Re: WHY NIGER-DELTANS DO NOT WANT TO BE PART OF BIAFRA. By KEMKA S. IBEJI

KEMKA S. IBEJI 

Some weeks ago, the social media was awash with a writeup with headline - Why Niger-Deltans do not want to be part of Biafra. In less than 48 hours, a disclaimer was seen also flying about on the same social media saying that the author which the writeup claimed has disowned both the writing and the writer. In this case, it is only reasonable to assert that the fine piece is a fake news - it was not written by the former president Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. I may not want to grapple with whether it is fake or not since we do not, for now, understand what makes a writeup fake or real - whether the author or the content. While I understand that those who have declared that writing as fake have based their judgement on the falsehood of the claim of authorship, we will agree to that extent. I however will disagree with them when they wish or agitate that we see it as trash. I therefore will prefer to take the message therein and forget about the messenger since, at least, the messenger by absconding has agreed with me that the message is more important than the messenger. It is to this that I receive the writeup as an anonymous reference.

This message, for me and for all genuine leaders of the old Eastern Bloc (Southeast and Southsouth), carries a detailed information about the possibility or not of the Southeast/Southsouth peaceful union. If only the author knows how valuable this piece is, he would have fought so hard to own the big credit.

As an Igbo man, I had mixed feelings reading the writeup. At some point while reading it, I felt hated and let down and at some point I felt being told the clear truth. But in my last analysis, it is largely true. It does not mean that there are no inherent misunderstanding of certain realities by the author. Of course, perfection is still not human.

However, let me clearly state that what bothers everyone in Nigeria especially is not dominance by any ethnic nationality but bad leadership. You might argue that the bad leadership is a stream from the river of ethnicity but you will be overly wrong to hold onto that through and through. If our institutions are working in such a way that we all are guaranteed both our freedom, equality, safety and fairness, I assure you that nobody will ever remember which tribe the president is from.

Imagine you taking anybody, no matter the tribe and how highly place he or she is, who infringes on your rights to court and getting justice? Imagine you staying in any part of the country and being able to aspire for any position without being told you do not belong to a particular ethnic group? Imagine you having your business situate in any part of the country and you are sure that no matter what, nobody will one day break into that your sweat to destroy or loot it because one person from one ethnic group had a quarrel or misunderstanding with another person from another ethnic group to which you belong and for that reason you must suffer for their disagreement. And so on. And you are sure that the law and all the necessary institutions will defend your rights at any time and ensure that you are safe, secure, equal and free with and from anyone.

The underlying issue is that even the minorities in the Southsouth or the Niger-Deltans may be the most beneficial if Biafra eventually comes. This is because, within the Igbo nation, there are various dialects that do not even agree to each other. For example, it will be very difficult for an Imo State man or the old Imo (Imo, Abia and Ebonyi) to agree totally to the overbearing supremacist tendencies of the Anambra man. If you need to understand a little about this, please take a peep into APGA internal politics. And even in the Niger-Delta, there are also minority groups that will feel better in alliances with the Igbo and rise with the potentials of such alliances. The issue of ethnic dominance by the Igbo will be inconsequential when we remember that as long as we exist in multicultural society, one ethnic nationality must dominate at some point. It is therefore a fact that even in the Niger-Delta or Southsouth today, there are still ethnic minorities. However, the fact of the message in that publication is that nobody will want to be forced or coerced into being where he or she does not want to be. The consent of the people, no matter how small the ethnic group is, must be sought after and their sense of belonging assured.

However, I also understand the salient points raised in the writeup which I am sure that about 98% of the Niger-Deltans hold and which I believe is a strike of love or emotional epicenter. This writeup is clearly pointing out that these are their worries and if addressed, they will join forces to realize Biafra. It is a clear message to the Igbos, contrary to the belief of many of us who have kept asking why our brothers and sisters in the Niger-Delta hate us so much, that they do not actually hate us but are on natural self-preservation stance. This, for me, is humane enough.

It is therefore left for the people concerned to think again and know what best to do. How do we relate to ensure that everyone is on the same page and share identity of mindset?

Nevertheless, it has also become very important to ask; what type of Biafra do we need at the moment? Biafra of sovereignty or Biafra of development? Biafra of restructuring or Biafra of secession. I also think that a lot of things have happened that require everyone to sit back and do some reexamination on which choice is best suited for our current situation.

Lastly, I believe that, essentially we need a thinking government, a creative leadership and a dynamic and forward looking system that will guarantee a great future for our children. This will engender a nation of men and women of black race nay Africa who will no longer be seen as irrational, unthinking, apes, black monkeys, and all derogatory epithets with which our colonizers have addressed us. The history of Biafra from the precolonial period should be rehearsed and reenacted. The children and supposed people within the Biafran enclave should be aware of what Biafra is and stands for. Biafra should not be some sort of idea or concept personalized in one man or one ethnic group, in this case, the Igbo nation. The real history of Biafra which defines the people and area and the idea of Biafra should be brought to bare. In this manner, the people will begin to think, digest, reason, accept, own, appropriate and take up Biafra by themselves as their own and not another amalgamation from within.

In all, we need to be humans like our folks yonder so as to live and leave Africa and the world better than we met it.


KEMKA S. IBEJI
The Philosopher King