Inadvisability Of Destroying Alaigbo, Bikonu!
If there is any advice that some youths across Igbo land need to be given at this moment, it is that of urging them to have a rethink and resist the temptation of being instrumental to the destruction of the Igbo nation. The admonition, no doubt, is unarguably exigent as tension has been on the rise to the consternation of not few Nigerians that know the Igbo people to be peace-loving.
Without resort to hyperbolizing the collective security situation that now characterizes the five states that made up the South-East Zone, it is graphically apt to say that it is difficult to miss the signs as threatening pointers continue to dog the trail of peace in communities across Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo and Abia States. There is an odd mix of events that is hauling pugnaciously at the fabrics of peace across the zone, even as the rudiments at play appear determined to unstitch an already easily broken state of affairs. It is analogous to putting life flame on dry gunpowder.
There is bounteous suggestion that the overloaded tautness in the relationship between security agencies and the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, (IPOB), a group clamoring for an independent state of Biafra out of Nigeria, is already sweltering over. There are fears that sooner or later, what seems like a time bomb will explode.
At this juncture, permit me to say that an article written by Obinna Akukwe, a Cleric and Activist, inspired me to express this view. The article, which was published on this news platform is titled; “IPOB's Rape, Murder, Beheading of Soldier Couple in Imo: Enough of Nonsense”, speaks volumes about gory activities across the South-East Zone.
To copiously cite the article in this context, he wrote, “IPOB operatives apprehended two couple soldiers, tortured the man, raped the woman before beheading them, and I say that this nonsense is enough. The couple Warrant Officer AM Linus and Lance Corporal Gloria Matthew were billed to wed soon. They were billed to finalize on their traditional marriage at Mbaise .We have received confirmations that IPOB operatives working for one of the feuding camps is responsible. Therefore sundry denials is not acceptable.
“The festering crisis between the Nnamdi Kanu faction of IPOB, the DOS, and the Simon Ekpa faction of IPOB, the Auto Pilot, is giving loopholes for all sorts of criminality to be committed in Igboland in the name of Biafra.
“This gruesome murder of persons simply because they are soldiers is sad, unacceptable and inhuman. If these soldiers leave the roads, criminals will take over the space.
“I have spoken to elements of IPOB high command on all these killings. The Sit at Home of few days ago resulted to loss of five civilians of Igbo origin, killed in various places.
“This monster we are creating is already swallowing Ndigbo. Rev Obinna Akukwe have been warning since Endsars was hijacked by secessionists, that one day it will get out of hands. The silly elites cheered them on while the moronic governors were tactless in curbing the menace.
“Today, beheading, rape, rampant murder has become part of Igbo culture. When South East finally implodes, let the people bent on turning Igboland into Afghanistan know that Rev Obinna Akukwe and his team of Veteran Igbo Activists did all within their power to help the secessionists abandon the path of bloodshed, but the politicians, elites and governors pampered the cobra.
“May the soul of the couple rest in peace. Let the Governors do what we proposed, and resettle those boys from their security votes.
“I urge the military to exercise restraint and desist from bloodletting revenge while we look at these issues for the last time”.
In as much as this writer is not set out in this context to apportion blame to anyone or group, it suffices to say that IPOB as a group emerged as a result of the heightening level of injustice been meted to Ndigbo by the federal government. Even at that, an African proverb says, “It is only through wisdom that the tsetse fly that perches on the scrotum can be killed.” A similar African proverb says “A rat that ran into an earthen pot is not killed until it is chased out from the pot as doing otherwise can destroy the pot. Interpretatively brought to expression at this juncture, are members of IPOB not breaking the proverbial pot before they kill the rat. To aptly put it, this is self-destruction of imaginable height.
Against the backdrop of the foregoing proverbs, members of the IPOB are not in any way applying wisdom in their agitations contrary to the tenet of Igbo culture and language which reflect the fact that leaders are only powerful to the extent of being just, for it is justice that guarantees peace in a society. Everyone understands that Nigeria has been at loggerheads with Ndịgbo because they are been unjust to them. Despite the understanding, is it not paradoxical that Ndigbo that thrives on equality, equity and truth are killing their own brothers and sisters in the guise of fighting for freedom? When the freedom, or rather emancipation is eventually attained who will populate the geographical space that would be called Biafra Republic as the people might have exhaustingly decimated?
Since killings across the five state in the South-East zone became this dangerous, not few people are pondering over the situation, and asking, “When did Igboland become this bad? The question is apt because Ndịgbo have for ages been the most patriotic people in Nigeria. And if patriotism is to be defined by how Nigerians as a people are, then Ndịgbo are the most patriotic of all Nigerians. Described as ubiquitous, Ndịgbo are the only ethnic nationalities in Nigeria that are not only found in large numbers everywhere in Nigeria, but are also the ones who use their own resources to develop and make any part of Nigeria and make it a home. It is a common saying that if one travels to any part of Nigeria and does not find an Igbo there that the person should vacate such a place immediately because it shows that it is not habitable by humans. This shows how nationalistic the average Igbo is. Before I forget, when you talk about engaging in intermarriages, they are number one.
To my view, the federal government should endeavor to de-proscribe IPOB as doing that will inexorably restore peace in the South-East geopolitical zone. In a similar vein, I urge the government to always carry out thorough investigations on cases of killing in the zone before pointing accusing fingers at IPOB. Who knows if some mischievous elements are wickedly carrying out the killings with the belief that government will definitely see IPOB as the perpetrator of the crime. Governments should have it at the back of their mind that similar situation played out in the days of NADECO.
Regarding the Sit-At-Home Order, the leadership of IPOB should not forget that it is self-destructive as the negative impact of the strategy is not in any way affecting the remaining 31 states in Nigeria but the 5 states that made up the South-East zone. To aptly put the warning in this context, it is inadvisable to destroy Alaigbo.
Sandra Ijeoma Okoye (Author)