By HARRY AWURUMIBE
For those crying that Ndigbo (Ndì Ìgbò) have been marginalised, rightly or wrongly in the political, economic and social affairs of their own country, Nigeria and have been agitating for the emancipation of the Motherland and her people by forming pressure groups to make their case to the central authorities, have now been presented with a golden opportunity to use the Ballot Box instead of the Barrels of Gun to achieve their goals of a better life for Ndigbo home and in diaspora.
If the pressure groups which started peacefully in ‘Ala Igbo’ with the setting up of
the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) by Mazi Raph Uwazuruike and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), two sectarian organizations formed after 1999 and which continued a non-violent struggle for an independent Igbo state as they carried only flags untill the later became violent through misguided individuals and was proscribed by the Federal Government.
Since they were proscribed, Fifth Columnists have taken over the ungoverned spaces in the South East leaving in its wake tears, blood and sorrow even as the people of the zone have been subjected to untold economic hardships by being made to observe
sit-at-home every Monday in Igboland.
The arrest, trial and imprisonment of the leader of the outlawed group Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has not stopped the bloodletting across the Niger especially in Anambra, Imo and Ebonyi states just as the shambolic governance-style of the South East Governors have conspired to pitch the so-called Governors against their people.
But, never has an opportunity presented itself since the end of unfortunate Nigerian Civil War of 1967 to 1970, has Ndigbo have the chance to aim to lead the Nigeria again through the democratic process called Elections.
After 53 years of the better forgotten war which claimed several lives on both sides, the Igbo Nation, an ethnic group in Nigeria primarily found in the present day Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu, and Imo States, although a sizable Igbo population is also found in Delta and Rivers States but have been carved out and allocated to the South South geopolitical zone by current Nigeria political arrangement that divided the country into six geopolitical zones, have been clamouring to have one of her own become the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria after all the regions of the country have produced Nigeria Presidents.
It has to be said that three out of the Four Original Regions of Nigeria have produced civilian Presidents since 1970 through Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Shagari- North (6 years); Chief Olusegun Obasanjo-West (8 years); Late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua-North (3 years); Dr. Goodluck Jonathan-South (6 years) and General Muhammadu Buhari-North (8 years).
These are outside Military Heads of State since 1970 through General Murtala Ramat Mohammed (North); General Olusegun Obasanjo (West); General Muhammadu Buhari (North); General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (North); General Sani Abacha (North); Chief Ernest Oyegunle Shoneka-Interim Head of State (West) and General Abdusalami Abubakar (North).
The above statistics of Nigeria’s former and present Presidents showed clearly why the South Easterners by extension Ndigbo are crying Marginalization! Marginalization!!
Marginalization!!!
Records do not lie.
However, another opportunity has presented itself since the end of the Golden Era of the most charismatic politician out of Igboland, late Dr. Nnamdi Benjamin Azikiwe, the Owelle Osowa Anya of Onitsha better known as ZIK of Africa, who fought the colonial masters vigorously with some Igbo compatriots for Independent Nigeria, for a Nigerian of Igbo extraction to aspire to become the President of Nigeria.
Also, never in Nigeria political firmament has Ndigbo have a political figure who commands national and international acceptance as the right man for the position of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria than Labour Party (LP) flagbearer Peter Gregory Obi.
The former Governor of Anambra state has become the Poster Boy of the 2023 General Election and indeed, the Presidential Campaigns as he has brought some innovations in the way Nigerian politicians run their campaign in the past years.
Backed by his vociferous but committed supporters known as the Obidients, made up of youths, middle-aged men and women, elders, urban dwellers, professionals, civil servants, artisans and traders as well as well-meaning Nigerians from the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
Surprisingly, the Obidients cut across Nigerians from from all walks of life; people from the North, South, East and West, who have seen the two-time Governor of Anambra state as the Symbol for a New Nigeria where tribe and religion will not matter anymore.
No wonder elder statesmen like former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; Afenifere Leader Chief Abraham Adesanya; South South Region Leader Chief Edwin Clarke; President of Middle-Belt Forum Dr. Bitrus Pogu and the Apex Igbo Union, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide as well as Arewa People’s Forum have all endorsed the Labour Party flagbearer.
Also, Islamic Clerics in the Northern Nigeria and the Christian Associations and just on Wednesday, the Apex Labour body in Nigeria, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) National Secretariat has directed Nigerian workers you file out enmass to vote for the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi on Saturday.
The Labour Party flagbearer has also been received well by the international community just as he has become the Toast of the Media locally and internationally as Obi has continued to get favourable media attention.
More importantly, Pollsters have put him ahead of other 17 Presidential Candidates in the race for the No.1 Post in Nigeria as polls after polls conducted within and outside Nigeria have all returned Peter Obi as Winner of the 2023 General Election.
Finally, with the high turn out of the crowd at his Presidential Campaign grounds across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Peter Obi looks good to carry the day on Saturday if all the permutations go right and Almighty God smiles on him.
It will therefore be a huge disappointment if his expectations and that of his supporters are thwarted by the actions and activities of IPOB and its so-called military wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) operating in the South East geopolitical zone.
If, indeed, the outlawed groups believe in the development and progress of the Igbo Nation or the region, the quickest way to realise that tall dream is to lay down their arms and use their PVCs to vote to one of their own (Peter Obi) rather than use AK47 automatic assault rifles to fight their way to the Presidency.
No full-blooded Igbo person who loves the region will turn his back on Peter Gregory Obi in this critical moment in the Spirit of cherished Igbo culture of Onyeaghala Nwanneya (Do not abandon your brother/sister in the time of trouble).
Although Peter Obi has sounded loud and clear that he is not contesting the Presidency because he is an Igbo but as a Nigerian of Igbo extraction who has the Competence, Capacity and Character and whose records in office both Public and Private sectors have remained untainted, unblemished.
Let the South Easterners not miss this Golden Opportunity to support Labour Party flagbearer Peter Gregory Obi and his running mates Dr. Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed to cross the Finish Line on Saturday, February 25 Presidential Election.
Should IPOB and ESN allow insecurity to scuttle the chance of their brother to become the next President of Nigeria to address their agitations as he has promised to be fair to every region of the country then they should be ready to reap the consequences of their own decision.
I Rest My Case.
HARRY AWURUMIBE is a Public Affairs Analyst/ Veteran Journalist