The
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) must be told that it shows lack of a sound
knowledge of many countries in the world for one to believe that the only way
to have unity or progress or development is to have a country with people that
speak same language and practice same religion. South- Sudan the newest country
in the world is still struggling for peace from 2011 to date. For IPOB to
achieve Biafra in my view, the movement should start by convincing the Igbos to
relocate their businesses back home.
In my
modest understanding, majority of Igbos do not want Biafra Republic even if
they believe in it. Majority of them still want united Nigeria for obvious
reasons. Arguably there are more Igbos in other parts of Nigeria than in the
five (5) states of Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo and Ebonyi including Bendel Igbos
and Ikweres who are seen as Igbo cousins by some people. Similarly, the Igbos
have more investments in other parts of Nigeria than the total number of
investments in the South East. More so, the Igbos have more landed assets in
other parts of Nigeria than in Igboland.
We
have Igbos in the North who are lecturers in the universities, polytechnics and
colleges of educations. There are Igbo professionals and students going about
their businesses peacefully.
Also,
majority of building materials, electronic/electrical appliances, spare parts
and pharmaceutical equipment sellers, are Igbos. The major markets in the North
are populated by Igbos as traders. If you go to Sabon Gari market, Kano; Monday
Market, Maiduguri; Terminus Market, Jos; Sheikh Abubakar Gumi Market, Kaduna
and all major markets in the north are populated by Igbos doing their business
without any harassment.
Most
of the people from northern extraction staying in the southern part of the
country or Igbo land are artisans or those who are doing menial jobs. One must
also acknowledge the few federal government civil servants there.
Some
people believe that because of our “ethnic” and “religious” diversities we
cannot co-exist peacefully. India has over 1,000 ethnic groups and India is the
most multi-religious nation in the world but the country is progressing
rapidly.
Prof.
Farooq Kperogi said, “Many Nigerians think our country is unworkable because it
was forced into being by the British colonialists.” This view frankly amazes
me, he added, “Is there any nation in history whose formation was the
consequence of a democratic consensus? Historically, most nations were formed
by conquests, expansionist wars, and forceful cooperation, not by
consensus.”
Jideofor
Adibe in his Thursday column (back page) Daily Trust of October 10, 2013 states
that: “Ethnic Homogeneity is no guarantee that any nation will work as the
experiences of Somalia, Burundi and Rwanda show. Similarly we have had
countries break up after co-existing for nearly a century .We have also seen countries
that started as agglomeration of different ethnic nationalities such as
Germany, France and China succeeds as nation-state.”
However,
it is on record that, we witnessed centuries of civil wars among the Yorubas
(Ife and Mudakeke) who share ethnic ties with dialectical differences; we are
also aware of civil wars among the Hausa states in the pre-colonial era. The
case of Omulari and Ogulari struggle in the Igbo land is also not left out.
Nevertheless, the pre-colonial era in the South-South witnessed a series of
civil and communal wars.
All
the zones of the federation have their socio-economic problems and
developmental challenges. Let’s demand for social justice within the context of
Nigeria. Let’s all Nigerians continue to demand for good governance.
Together
we stand and divided we fall!
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