Opinion
Government, IPOB And The Rest Of Us
By Uche Ahubelem
I had, from the very beginning of this menace, come to the conclusion that the Indigenous People Of Biafra’s (IPOB) movement would be mismanaged by both sides of the divide. The claims of the movement and the federal military force’s response gave the impression that if we were not careful, the crisis would snowball into unimaginable chaos.
We were almost there a few weeks ago and we may still get there if we rebuke good counsel.
As a matter of fact, I believe in unity in diversity. The world would be a boring place if there were no differences. When our differences come together it brings a wonderful harmony and Nigeria will be a safe place. Whether we appreciate it or not, this is one of the things that makes Nigeria one of the greatest countries in the world.
First, I have issues with the IPOB agitation. The way IPOB and its minders are going about leaves much to be desired. I’m not against anybody agitating peacefully for anything since it’s people’s fundamental human rights. But I have issues with the manner in which it is being done by the IPOB. Also, I’m not against the man Nnamdi Kanu. He has the right to react when he feels shortchanged or intimidated. The Igbo nation has the right to react when the people feel marginalised, which is one of the reasons Nigerians are calling for restructuring. But I have issues with the way they are going about the agitation. If IPOB is going about this agitation peacefully the way other civilised societies do it, I don’t think there would have been any problem.
They need to re-assess their strategy and also some of the hate speeches that we always hear from Nnamdi Kanu. The way he speaks to other people and insult Nigerians is reprehensible. He must cultivate respect for the leadership of the nation. Regardless of what may have happened, we need to respect people in authority. We may have the right to speak our minds but we don’t have the right to call people unprintable names. Neither do we have the right to incite people to violence, which is one of the things Kanu has been doing. The reason for the agitation is right but the method is wrong.
By the same token, I have issues with the attitude of the Federal Government. President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration has unnecessarily made an idol out of Nnamdi Kanu. I say this because not every fly buzzing around you demands your attention. The government has to imbibe the culture of ignoring distractions. This is not limited to IPOB alone. Moreso, IPOB is not a violent group as such. Its members have not had any record of carrying guns to kill people like Fulani herdsmen or even the Boko-Haram insurgents. Therefore, I have an issue with tagging IPOB a terrorist group. Government was too much in a hurry and the procedure was wrong.
The way the Federal Government clamped down on Nnamdi Kanu and his supporters can be deemed primitive. IPOB is not doing anything new, other than crying out for what people all over the world are demanding.
Instead of learning from history, the presidency opted for a military approach, which was unnecessary.
This administration has deified Nnamdi Kanu. Now, he is more popular than he has ever been. He was nobody yesterday and nobody knew anything about a mere radio presenter and Biafra promoter. After returning from prison with the associated dramas that ensued, he became an iconic figure amongst his people, including those who should know better. Even now, the entire world wants to know who Kanu is and what he stands for.
When you respond automatically to inconsequential issues, you confer consequence on such issues and make people want to know why you are responding. You only dignify some people’s accusation by responding in the first place.
I want to believe that what Nnamdi Kanu really wants is publicity and relevance, which he has got in full measure, courtesy of the presidency. He also wanted the government to fight him the way he is fighting them. He kept pushing the government to do it through his incendiary words and the government fell for the bait, thus falling into disrepute in the eyes of international community.
The government should have ignored him because ignoring him would practically have killed his objectives. The government should have been busy facing more pressing issues than looking at somebody like Nnamdi Kanu.
One the part of those who follow Kanu or share his IPOB ideals, there are better ways to agitate for freedom without the violent approach in words and in deeds. IPOB could have continued to seek amendments to the 1999 Constitution to accommodate a referendum on self-determination or other issues.
The trouble with the government is its tactics and strategy on tackling issues. It should have given him a listening ear. This is something that should have been discussed on the table. Just as the biggest war in history ended on a table, this war too if fought will end on a table for discussion. The puzzle is: why go to war when people could sit on a table now and agree to resolve all issues?
Both IPOB and the government are, therefore, wrong in their approaches.
Nigeria once fought a bitter, costly and unnecessary civil war. Nothing can be gained in war. Dialogue is the only solution to all issues especially among people of diverse origins and inclinations who have been compelled to live together. A united, prosperous and inviolable Nigeria is only possible where peace reigns. Injustice, economic imbalances ethnocentrism, greed and religious bigotry can only be banished from a country where all units have genuine respect for each other.
• Uche, an industrialist, wrote from Lagos.
Op–ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Oriental Times
Chizoba Ubaezu
November 1, 2017 at 6:31 am
The writer was saying repeatedly, that he was not against the agitation by IPOB, but the way they are going about it was wrong.
But, he could not state what they did or where exactly they got it wrong.
He also said that Nnamdi Kanu was using bad words on Nigeria, let the writer go down memory lane,even up till now; Nnamdi Kanu have suffered abuses, name calling and hate speeches from Nigeria government, media houses and ordinary civilians, yet ,nothing is wrong with that.
