It is not bad or a crime for people to feel being left alone (independent) to stay on their own, organize themselves and use their human and natural (God given) resources to better their land and people. Nigeria ones felt that way when they were in the hands of, or under the British lord during the colonial era. They protested in words, writing, non-violent actions and demonstrations. After long run, Nigeria and her people became independent and began governing herself. However, the following that enable Nigeria to gain her independence must be noted.
1. Nigeria understood who Nigerians are/were.
2. The land or territory that belong to Nigeria were clear mapped out.
3. Nigerian independent pioneers were able to convince other Nigerians that we need freedom from our colonial masters, and were able to carry everybody along in this fight.
4. Nigeria did not force any uninterested people (nation, tribe or race) to become Nigeria; those who became, did by their own free will and under the agreement of the Nigerian independent pioneers (even though most of the agreement are not well implemented or not being followed currently).
5. Early Nigerians or Nigerians to be were made to see and understand the hope and benefits in for them if they should become free from external rule.
6. Nigerians to be were not asked to leave their many years achievement and establishment to come down to square zero without showing them better benefits they can achieve if there is independent, etc.
It is not bad and not a crime for some leaders and people of Ndi-Igbo to agitate for freedom (Biafra) and it is not totally wrong to belief and not overstatement to say that Ndi-Igbo are marginalized and are currently being molested. However, the problem in the issue of Biafra is the wrong approach or method in the pursuit of the actualization of Biafra nation. For Biafra to become Independent and strong nation as Biafra, they must become Independent and strong tribe in Nigeria and as Nigerians. They must have their feet rooted and their mouth loud or even louder in Nigeria and as Nigerians.
The Concept of Biafra
1. What it is Now: The concept of Biafra now, appears to be self-centered than the masses (Oha na eze Ndi-Igbo's) centered. It appears that when some among Ndi-Igbo acquire lots of wealth and education, they go for power. If they cant fit into the political tousle and system of Nigeria, they use the less privilege, the poor and unlearned people among Ndi-Igbo to fight for and pursue political power. They do this by given these desperate ones very limited incentives with false promises and claims, without really caring about their wellbeing and telling them the real motives behind their political hunger. Some use this as a medium to become popular and others to gain favour and make money. Others join out of frustration; no food at home, good medical care, shelter and other basic necessities and luxuries of life. More joined out of revengeful heart or mindset of what people with the name Nigeria has done to them, cost them and inflicted on them. The concept of Biafra in the now is more of political game than sincere love and care for Ndi-Igbo.
It is true that the qualities of leadership include the ability to convince people and use the power of words and oratory ability and prowess to move them into action. The ability to pull crowd to your side and to make them see and buy your vision. However, a good leader is a shepherd of those he leads. He is honest and sincere to them, he does not lie to them, he does not put his political ambition ahead of the lives and wellbeing of his followers. In other words, he does not put the lives and wellbeing of those he is leading at risk. He sincerely cares for his followers and carries everybody along. He ask for and listens to the advice and suggestions of his followers. A good leader does not destroy things already in existence to start building again. But he protect and maintain the things already existing and advance to new and greater ones. A good leader does not give the lives of his followers to death as sacrifice to his political glory and realization. But to a good leader, no power, position or vision worth the lives of his followers. A good leader does not act rashly and does not act out of anger, hatred and malice. Even when he is hurt, he clears his mind and make a good decision for the betterment of his followers and himself.
As said earlier, the feeling to be left alone to govern oneself is not bad, but it should be in and with true love for the people and sincere concern for their wellbeing and not out of selfish and political hunger and pursuit.
2. What It Should Be: The concept of Biafra should be to better the lives of Ndi-Igbo or Biafrans to be. It should not be based on political promises of the "Kingdom" Ndi-Igbo will enjoy if they lay down their lives and fight for Biafra, where as in the now, no Igbo states can be politically, economically, materially and even socially reckon with. Our states political system are not encouraging, indigenes are exiting their states in search of job and earns meet in other states, in order to sustain their lives and families.
The concept of Biafra should be what our political, traditional, religious, wealthy and educated leaders should do to:
(1) Make Ndi-Igbo believe home and know there is life worth living and success at home.
(2) Make Ndi-Igbo love home, and on their own see the need to go/come back home.
(3) Make Ndi-Igbo achieve 3 times better whatever thing they can achieve outside Igbo states.
