By: Sanchez Ibe
At this point, it is an open secret that the most intimidated set of governors are those of the Southeastern extraction. Not only that, the five governors of the region do not mind sacrificing their very own people in order to show the center that they align with it.
Of the governors in the Southern Region, it is safe to conclude that that those of the South East have worked more against their people than FOR them.
Every election year, there is always the news or cries of ‘betrayal’, ‘sellout’ and other not-too-nice adjectives to qualify the level of the betrayal of the Igbo people and mostly, members of the IPOB and Kanu have been the ones who have cried the most about this.
It is almost as if Kanu is always playing a script every election year because the narrative is always ‘ban’, and ‘boycott’, leading to voter apathy and giving their ‘enemy’ an easier way to win.
The IPOB, more recently, have won more people to their side than ever. But why Kanu is not taking advantage of the situation in creating a political party that will see people loyal to the IPOB and its idealogies in government. This way, the voice becomes more authoritative, backed by executives and stronger.
Imagine having South Eastern governors who are pro IPOB and a few lawmakers who share their sentiment? This won’t give way to the usual ‘shoot IPOB members on sight’ and calling the hit on IPOB members using the military like the region is a war torn zone.
If the region is sold out to IPOB, the region, regardless of the states will easily align and work for their common goal like pro Jihadists Northern governors.
Kanu has no plan other than to resist the Fulani people violently. I strongly believe he needs to start seeing the bigger picture. Control the politics of the South East and your agitation makes more sense.
On its downside, Kanu might lose absolute control like he has now, which I’m sure he fears. But if he is indeed serious about the agitation of his people, it is high time he went past the radio talk show, boycotting elections and banning IPOB folks from voting.
Sanchez Ibe is a social commentator and writes from Lagos
