It’s always a show of shame when adults display childish traits. The way and manner the governing and traditional elite of the South east are elated over the President’s renewed commitment to construct a second Niger bridge after he reneged on this, following his first commitment to do so in 2011(when he was seeking votes) is an indication that these elites are either not perceptive or they are part of the problem of the Southeast.
Why is it that successive heads of state including GEJ always find it convenient to dangle the construction of a second Niger bridge as a carrot to the southeast to gain the region’s support?
The answer to this is not farfetched. Over the decades south east politicians have always conveyed the picture of un-principled, easy to buy lot, and a people who can sell even their mothers to the highest bidder. If not, why are they dancing, and pouring praises on someone who comes to them only at the eve of elections, to secure their support for south-eastern votes?
It appears these Igbo elites of the southeast are trading the long term interests of the region on the altar of their parochial short term desires.
Or are these elites basking on the preposterous idea that Igbo support for GEJ will pave the way for an Igbo president?
My elementary lessons in the study of politics taught me that those who truly seek power seize it. You don’t get power or seek political inclusion by playing to the gallery.
GEJ can’t play this deceptive gerrymandering game with the southwestern elite because their political character is defined and they know that power can only be seized not by playing into the hands of votes seeking leaders who use and dump the electorate. However one looks at it, the APC coalition actively supported by the southwest is a concrete framework for power seizure. Whether this will succeed is another issue.
If Ndigbo really seek political inclusion or they just seek a President of Igbo extraction, then their legendary infantile disorder cannot be of any meaningful help. Rather, this continual irritating show of shame will continue to weaken their basis for valuable political negotiation and a sure recipe for political suicide.
On the other hand, should the Igbos arrange an Ofala for GEJ so that he can do his routine job of pursuing the cause of development across the country OR shall the Igbos sell their conscience or mortgage their political capital just to support GEJ’’s political passion?
If GEJ on account of this second promise to build a second Niger bridge gets the votes of the south east for his second term and renege once again, what will the south east do, as GEJ would not be in a begging position again for votes.
Ndigbo! Think. Politics is not a gamble. It is rather a deliberate and strategic plan for political relevance and power seizure. The political resurrection of Ndigbo can only be feasible if the huge and industrious population of Ndigbo across Nigeria can deploy their political capital, as politics is a game of numbers, rightly and negotiate on a position of strength. Ndigbo in terms of numbers, ubiquitous presence across the country, their commercial strength and all that goes with it are at any time a pleasant bride for any party or politician that has Nigeria as his or her constituency. But sadly this precious political bride is seemingly unaware of her strength and allure or she had since been at the mercy of ‘aides’ that have always worked against her interests.
Ndigbo should wake up to realities of the competition for relevance, inclusion and dividends in the Nigerian space. Unity is strength. So long as that unity is lacking among the Igbos, the Igbo political elite who derive unwholesome gain in creating disunity and their external cohorts will always have a field day against the common well being of Ndigbo.
The current wind of infantile gyration blowing Ndigbo in Nigeria’s political space would yield no dividend either in the short or long term. Ndigbo should develop a political character and choose their allies not allowing themselves to be chosen at will by those who pose to be friends.
IKENNA OBI