4. Create forums (through inter-Igbo states games [football, wrestling, table tennis, etc.), that will make Ndi-Igbo to come together often, know themselves, forgive themselves, trust/believe in themselves, agree with themselves and depend on themselves for the betterment, advancement and achievement of Ndi-Igbo.
5. Make Ndi-Igbo prefer Igbos and Igbo states to any other people and states outside Igbo states in particular and the world as a whole.
6. How to make Ndi-Igbo voice of Nigeria, not in violence or crime, but in great and positive achievement and contribution by the Ndi-Igbo states and people, to Ndi-Igbo in particular and Nigeria as a whole. How to make Ndi-Igbo become significant icon that must be reckon with in Nigeria and outside the world.
7. How to sincerely eliminate the spirit of greed, betrayal, selfishness, compromise and hating one another, and buying outside favour with the lives and futures of our brothers & sisters; especially the poor and the unlearned among Ndi-Igbo.
8. How to sincerely gain the love, will and trust of every state believed should be Igbo States, especially, none Igbo speaking states or those who boldly declares they are not Igbos or don't want Biafra.
When these become the concept of fighting for Biafra, then, there will be no need for war, west of lives and properties and even much struggling to achieve Biafra Nation if God wills. For there to be good, happy and worth have and living Biafra state, there are things that should be taken into cognisance. The major issue is not just realizing Biafra Nation, but it is more of, What kind of Biafra do we want to have, what will be the fate of Ndi-Igbo if we have Biafra now, under the kind of environment we have currently. I mean politically, traditionally, culturally, religiously, socially, and materially. No matter how tough this may sound, the truth still remains that currently, Igbos are not united, they don't trust and believe in one another. So many Igbos most often prefer outsiders, trust them, do business with them, help and connect outsiders to/than their own Ndi-Igbo. If these loopholes are not leveled and Biafra is built on it, it will definitely become a house build on a shallow soil, and I don't need to tell what will happen. But if something should be said, civil war will not be far from Ndi-Igbo if Biafra is realized under this disunited foundation.
When anyone among Ndi-Igbo is opportune to be educated and acquire wealth, instead of pursuing political power first or for the realization of Biafra, he/she should first work toward developing and establishing Igbo states and its people.
Taking a critical look at Igbo states, one will see that Ndi-Igbo and people residing in them are suffering under bad governance, high cost of living bad roads, high rates of unemployment, chronic hunger and academic dilapidation, etc. There are very little or no government own and established industries where Ndi-Igbo or people residing in Igbo states can comfortable work and earn a living. Economically, nothing is moving. These and more that are happening currently in Igbo states are not caused by Nigeria or Federal Government. But these are due to bad governance and leadership of most of our political, traditional and religious leaders. These are also the major causes why most Igbo people travel out of Igbo states in search of food, jobs and better environment for business and trade in other states in the nation.
Very significant number of Ndi-Igbo have strongly established their lives, businesses, futures and families outside Igbo states. Telling them to forfeit there futures, lives, businesses, etc., to come home for nothing, to start from square zero and to live in suffering and poverty striking live is not just wickedness to them, but it is a foolish suggestion of one or group of people who are enemies of progress, who do not wish or mean well for there fellow men. Therefore, perpetrating any actions that will make their businesses, lives and families to be in jeopardy or under attack in the states they are residing is a high rate of wickedness to them. Instead of supporting the person or people behind or perpetrating such, they will rather see the perpetrators as enemies and if possible fight against them. These is why majority of Igbos will never support or fight for Biafra, because there is nothing in for them, rather, they have a lot to loose if there should be Biafra. Whoever that wants to be a politician should first learn how to be a good politician and how to play the game well and in favour of his people.
Anywhere the investments of people are, that is where their minds are. Our political leaders and wealthy brothers in and outside Nigeria should first work together to develop Igbo states. Those that have the money or wealth should join hands with government to establish good industries in Igbo states and make Igbo states advance states for good and successful business and trade depot. Invest and develop places like Aba in Abia state, Onitsha and Nnewi in Anambra state as business and trade depots. Places like Abakaliki should be developed for food (rice) producing state, and so many other Igbo states should be developed and made useful.
When Igbo states become a home for Ndi-Igbo, a home they can prosper in business, politics, education, trade and security, then, Igbos outside Igbo states will not find it difficult to return home. And when Igbos outside Igbo states return home by will, then peaceful and stress free realization of Biafra will not be difficult.
Read more from my book, The "Easy Way for Biafra".
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