THE INVASION OF THE SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA, A WAY TO TARNISH THE PEACEFUL INTEGRITY OF THE REGION BY THE BUHARI LED GOVERNMENT
The South Eastern Nigeria is one of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, primarily situated in the lowland forest region of the country. Originally, it is occupied by the Igbo tribe, and happily inhabits people from other parts of Nigeria and beyond. The region is made of 5 states, namely, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo state. The people are basically merchants and traders, with relatively high literacy level that place them on the top chart.
The pre-colonial history of this region has it that the administrative structure of the society was acephalous in nature, thereby making every male adult in their respective communities a stakeholder.
The system was basically in practice until the arrival of the British colonial masters, who came and introduced the indirect system of administration. As an unfamiliar system to the people, coercions were applied for the system to function in the communities. The colonial masters infused the alien leadership known as warrant chiefdom in the society that had decentralized structures that were effectively working out in their society.
Expectedly, the system was openly opposed by the host society, who rebelled the colonial masters and their tax system of administration. This led to riots, rebellions, demonstrations that included the popular Aba women’s riot of 1929.
Thereafter, the Igbo people with obedient and subordinate minds gradually adapted to the extraterrestrial system as a way of life and also put it in practice than other places where the system was introduced. The leadership of the warrant chiefs created by the colonial masters metamorphosed to what we know today in every Igbo community as the Ezes, the Obis, and other nomenclatures other traditional rulers are called in Igboland.
After the Nigerian independence in 1960, there was absolutely peaceful co-existence amongst the tribes and religious groups in Nigeria. The momentum was maintained until the Nigerian civil war that lasted for 30 months. What precipitated the war was the mass killing of the Igbos in the Northern part of the country and the Northern extractions alleged Igbo coup of 1966. There was an immediate counter-coup that killed the then Head of state of Nigeria, Major General Ironsi in a retaliatory move of the alleged Igbo coup.
The death of Ironsi was not enough to appease the bloodthirsty sects, who started killing the Igbos in the Northern regions and also confiscating their possessions. The killings lingered until it led to the Nigeria-Biafran war that claimed millions of lives mainly the Igbos.
The war actually ended the arm hostilities but failed to end the division orchestrated by the war. Till date, the root causes of the war and the underlying issues of the agitation that led to the civil war were never addressed. The “NO VICTOR-NO VANQUISH” slogan introduced by the then Head of state, Major General Gowon was not applied. The Igbos were ostracised in their country; they were merely regarded as classless citizens. Their valuables in the banks, including cash, were monetized to meager £20, that has only 10,000 Naira equivalent in today’s exchange rate. Political and civil service appointments eluded them, their properties scattered all over the country were impounded and probably shared or sold out to unknown people. A tribe that produced the first indigenous vice chancellor of the first Nigerian University, the first Governor General of Nigeria, the first Major General in the Nigerian Army was subjugated and meant to suffer hopelessly.
As an independent tribe, the Igbos picked up from the cradle to their economic status quo. Precisely on 07/08/2017, Forbes, the most reliable global media company that focuses on business, investment, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle, referred Nnewi, a town in the South Eastern Nigeria as ”the small town that has more naira billionaires per capita than anywhere else in the country”. Their successes were not clung on business alone. Their current position in the educational system of the country evidently boosted their literacy till date.
The South Eastern Nigeria is contributing immensely to the growth of Nigeria economy. Thanks to the oil explorations in Abia and Imo state. In other industries like entertainment, agriculture, trade, and commerce, Igbos are on the top front.
In Nigeria today, it is evidently proven that no tribe in Nigeria has more population outside their homeland than the Igbos. They control virtually all the business activities in their host communities. They integrate themselves into the host communities with their infrastructural and cultural developments. All these activities are replicated by them back home, whereas other tribes find it difficult in doing same.
As the most welcoming region in Nigeria that pursues the unity of the country, the peaceful state of the region is responsible for their developmental strides that were individually or communally built. Trades and commerce are carried out in the region without restrictions. The activities of the hoodlums are checkmate every now and then. Religious organizations are allowed to worship at their freest and choicest manners.
Now that the military incursion that is baptized with the infamous name ”OPERATION PYTHON DANCE” is hovering around the region since the week, I implore my people to be steadfast in their chores and businesses. Let them engage themselves in their usual and legal activities without distractions. This is merely a way to drag them to the early post-civil war era, where they were stripped of their belongings. It is also a way to present them to the world as a region harbouring a terrorist organization called Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who never had a killer or terror instinct.
The activities of the IPOB are not, and have never been violent from its inception as alleged or exaggerated by the Nigerian government. The IPOB is a separatist organization led by Nnamdi Kanu, that is calling for a referendum, stating that, they will continue to agitate until the Nigerian government fixes a date for the referendum to settle the issue of Biafra in a civilized and democratic manner.
It is only a fool within the shores of Nigeria or who has not read any verifiable articles on the marginalization of this region that would oppose to the movement or their clamour for secession.
I believe in Nigeria, only if they will give room for restructuring, which stands as a popular demand and a redeemable factor for Nigerian unity. To an extent, restructuring can restore peace and tranquillity in the country, which in return ushers long lasting sovereignty of the country. Failure to do so, I strongly support a referendum, as a way of settling this lingering agitation that has been in existence since more than half a century now.
No intimidation or even the real Python itself dancing on the streets of the South Eastern Nigeria shall shut our people into a slavery corner in their divine land of our territory.
Enough is Enough!
Written by,
21vs10, the Unrepentant Pensioner.
