By Charles Igbo
The suffocating political bitterness, hatred and mischief in Imo State went awry these past few days. It had some people regretting the political acid attack on the Governor of the State, Senator Hope Uzodinma.
It had a politician/political commentator and analyst, Jones FCC Onwuasoanya, doing what every commentator, writer, political analyst, and straight politician should do to maintain credibility. He apologised and retracted his earlier devastating comments against Uzodinma. And it had the cerebral Presenter on Arise Television, Rufai Oseni, setting the records straight 24 hours after he had, on Television, lampooned, in strong words, Governor Uzodinma.
Anybody who has been following the bitterness and hatred and propaganda and blackmail and fake stories which rule the politics in Imo, will know that in the State, anything goes as far as politicians are concerned. It is like an animal jungle. All sorts of lies are passed off as the Gospel truth. In the State, the chorus is all is fair in war. So, stories are deliberately fabricated. Statements are deliberately twisted. All for mischief purposes.
The purveyors of such lies hardly care about the consequences and what damage it is doing to their own image, and that of the State.
In the instant case, the two gentlemen, Onwasoanya and Oseni were innocent victims. They were victims of deliberate misinformation meant to incite the Igbo, especially, against Governor Uzodimma.
How It Started
It began with the speech by Uzodinma during the 80th Birthday celebrations of elder statesman, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu.
The Governor was the host. And had made what he and those present thought was a beautiful speech. A pro-Igbo speech. After extolling the good qualities of the celebrant, he thought he should praise the Igbo. He went all out to do that.
So, he spoke about their unparalleled industry. About their ruggedness. About their ability to survive anywhere. About their love for country. About their penchant for developing anywhere they find themselves. About peaceful nature. About their accommodating nature.
He talked about how the people built Imo Airport. He talked about how it was the Igbo that built and developed Porthacourt. Then, he lamented their status politically. He pointed out that they had been short-changed many times. He pointed out that they were not good negotiators in politics as they were in other things, so people take them for granted. And encouraged them to fight for their rights. It is no privilege, it their right.
But hours later, what the Governor said was turned upside down and inside out. One Correspondent of a national newspaper reported that the Governor had said, and advised the Igbo to forget about the Presidency in 2023, and perhaps, many years to come. He reported the Governor as saying that the Igbo should go and make peace with other Regions before they aspire to the Presidency.
Governor On The Cross
A number of people latched on that false report, and put the Governor on the cross. It is not known if the report was an honest mistake, or if it was deliberately twisted for mischief purposes. Whatever, the later was achieved.
A number of people descended on the Governor and made a mince meat of him and what he supposedly said. When Arise Television carried and discussed it in their popular Morning Show, it spread like wild fire. One of its Presenters, Oseni, was particularly very hard on the Governor. He remembered the Nigerian Civil War and the number of the Igbo killed. The innocent blood spilled. The obvious marginalisation of the Igbo for which the people are asking for justice and equity. He put all these together, and passed a judgment on the Governor. He is no good for the Igbo.
His comments went viral on WhatsApp. And, they were celebrated no end within the opposition. A number of comments were passed and written about, and against the Governor.
One of those who commented was Onwuasoanya. In his usual manner, his comments were blunt and punchy and derogatory of the Governors alleged speech.
Putting Out The Facts
But within hours, the Governor’s handlers and many other people present had recovered enough from the unwarranted verbal and written attacks on the Governor, to put out, in hard copy, and audio, exactly what Uzodinma said.
Arise TV’s Oseni Reacts
The first to react and set the records straight was Oseni.
Within 24 hours after his original outing, he was on the same Morning Show to set the records. He not only said that the Governor did not say what the Morning Show reacted to the previous day, he was gracious enough to show the Governor as he presented the speech, and allowed the relevant areas which were twisted to be heard and watched by listeners and viewers.
Onwuasoanya Apologises
he next was Onwuasoanya who courageously, completely, retracted his earlier write-up on the subject. He cursed out, almost, those who misinformed him and the general public.
Following is Onwuasoanya’s retraction of the earlier write-up which he, also posted on WhatsApp platforms.
