The future of the Igbos may depend on how much they succeed in evolving a strong political synergy among the various patriotic forces in Alaigbo.
The recommendation was made by Emeritus Professor, Timothy Uzodinma Nwala in his keynote speech at the National Conference of ‘Igbo Bu Otu’ held at Okpanam in Delta State.
Okpanam is the hometown of the late Lt Col Patrick Chukwuma ‘Kaduna’ Nzeogwu who died in July 1967 during the Nigerian civil war time.
Professor Nwala said that evolving such a strong political synergy would require the support of the political class and leadership, the business class, the youth and the women.
The Emeritus professor and researcher, who has delivered many telling papers on the survival of the Igbo race, said: “What is more; we need the critical role of the committed educated class – the intelligentsia, who possess the necessary exposure, training and capacity to monitor developments in the society and the world, collect and collate the relevant data, do the necessary analysis and draw up the appropriate conclusions.
“On the basis of these, they would formulate the guiding policies and modalities for their implementation to meet the political and economic challenges faced by the Igbo Nation.”
In his conclusion, Nwala submitted that the Igbo nation was once acknowledged to be one of the 10 great and dominant nations of the world; the genius, industry, courage and drive of her citizens recognised and respected all over the world; a people highly adaptable and self-reliant, a nation of warriors, humble but shrewd and aggressive commercial class, highly devoted clerical class.
He also noted that they are accepted all over the world as an inventive people with literati whose creativity and intellectual accomplishments continue to dazzle the world, a nation that gave the world Azikiwe for world politics, Achebe for literature, Emeagwali, Chike Obi and Animalu for Science, and Uzodinma Nwala for Philosophy.
“The nation still commands within her ranks men and women who can collectively pull her and her citizens out of the present historical predicament,” he said.
The foundation of all this, he said, is of course, the fostering of collective solidarity and unity of purpose; a role that only Ohanaeze Ndigbo can effectively play.
“Unfortunately, Ohanaeze has been the major target of those who wish to disorganize Ndigbo, through their internal agents and self-serving agents within Alaigbo, the enemy has taken control of the nerve-centre of Igbo leadership and resistance. They have thus, rendered Ohanaeze Ndigbo moribund.
“The solution to this challenge lies in the sustenance of major pan-Igbo intellectual and social organizations; The Alaigbo Development Foundation has played this role very ably and strategically, ADF has stoutly defended Igbo intellectual, military and political leaders who have been the target of the enemies of Ndigbo. These include General Azubuike Ihejirika, Group Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho, Prof Barth Nnaji, Peter Obi, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, etc,” he said.
He further said that Igbo marginalisation was a reality but wondered if the elephant can be marginalised in the bush, and referred to the statement by the late Dr Basil Nnanna Ukaegbu.
“On the issue of Igbo Marginalisation in power equation in Nigeria, Dr. Ukaegbu once said that the case of Igbo marginalisation in Nigeria is like the case of an elephant being marginalised in the bush. According to him, an elephant cannot be marginalised in the bush.
“There is so much truth in those words of irrepressible Basil Nnanna Ukaegbu; however, the elephant becomes marginalised in the bush, the mighty falls, or Goliath is vanquished by a David purely on the basis of superior tactics and strategies.
“The political weakness of the Igbos which is the reason for the denials and violations of their individual and collective rights within the Nigerian Federation derives largely from their failure to appreciate the nature of politics in a multi-ethnic society, and consequently from lack of appropriate tactics and strategies for survival in a hostile multi-ethnic federation.”