Evil will only triumph because of the silence of the good people, if there is nothing wrong with the massacres, intimidations and exploitation of south easterners , then everything is wrong with Nigeria.
May God bless Nnamdi Kanu wherever he is.
Ifeanyichukwu Madunagu Frank
October 31, 2017 at 11:23 pm
Nigerian military force of terror must produce nnamedi kanu now unless they have killed him so let them tell biafrans and the world what happened to nnamedi kanu now
Charles Chizzy
October 31, 2017 at 8:39 pm
He is a stupid man
Uche Chidiebere Joe
October 31, 2017 at 7:53 pm
Nonsense
Reginald Dike
October 31, 2017 at 6:38 pm
Uche Ahubelem is one of the pretenders.
Chiedozie Ositadinma
October 31, 2017 at 4:31 pm
This writer says nothing about the soulless massacre of innocent and defenceless civilians by agents of the federal government.
Chris Njoku
October 31, 2017 at 4:15 pm
Uche Ahubelem, you have no proper grasped let alone the depth of the issues that you seek to address in your article: Government, IPOB And The Rest Of Us. You say “from the very beginning of this menace….” What you term as menace by the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) is a provision in the United Nations Charter of Right that has been used by many people the world over to achieve self rule. IPOB is not a movement or a group which you had come to a conclusion that it would be mismanaged. You undoubtedly a one Nigerianist, but sadly the “unity in diversity” you crave does not exist and has never existed and will never exist. People like you blame Nnamdi Kanu, who has made millions Igbos and Biafrans at large the mess that we have all been in; including you, even though you do not know it out of your own ignorant or selfishness. Your article is full of contradictions. You are not against any body agitating peacefully and also agrees that it is a fundamental right. IPOB has not harmed or killed any one, and Nnamdi kanu has not either, a point also agreed with. However, in another place you claim that IPOB is not “going about the agitation peacefully the way other civilized societies do it” there would not have been a problem. You are ignorant of what you saying because in Europe demonstrators throw eggs and baking powder at their politicians on their expensive suites and nobody gets arrested let alone shot dead matching, blocking the street or carrying flags. In your Nigeria IPOB unarmed demonstrator have been murdered in their thousands at various venius and no one has been called to account. Compare them with the openly carrying AK-47 murderous Fulani herdsmen who have murdered hundreds of innocent nigerians in their sleep and not a single person has been arrested, let alone prosecuted. If you are not against Nnamdi kanu why are people like you against him for not accepting bribes from the Nigerian govt. to allow his Igbo people to be murdered by the Hausa Fulani controlled govt of Nigeria. I am fellow Nnamdi Kanu and share his ideals, am highly educated Igbo man (a lawyer and a miscreant) you call us, but what have you done for the Igbo nation since the end of a genocidal war against the Igbos, Mr Industrialist ?. Rather you are criticising Nnamdi kanu for asking questions that you and friends are too timid to ask. You cowardly align your selves with the killers of IPOB members whilst agreeing that “IPOB is not a violent group…..”. You believe “that Nnamdi Kanu wants publicity and relevance”, Really ? You are very jealous and envy of our leader Nnamdi Kanu because of his honesty and huge popularity. He is an icon take it or leave it.
Emmanuel Iwuchuchukwu
October 31, 2017 at 1:27 pm
I don’t knw where dis fool stand no specific direction just bragging up nd down. All hail Biafra, Biafra must come.
Ifeanyi Ochobi
October 31, 2017 at 12:59 pm
We the People of fomer easthern rigion know as Biafra want anybody Who Will do it better than Nnamdi kanu so we can follow him. Uche let me ask you, where are you all this years the People of fomer easthern rigion are suffering in hand of Nigeria govt ? Average Igbo man has three problem envy, greed and jealous. Uche What is your contribution to free your People from this lugardian empire and British cage call Nigeria.
Ugwu Brendan Onyebuchi
October 31, 2017 at 12:57 pm
Trash.
Agatha Nwosu
October 31, 2017 at 12:22 pm
Ebei Ibi
October 31, 2017 at 12:19 pm
Your input is out dated
Clement Imoyeto Ikeotuonye
October 31, 2017 at 12:17 pm
The Uche of a writer is talking absolute rubbish. Yeah, Uche, we have noticed you as you wanted to be noticed.
Chika Fidelis
October 31, 2017 at 12:46 pm
Uche is mere creature that is somewhat confused, he does not know what actually is hate speech probably because he may have not got full education ripe enough to let him understand what hate speech is. However I see a man who is neither hot not cold, in every law court both the plaintiff and the defendant cannot be guilty at the same time, just one will be said to be guilty, if both is said to be guilty then it means the judge is the one who is guilty.
Meshack Nwigwe
October 31, 2017 at 11:38 am
gibberish lines