GOVERNOR UZODIMMA SPOKE IN DEFENCE OF NDIGBO AND HER INTERESTS AND NOT AGAINST THEM
“I have taken time to watch what appears to be the complete clip of Governor Uzodimma’s speech at Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu’s birthday reception in Owerri, and I didn’t hear anywhere he either directly stated that ‘Ndigbo should make peace with Nigeria’ nor inferred as much. That speech can actually pass as one of the most Igbo centric speeches made by any Igbo leader in recent times.
“The individual who earlier sent me a cutout clip of the governor purportedly making that derogatory comment is obviously a mischievous character, as he deleted that video as soon as he confirmed that I had watched the video. My efforts at getting him send it back to me were rebuffed with the excuse that he doesn’t want the clip out there, as it is exclusive and it would be easy to identify where it came from.
“It is clear that some mischievous individuals have designed a strategy to hoodwink some of us into sending out false narratives against those they consider their enemies. Unfortunately, I am not one of those who would take up enmity with anyone for another.
“Governor Uzodimma, rather than as a slave, spoke like a freeborn that he is, and courageously, too. He made a convincing case for other Nigerians to reciprocate the love and commitment of Igbos to Nigeria and the Nigerian project. And he couldn’t have said it better. It is disgusting that anyone could want to twist this well-intentioned speech completely out of context, and I daresay, that it is those behind such mischief that are the real enemies of Ndigbo and the real definition of misbegotten slaves. In their case, they might not really be slaves to any ruling Party, but to some frustrated never-do-wells.
“I will not be able to delete the earlier writeup on this matter, because I understand that it has gone beyond my reach, and can no longer be traced or even deleted on some platforms where they are posted, but I wish to take back all the harsh words I deployed in communicating my disappointment with that speech, had it been made, and instead direct them, and even harsher words, to anyone or group of people who is or are behind this mindless misinformation campaign against the governor of Imo State.
“May God bless the Truth.”
Excerpts From Governor Uzodinma’s Speech
“…when we come to celebrate him ( Iwuanyanwu) we also use the auspicious event to discuss the lingering topic of Nigerian unity, particularly as it affects Igbos, I believe it can pass for a mini national conference. And this is more so because the discourse on Igbos and national unity has been recurring from pre-independence days to the present day. It is also a subject that continues to generate intense national interest, controversy and misinterpretations.
“It is not an open secret that in some quarters, Igbos are still held suspect of harbouring a hidden agenda. The unfortunate events of the 60s have not helped matters in this respect
“In my view, therefore, the topic of today’s lecture is both apt and cogent. Given the pedigree of the lecturer, no other but our erudite Chief Nnia Nwodo, I have no doubt that justice will be done to the topic. In the end, I am sure he would have thrown up more and better insights on the matter. More importantly, I believe that the lecture will further enlighten our brethren from the other parts of the country, on the Igbo question. We shall use all available media to ensure the message reaches a wider audience, including those in the Diaspora.
“In this respect, in making my opening remarks, and without pre-empting the lecture, I will begin by recalling that the lecture topic resonates with my latest book, ” Reflections on the Igbo question “, In the book, I set out to showcase the numerous contributions of Ndigbo to national unity while interrogating the challenges they face in their quest for a just, fair and equitable Nigeria.
“Having said that, let me submit that the truth of the matter is that in spite of obvious misinterpretations and misrepresentations, Igbos love Nigeria passionately and the evidence is overwhelming. There is no part of Nigeria, no matter how remote, where you will not find Igbos living happily with their host communities while contributing to the growth and development of the area. I often ask this question: Can a man live in a land he loathes? Can a man feel at home in a land he abhors? Will the gods of a land allow the business of a man to thrive in a land he does not wish well? I believe the answers to these questions are obvious, CAPITAL NOS. You can now fill in the gaps for the Igbos.
