Junior Member
Regist.: 07/28/2012
Topics: 6
Posts: 2
 OFFLINE | In my opinion, it is very difficult to point at a single issue as the biggest setback in Ala Igbo; it will be like cracking the Theory Of Everything (TOE) as life or wellbeing is extremely diverse. Therefore I will attempt to summarise our problems as follows:
1. Fragmentation:
The fragmentation of our lands into states has made some people to lose sight of the bigger picture. It has bred people like Governor Orji of Abia and despicable people who are so myopic that they cannot see that we need cooperation and unity in order to move forward economically and in infrastructural development.
We had joint concerns like Nkalagu Cement, Niger Steel, Niger gas etc. and they were all killed off due to the politics of ehi oha aguru gburu (communal cow which was allowed to starve to death). If we could not maintain our going concerns, it will be near impossible to develop new ones and work on mutually beneficial projects.
We are forming a group on Nairaland forum and we will bring our agenda here as well as we have been invited by Mcjive to do so.
One of the programmes in our agenda is to work on regional integration and cooperation. There are many areas I think that our states should be working together and we will be doing our best to speak to people who know other people that have influence. Depending on how we grow as an association, I hope that we can set up seminars with regional governments in future.
2. The fall of Ikenga or Igwebuike:
Fragmentation brings us to the fall of ikenga and Igwebuike (nation’s might and united force) and the danger of the death of onye a-hala nwanne ya. (let no one abandon his brother). When I was growing up, our kindred, which is about 3 km from the centre of town did not have electricity and neighbouring kindred did not have electric too. In all, about 5 settlements between us and town centre did not have electricity.
What did our fathers do? They went into meetings, and I still remember the electricity fund raising that was held on Boxing Day early 80’s. Our fathers raised money, bought electric poles, cables and transformers and gave us electricity in association with the other settlements. In igwebuike and ikenga, they brought electricity from 3 km away. I should point out that we never lived in the village at any time, just like many others that contributed to the development of the village, which is now the state capital. Everyone simply reaffirmed their stake in the fatherland.
They built town halls, churches, school buildings the same way. They even contributed money to grade roads. This was not limited to my hometown; it was wide spread in ala Igbo and I saw the same in Mbaise and other places. Izu Ngwa Ukwu would not let us “hear word” with their radio jingles announcing the launching of one project or the other. It was a healthy competition back in the days and today, there is hardly any village in Igboland without electric connection and waiting to receive electricity when NEPA say so.
Those in their teens or early twenties take the electricity in their villages for granted, but they should ask their parents how they came to be. Imo airport was not even built by the state government; it was built by Ndi Imo na Abia through contribution and self-help.
I do not see the same efforts and concerns today. Does it mean that we are now satisfied with what we have? The danger of this negative trend or lackadaisical attitude towards group progress will soon destroy the last stand of Igbo being; onye a-hala nwanne ya. In Igbo culture, it is not enough to be the only iroko among grass. Everyone must give a helping hand to his brother as he prospers in life. It is disgraceful to let your brother suffer in penury as you enjoy your wealth and everyone understands this to a degree, but we will discard this fundamental principle as soon as we succeed in destroying our communal responsibilities/principles of igwebuike and ikenga
3. Onye a-hala nwanneya: All the evil associated with Igboland today are due to the erosion of this principle. We must stand united in crime fighting and prevention. Criminals are not ghosts; people know them and they are people’s brothers and friends. We should start shopping these people as a matter of urgency. United we must stand on this issue or we will be over run as a group.
4. Political Judases and Zachaeuses
This has got to be one of the main issues that we must fight through education and enlightenment of our people. Our reps have been selling us like Judas for 30 kobo in Abuja. They are all like unrepentant tax collectors and are only interested in GMG bags. I have not heard that one of them sponsored any bill or fought our corner at the federal level.
The federal reps, state reps, councillors and LG chairmen are like invisible arms of the government. No one knows what they do and they go scot free with their shenanigans. Our grass roots do not understand that those people are also accountable to them like their governors and president.
5. Acceptance of status quo: This is tied to the above and we only have ourselves to blame. However, it is not too late to get our people to start asking questions and start rejecting mediocrity and corruption at the polls.
6. Economic/capital flight
Everyone reserves the rights to invest their money where ever or however they want, but it bleeds my heart every day that a lot of our people do not think about home when expanding their businesses. I cannot discount the role international access plays as well, but that is not entirely the case. Take Orange drugs for example; they started business in Owerri ,but fled to Lagos and established a factory as soon as his business grew. I know of several others like him, but thanks to all the industrialists investing and creating jobs at home. They are our last stand. |
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