Igbo Race, Confab 2014 And Ike Nwachukwu On The Spotlight Of History
. The 'real' truth about this is better told by the aged of today.
I paid less attention to the poorly argued and unsigned articled, but till today 20-03-2014, the Facebook, Twitter and many online blogs are awash with the call to the integrity of General Ike Nwachukwu (Rtd) to lead the South East delegation to the conference. In fact some commentators call for his outright de-registration from the conference.
One of the commentators on Facebook posted this “…Was Victor Banjo a hero? Yes, he was, to his people. Although he knew the soldiers he commanded were professionals, law abiding, and would never go on a raping or killing spree what matter to him most was the wishes of his people and the avoidance of disgrace of his Yorubaland. Whatever it meant, whether sabotage, craftiness, or breaking of promises it didn't matter because it was done to preserve the dignity of his people, which matters most. Was Victor Banjo a hero? Yes, he was, to his people and a hero to your people is what matters most.
In contrast, Ike Umar Sandar-Nwachukwu, a Hausa-Fulani with Igbo ancestry, was a soldier for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He chose to fight for his Hausa-Fulani half of his family. On Victor Banjo's retreat from the Western and Midwestern Region, Ike Umar-Sandar-Nwachukwu who had absolutely no respect for his fatherland or its people participated in one of the most gruesome and brutal massacres ever recorded in Nigerian history at Asaba in what is now Delta State. Unlikely Victor Banjo, he had absolutely no respect for his fatherland or its people. Rape, murder, and death filled the air of the Igbo nation, yet Umar Sandar (the name he used as a soldier) marched ahead as the Hausa-Fulani in him tasted blood and wanted more. Is Ike Umar Sandar-Nwachukwu a hero? Yes, to his Hausa-Fulani people, not the Igbo nation.
He also has this to say of Banjo “…Today, if alive, Victor Banjo would be a representative for the Yoruba nation at the conference. He would have the luxury to say to the Yoruba that he saw what they did not see but still he refused to disobey their wishes…”
And concluded like this “…However, today as Ike Umar Sandar-Nwachukwu is alive, after fighting against the freedom of his people- raping, killing, and destroying the land of the Igbo people he is called upon by elite Igbo politicians to fight another Hausa-Fulani battle and hold the Igbo again against their will. But the irony is, the Igbo politicians are the one who gave him the green-light to be the face and Chairman of the South East delegates, and Onyeisi of Igbo. If a people can do this to their own people what more can they do to others if given power to rule?
As shocking as this account seems, the stage two I mentioned in paragraph 5 above, should immediately follow, ie, listening to “Others Opinion”. Having used the words “funniest characters” in paragraph 5 above, you will agree with me that wide consultations with opinion-groups failed to show when the Governors of the South East mis-stepped fundamentally by choosing a man of seemingly dark profile to lead a Race in an all-important conference of Nation-Destiny Molding, named Confab 2014
Will the Igbo (South-East Delegates) swallow the humble pie and revert this obvious spit on the psyche of those who witnessed the acts of this man, well we will wait to see in days to come. Though am not an eye witness in the war by virtue of my age, but the need to lean to the side of amendment and rechanneling of the wave of the Igbo psyche could start with this
In the opposite direction, the man could be seen to have fought, against his kinsmen to keep Nigeria one even though people like Tafewa Balewa didn't agree in the one Nigeria mantra. Check this “…since 1914, the British Government has been trying to make Nigeria into one country, but the Nigerian people themselves are historically different in their backgrounds, in their religious beliefs and customs and do not show themselves any signs of willingness to unite … Nigerian unity is only a British invention” – Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa who was reported by the TIME MAGAZINE of October 10, 1960 to have said there was no basis for Nigerian unity and it was only a wish of the British. The Goodluck Conference may reverse these views, nevertheless.
However, I may conclude in the same line with Senator Ita-Giwa and others who challenged that many of the architects on Nigerias' problems are nominated to the Confab 2014. Will they be able to really opine solutions to the vices ravaging Nigeria? Well, we will wait to see.
But how can they do so, when on arrival in Abuja they want allowances for their Aides and accommodations for themselves? Interestingly, of the 400+ delegates, only 2 (Bakare and Agbakoba) have publicly rejected any form of remunerations from the conference. In fact I was surprised to note that Pastor Bakare is his States' delegate, which indeed is a sign of seriousness by his people. Contrary, from the entire Igbo Race, a man of sea and cloudy profile was chosen to lead them. It points to a ''ghana-must-go” leadership mentality of the Igbo Race.
Concluding, in the light of the heavy and growing calls to strip off the leadership of the SE Delegates on Ike Nwachukwu, I will suggest
(1) the Igbo Team roundly reverse the Ike Nwachukwu role as their leader and appoint a younger, less polluted delegate to lead the team, else, whatever they will do or argue at the conference will be rejected to this great number of Ndi-Igbo agitating world-wide against Ike Umar Sandar Nwachukwu who incidentally the wheel of history has brought to this spot-light 47 years after.
(2) the aggrieved groups may approached the Nigerian Court to obtain an Order to challenge the basis of selecting the man as the leader of the South-East Delegates.
(3) they can protest to the Conference venue and demand him recalled from the conference
(4) alternatively keep quiet and allow the man lead as was appointed by Governor Theodor Orji and Co.
Author of article, Rev Ayobanna Ikeanumba, is a member of African Debate Institute, Johannesburg, [email protected] mailto:[email protected]
Follow on Twitter @ayobannai