:Since 2011, when I was elected to the Senate, I have taken time to explore this topic and the complexities inherent in them. I have had cause not only to interrogate the question of suspicion among the various ethnic groups in Nigeria but also the issues that gave rise to it. This is against the backdrop of the fact that naturally the ordinary Nigerian does not have a problem living and working together for the peace and progress of the country. My findings are contained in my book, which I referred to earlier. The conclusion is that the Igbos love Nigeria, fervently; with all their hearts and all their souls and with all their might as well. However, by an inexplicable irony, the Igbos somehow believes that Nigeria and Nigerians do not reciprocate this love, at least not with the same passion. This is the paradox that has continued to define the Igbo quest for national unity.
“What the Igbos seek from the country is accommodation, not domination. What they seek is acceptance and not rejection. What they seek is friendship and brotherhood, and they are also willing and able to offer the same. There is sufficient and irrevocable evidence from Nigerian history that Igbo leaders have never been found wanting in advocacy, backed by action, for Nigeria’s unity.
Let us briefly examine and refresh some of the issues leading to Nigeria’s Independence in 1960. The NCNC led by our own Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe (Owelle of Onitsha and Zik of Africa) opposed the self -determination motion by Western legislators in 1957. He wanted a united Nigeria and not a fragmented one. If NCNC had allowed that motion to sail through, we wouldn’t have had what is today called Nigeria both in identity and geography. By patiently waiting for the North to be ready, NCNC led by a patriotic Igbo man saved the day.
“Again, during the Western Nigerian crisis in the early days of independence, it fell on Azikiwe and other nationalists to provide the stability needed for Nigeria to remain together.
Even before that, Azikiwe had through sheer patriotic zeal, conceded to Alhaji Tafawa Balewa of NPC when it came to the formation of the National Government in 1959. Because the NPC would not muster enough majorities to single-handedly form the government, it turned to Zik’s NCNC for support. Zik could have turned to AG to form the government and become the Prime Minister, but he did not. Instead, he accepted NPC’s proposal which saw him playing a secondary role as the ceremonial President – instead of being the Prime Minister. This was because Zik reasoned correctly that a national government of only the South was a recipe for disintegration. That was a great sacrifice for national cohesion. That was nationalism at its peak.
Deriving from my earlier submission that you cannot live in a land that you don’t love, let me recall that long before independence, Igbos had settled in every part of Nigeria, North, South West and South. Igbos practically built Port – Harcourt, even if it pleases some people to vainly try to rewrite history. Prominent Igbos like the same Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu, General Ike Nwachukwu and a lot of others were born in the North, by their parents who settled there as their home. I don’t want to mention Lagos and the developmental roles Igbos have played and continue to play there.
“But suffice it to say that there exist many Igbos in Lagos whose first language is Yoruba because they have accepted that place as their home.
“Indeed, throughout the 774 Local Government Areas of the country, from Zungeru to Owo and from Akwanga to Ahoada, Igbos are found there in their numbers. In most cases, after the indigenous population, the second largest ethnic group in any city outside Igboland are Igbos. What other evidence do we need to authenticate our Nigerianess and our faith in the country called Nigeria?
“As I said earlier, there is no part of Nigeria today, even the remotest parts that you won’t find Igbos in large numbers engaged in commerce and sundry economic activities, thereby contributing to the growth of the nation, adding value to the economy of the states they reside in and blending with their hosts. So, if the demographic spread is a good index for measuring the confidence of ethnic nationalities in a united Nigeria, and it is, then Ndigbo will most likely rank as the number one ethnic nationality that has unfettered confidence in a united Nigeria. This is for the simple commonsensical reason that no man will make a home out of the land that he does not love or wish well.
“In my book, “Reflections on the Igbo Question”, I categorically declared that the Igbo question is actually the story of the Igbo in project Nigeria and their patriotic and fervent desire for a country that offers them an unfettered space for self-actualization and identity as well. But, in another way, it means that Ndigbo have always had an unflinching faith in the unity of Nigeria because they believe that the vast geographical territory and resources and opportunities Nigeria offers are capable of providing that space.
“Actually, the question that ought to dominate the national space is not whether the Igbos loves Nigeria or for that matter, whether they believe in a United Nigeria, but whether they have been offered that deserved and desired accommodation.
“While I would rather that we focus on the future, it is also necessary for us to reflect on what has kept the Igbo question recurring. In my book as mentioned earlier, I traced our current travails to the civil war.
