Election is usually the platform with which to prosecute leadership succession in any organised setting, nations inclusive.
This was exactly what was put into effect on the 6th day of November, 2021, in the just concluded Anambra State gubernatorial election.
It was a landmark event going by the wisdom and sense of responsibility exhibited by the various actors and stakeholders during the election. The lessons therefrom must be made to prevail always in Igboland.
The exercise was largely peaceful, contrary to boycott and sit-at-home calls. There was no high handedness by the security personnel as they clearly demonstrated high sense of duty, as all comported themselves.
Interestingly, there was the absence of the usual characterised election behaviours often manifesting in killings and general destructions. Free, fair and credible elections, and playing by the rules, guaranteed this. This must be made to be replicated, in Igboland and national elections, going forward.
Killings are never in the character of IGBO people, thus making it a very peaceful and progressive zone in the country. It was for this reason that the facility attacks and killings lately witnessed in some areas in Igboland made very discomforting news.
Igbos, for ages, have been crying loudly of marginalisation
particularly occasioned by the scars of the civil war which inflicted wastes in wealth, manpower and infrastructures.
If there is no appreciable federal presence infrastructurally in Igbo land, it is unreasonable to destroy the few that are in place. Wisdom demands it. The properties of Igbo people in terms of choice buildings and first class businesses, that indiscriminately dot all nooks and crannies of cities nationwide, are ever vulnerable in the event of any crises situations. It is senseless to be wasting most ot them supposed to be secure on Igbo soil. It is very retrogressive, going by yesteryears’ losses by Igbo people who rose from post-war scratch.
Some of our people may fall victims to the pervasive insecurity in most places in the country. Who knows. It is manifestly senseless and foolhardy to end the same valued lives right here on their own soil. If the Igboman cannot be safe in Igboland, where else can he be sure of safety?
The disturbing novel killings in Igboland must be checked forthwith. Again, wisdom demands it. Common sense demands it. Patriotism demands it. Love for Igbo land demands it. Blood desecration, not even of Igbo brothers, is not in her culture. Sanctity of life is!
Killers presently masquerading as ‘Unknown Gunmen’, alien in Igboland, are not spirits, they are human beings. Love of fatherland demands they be exposed, not shielded. The lives that may be wasted in the process may be any body’s persons. It is like the proverbial stone hauled into a crowded market place. The repercussions are rightly guessed. This therefore must concern all in varied ways.
Together, let Igboland be secure for the desired development to trickle in and endure.
Igbos are resource-endowed in terms of men, money, materials, and management. Igbos are ingeniously and creatively skillful and enrepreneurial. Igbos are cosmopolitan with presence every where in the country, making people to rightly say that ‘any part of Nigeria an Igboman is not found is not livable’. No one can beat that! Let these talents and attributes therefore be deployed to beneficial ends.
As a long-term measure to keep Igbos safe to make political exploits, let the Igbos deploy her network of traditional security systems to beef up our internal and external securities, not without the instrumentalities of her apex Ohaneze Nd’ Igbo, South-east Governors’ Forum, Village Unions, Age Grades, and The Vigilante Groups under the aegis of Amalgamated Igbo Youths. Also, Churches, Schools, Families, and so on, can employ moral suasions to reorientate minds at their various levels to keep crimes at bay.
May God help the Igbo people, and Nigeria at large, to be more truly secure, to surmount her prevailing security challenges. These are, so far, enough troubles in our hands. More will be ruinous. Restiveness anywhere in Igboland must be tamed substantially for meaningful development to thrive.
The strident call for urgent halting of the current bloodletting in Igboland is apt and must be heeded so as not to relive memories of her ugly past as a zone.
Peace does it.