2015: Should Ndigbo Also Spit Fire?

*2015: Should Ndigbo Also Spit Fire?*

 By Odimegwu Onwumere

Some persons are behaving as if they own Nigeria. They are spitting fire

that Nigeria will combust if the 2015 presidential elections did not go the

way they wanted. They have become self-acclaimed mouthpiece of their

different ethnic regions, who in their entirety do not buy the idea of

these persons.

This brings to fore the position of Ndigbo in the Nigerian political

equation. There were promises and speculations during the 2011 elections

campaign that Igbo would produce president come 2015. But it seems that

those who made that promise and browbeaten Ndigbo to vote are now enjoying

the gearshift of power and they no longer remember that Ndigbo are

Nigerians. What they are saying is that if their son do not contest the

presidential elections in 2015 there would be chaos, while others are

saying that ‘they are born to rule’ thus, power should return to their

region. But the Igbo have been very resolute and peaceable with all the

fuming, as if there was a blood oath that the peace of Nigeria depended on

Ndigbo.

Ndigbo have not joined the legion that is spitting fire and brimstone

should power be turn away from them. They are looking at the whole thing

from the angle that things are no longer as business as usual but this is

different in the thinking of others.

What is happening in the power tussle in the country is an exposition that

policies that appeal to Nigerians have been extirpated replaced with public

speaking of bloodbath. With all these, how are they sure that they might

get the vote of Ndigbo, since they don’t have respect for Ndigbo. A people

that have respect don’t speech-make what would jeopardize the sensibilities

of other people. Their statement means that if they are not president in

2015, there would be bloodbath. And where do they want Ndigbo to go during

the period of the apocalyptic carnage?

Perhaps, in their thought, they have this notion that the Igbo could be

bribed with money to vote. They did not know that this ‘Igbo love money

propaganda’ has changed among Ndigbo. They are no longer in the disposition

to be used and latter dumped. Is it not terrible that Nigeria is perishing

for lack of knowledge and understanding? If not, how could anybody look

into the eye of the other and make diminishing pronouncement they can never

be intimidated, or else, they conflagrate the country.

The annoying thing is that it was not the Igbo that are drumming for war,

but people who will not be there if their clarion calls should come to

fruition. These loquacious individuals will not be there to fight. Even

when many of them are full of questionable characters, they are not ashamed

to call for war. Their exhibitions are just sectional, which is stupidity

against the superiority of the Constitution, which does not allow people or

groups to take the laws into their hands.

It is very sad that when any political party loses an election in Nigeria

that election automatically is characterized as a rigged one. This does not

imply that there have not been cases of recorded rigged elections in the

country. Instead of these war mongers would start to suggest for the way

forward and  start putting policies and programmes together for 2015, they

are calling for blood.

This mentality belongs to the dark days when some goons massacred millions

of Ndigbo in the daylight for no just course and at the same time took up

arms against the Igbo nation that saw to the killing of millions of Ndigbo

across the Nigerian state. All that they were fighting for is the oil money

which those in power are using with reckless abandon to the detriment of

other resourceful means of the economy. They want to fight with their last

drop of blood, not minding that not all are interested in their campaign

for ethnicity.

What this war mongers do not perhaps take into cognizance is the fact that

Nigeria does not at present needs warring men, but those who can fight the

hardheaded phenomenon that is called Corruption in Nigeria. The war mongers

should exclude Ndigbo when the war finally berthed. Ndigbo need justice,

equity and the provision of security, and not war.

Therefore, this rhythm of violence and call for scene of carnage should

stop. It is not helpful to Nigeria and her citizens. Action should not be

taken against Ndigbo because they are quiet. Nobody or group is above the

law, or should see self as one. If there must be bloodbath in 2015, it

should then be between political parties against the other and should not

be about Nigeria and her entire citizens. Not all the citizens are

politicians. Some are not even card carrying members of any political

party. And any party which feels that it cannot win in an election except

it rigs, should desist from such fraudulent act. Ndigbo are tired of

meaningless threats in Nigeria. Should they also spit fire?

*Odimegwu Onwumere,* a Poet/Author, and Media Consultant, writes from

Rivers State. Mobile: +2348032552855. E-mail: apoet_25@yahoo.com