“I recalled how Igbos were at the commanding heights of the military, academia, sports and what have you, before the outbreak of the war. However, by an unsavoury twist of fate, playing out with the vicissitudes of several other factors, including fall outs from conspiracies and counter conspiracies, Igbos became victims of national intrigues and socio-economic brutalization. This is my own summary of the events leading to the civil war and its aftermath.
“But, in spite of the crushing effects of the civil war and the hostile official policies that followed, Igbos, like the biblical dry bones, managed to rise again. Yes, the Igbos rose from the ashes of the civil war to embrace Nigeria again, spreading all over her space, to live and let’s live.
“In fact, the resurgence of the Igbo man after those harsh policies more than anything espoused the courageous and resilient spirit of the race. They derive strength from affliction and blossom in an environment considered hostile and unconducive.
“With a history of afflictions resulting from an ill-conceived war, the strong desire of Ndigbo for a Nigeria of their dream did not wane. In spite of the brutality and huge losses they experienced, Igbos returned to Nigeria, immediately after the war and embraced everyone as though nothing happened. What does that tell us? It is a confirmation of the indispensable fact that Igbos do not intend to leave. They fully recognise that Nigeria is the only country they have and they are not going anywhere, just as they will not allow any person or groups of persons to push them out of the country they call their own.
:However, I must admit that as a race we have our flaws. When we reflect on where the rain started beating us, we will come to the inevitable conclusion that we have made some mistakes, more from the heart than from the head. Because, we trust easily; because we are quick to make friends, etc. But, the greatest of all is that we are weak in negotiations. We are often not as diplomatic as we ought to be. Perhaps our greatest bane is the “Nzogbu Nzogbu, Enyimba” spirit in all of us. This spirit probably deludes us into believing that we can do it all alone or into hoping that someday “manna” will fall from heaven and give us the day.
“In the book already referred to, I made it clear that our desire for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction can only be accomplished through negotiated agreements as no one ethnic group can produce the president of Nigeria without the support of the other ethnic groups. Sadly, because we appear deficient in negotiation skills, we have not made much headway in this regard. Our poor outing in the last party primaries of the two major political parties speaks volumes in this regard. The apparent lack of understanding, cooperation or unity amongst the candidates from the South-East may also have played a role in the poor outing.
“This contrasts with what happened in 1992, when the man we are celebrating today, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, flew the flag of Ndigbo to contest the presidential primaries of the National Republican Convention (UNCP). I felt proud as an Igbo man as I watched him transverse the various parts of Nigeria canvassing votes and marshalling his plans for the country. Although we had other Igbos who showed interest, Chief Iwuanyanwu was remarkable because he showed us the way to pursue our aspirations in the project Nigeria.
:The foregoing explains why I am both excited and encouraged that at 80, Chief Iwuanyanwu has continued to seek answers to the Igbo question through his active participation in the affairs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, of which he is a founding member. Without a doubt, Chief Iwuanyanwu has always defended the legitimate quest by Ndigbo to have a fair deal in Nigeria.
“As elders who have seen the devastating and debilitating effects of war, we would never subscribe to violence as a means of getting justice and equity. When we watch on our TV sets the gory pictures emanating from Ukraine and Russia; when we see emaciating children in Syria and Yemen; when we behold the carcasses of war in South Sudan, Iraq and Libya, nobody will need anybody to tell us that peace is preferable to war and that negotiation is always better than violence. That is why I keep advising our youths to eschew violence and toe the path of peace. Those promoting violence in whatever form as a means of getting what we desire are not helping the Igbo course. Like I have always said, Ndigbo needs Nigeria just as Nigeria needs us. In that context, therefore, it is our responsibility to explore more peaceful and democratic means of resolving the challenges associated with our clamour for justice and equity.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as we ponder on the Igbo Question, let me make it clear, that we can only reap what we plant. When we plant peace and love as we are currently doing across Nigeria, we shall find that which we earnestly seek. We should take opportunities of the vast space called Nigeria to unleash our God-given talents for the attainment of our goals. What we seek may be delayed, but it can never be denied, for as long as we come to equity with clean hands.”
