FADA OLUOMA
There was a time political marginalization was our biggest problem as Ndigbo in Nigeria. Igbos were left at the fringes of political appointments. It is a travesty that no honest person can deny, whatever be the reason.
Despite this marginalization, Ala igbo was a haven of peace and security. You felt safer in Ala igbo than most places in Nigeria. Despite the marginalization, Igbo sons and daughters built houses in villages found only in mega cities. Festivities like igba nkwu, burials and Christmas celebrations brought igbo sons and daughters from different parts of the globe to Ala igbo, and they came with dromedaries of cash and the commoners profited.
Even with the marginalization, we were given the elusive 2nd 9ja bridge by the man who was obviously the most hated of our marginalizers, with other projects too.
Under marginalization, businesses were still thriving in the east relatively better than most places. With the marginalization, you couldn’t say Ala igbo had any peculiar and strange problem that other politically romanced regions in Nigeria didn’t have. The regions considered spoilt with juicy appointments probably had more individuals who became richer than their entire village or state from pillaging public funds, yet were unable to rid even their clans of poverty.
Agitation against marginalization came. After these years, it has not only been unable to rid Ala igbo of marginalization, it has added insecurity, grounding of businesses, flight of private capital inflow, more hunger, fear, killings, kidnappings and all sorts of restiveness in Ala igbo. Agitation hasn’t taken away what it diagnosed as the biggest problem of Ndigbo, but has added or seen the addition of more malaise. Agitation birthed a new breed of cancerous group in Ala igbo, I call them ‘ndi Igbo’.
Ndigbo live, thrive and flourish in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, even Sokoto and other Northern states that are the ancestral homes of the Hausa fulanis. Ndigbo in these proper Fulani territories build businesses there, own homes and raise thwir children there. Their homes, houses and lands haven’t been plundered or hijacked by their fulani landlords, but ‘ndi igbo’ convinced ndigbo that the same fulani is coming to take their lands in alaigbo. Fulani didn’t take ndigbo land in fulani land, but fulani is coming to take ndigbo land in alaigbo? What ‘igbo’ cannot say, do and make people believe does not exist.
In Ala igbo, ‘ndi igbo’ forces Ndigbo to close down businesses, schools and other legit endeavors even at gun point, a strange strategy that emasculates the same people they claim to emancipate. ‘Ndi igbo’ are convinced and somehow injected that conviction into Ndigbo that shooting ourselves on the foot will cause pain to our marginalizers.
Under marginalization, Ndigbo commuters parted with 100 or 200 naira at roadblocks, but under agitation, Ndigbo now pay hundreds of millions of naira to ‘ndi igbo’ and blame it on Fulani people. ‘Ndi igbo’ kill ndigbo and call the victims ‘sacrifices’ for the struggle or blame their death on the fulanis or the government. Despite the telling signs, ndigbo swallowed the lies and the horror deepened.
Those who pretend not to know the harrowing source of insecurity in alaigbo, or are so hypocritical to blame it on others should visit the wall of Barr Ejiofor, at least no one can call him a ‘sabo’ because his allegiance to the agitation isn’t in doubt. While the barrister has no qualms in saying ndigbo are the ones killing their fellow ndigbo in ala igbo, I can’t say that because of my sacred patriotism to ala igbo and ndigbo, I find it too humiliating of my noble tribe, too degrading of a people that prides itself as noble, sacred, wise, truthful and intelligent to say they are murderers, that’s why I’m blaming it all on ‘ndi igbo’. You see, I’m doing better than the barr.
We speak the same language, have same traditions, culture, history and ancestral.land, but ndigbo and ndi igbo are not same. Until the political, economic, religious, traditional leaders, elders and ndigbo generally take the courage to disown the ‘ndi igbo’ they have enabled, sponsored and oxygenated by silent complicity and out right funding, Ala igbo will keep bleeding to death. The few voices of courageous igbo sons and daughters who have been risking their lives to speak up cannot save ndigbo and alaigbo from ‘ndi igbo.’
Igbo is a language, an ethnic group and a tribe. ‘Igbo’ is a dangerous drug that can make a young man rape his own mother or sister once taken. Ndigbo in Ala igbo are under siege by ‘ndi igbo’. Only Ndigbo can rescue themselves and ala igbo if they want.
“Those who choose other gods increase their sorrows.” Psalm 16:3.