (naira) in this project”. The reason why Aba was not excised from the concession granted to the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company,is because President Goodluck Jonathan,preferred to promote political expediency, over success in the power industry. Now, with a new government at the gate, those who orchestrated the sham of a power-privatisation across the country, have every reason to be jittery.
Investors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to scrap the land swap policy which was introduced by the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohommed, saying that the policy is against the interest of the natives and residents of the territory.
The Chairman of Zaudan Pazeri Property Owners’ Association, Elder Friday Ugoala, who spoke on behalf of residents of the FCT at a news conference in Abuja, said if the land swap is allowed to continue, the rate of accommodation or services that would arise from it will be beyond the reach of the common Nigerian who resides in the capital city.
According to Ugoala, if the land swap policy is scrapped, the average Nigerian will have hope to acquire land and build it at his own pace. He debunked the notion that the FCT is not meant for everybody, adding that they will have the hope of having a home to stay in the FCT.
“Also, the land swap policy is against the natives of the FCT, because, many of them would be sent out of their ancestral communities for strangers to come and occupy, all in the name of land swap. The truth is that the greatest humiliation you can give to a man is to send him out of his ancestral home, where his ancestors were buried. This is not right.
“If the land swap policy is not scrapped, I do not know how many of the natives can afford the price the estate developers would place their houses when constructed, because most of them would be out to make money with their structures, without considering if the common man could afford it or not. The policy is a conduit for corruption, because it encourages corruption and injustice.
“There are many cases where individuals have been awarded plots of land, just for the fact that their files are being processed in the FCDA office. The next thing is that they jump upon allocation and they hand it over, saying that it has been swapped. There is capital vote approved for the FCT Administration, but the logic they gave for the land swap is that it is saving the government the cost of infrastructure, whereas there is budget for infrastructure.
“Within this period of land swap, what new places and special things have been done with the fund that is supposed to have been saved as a result of land swap? We have not noticed tangible achievement in terms of saving. So the land swap is encouraging corruption,” he said.
Igbo investors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have called on the incoming administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari to consider their investors in the FCT when appointing ministers for the territory.
This, according to them, is because they control over 70 per cent of investment in the capital city.
The investors, who spoke through the chairman of Zaudan Pazeri Property Owners Association, Elder Friday Ugoala, at a press conference in Abuja, said the previous FCT Administrations where someone that resides outside the FCT was appointed to govern the affairs of the territory, has had negative effects on the investors who are majorly Igbo residents.
According to Ugoala, when considering the appointment of the minister of the FCT, the incoming government should consider making a native of the FCT minister, while an Igbo man should be made the minister of state, or an Igbo man should be minister, while a native should be minister of state.
“Abuja has major stakeholders, not just those residing in the city. It is on record that Igbo have not less than 70 per cent investment in Abuja in terms of property, merchandise and hospitality industries. So, we have invested heavily in Abuja, and we are demanding that the ministerial slots should be shared with the Igbo who are major stakeholders in the FCT.
“We have reasons to demand for the slot of minister of the FCT, because, he will be sure that our investments are protected. If you consider the outgoing administration of Senator Bala Mohammed, you will notice that there are so many litigations that have to do with our investments and property, which we do not expect to continue that way. We even look forward to a situation whereby those issues in courts would be withdrawn and settled amicably.
“It is obvious that there are two major stakeholders in the FCT, which are the political stakeholders and economic stakeholders. The natives are part of the political stakeholders because they control over 65 per cent of FCT population. So, it could be justice done to these two stakeholders, if the FCT ministerial slots are given to both of them, with due respect to other residents.
“History has shown and events have played out that in the FCT politics, those ministers that come from areas that do not have so many stakes in the FCT, have done so much havoc to investments in Abuja. This is because they do not have people who cry to them about the pains they feel. We have entertained that fear, that if such era continues, our investments will continue to suffer and we do not want that to happen,” he said.
