Igbophobia – A Hot Selling Ticket
5 min read
Peter Obi
By Ifeanyi Chijioke
If there was anything that had ever truly brought Nigeria together, it was a calculated onslaught against Igbo. The unity witnessed between 1967 and 1970 aimed to extinguish Igbo was astonishing. Such unity would have profited Nigeria if applied in governance. The energy that galvanized that unity is lacking in all areas of the country’s existence because Igbo is not the subject.
They are presently harvesting Nigeria; in time of harvest, focus is switched, but when time to gather grains and seedlings comes, Igbo suffer immeasurably. Nobody takes the blame except Lord Fredrick Lugard, who made Nigeria a business entity, under the rule of the late Queen of England.
For the first time in decades; Igbo rattled owners of Nigeria. Peter Obi was the arrowhead, and the celebratory character of an Igbo man – his ability to dominate and stand distinguished put him ahead in the poll. He became the pride of Nigerian youths who desperately needed a change – but the youths made ethnic wrong – their arrowhead was the hate of the country.
Peter Obi tried his best to put to bed ethnic correlation of his candidacy, but they systematically sustained it. Nigerians of different ethnicities chose the man, especially youths who knew nothing about politics and wanted a better Nigeria or was not groomed by the ancestral politicians to know Igbophobia is the cornerstone of the country. Yoruba political elites said Peter Obi was there to make East a new Lagos and end Yoruba’s economic dominance. Hausa political elites said Igbo presidency would pave way for rehabilitation, reconstruction and reintegration (reconciliation) into Nigerian mainstream politics.
Immediate past President of Nigeria in consolidation of Igbophobia, promised Igbo five percent attention- and this new President seemed to have shown them a glimpse of retaliation. Igbo have failed to be proactive; they voted in Lagos, the sanctuary of the new President, and boldly told him his sanctuary belongs to everybody, not his – Lagos is a no man’s land.
They heated the polity and rattled the kingmakers of Nigeria. They made a bus driver a house of representative member and unbelievably enthroned newbie’. They frightened the kingmakers; who had chosen a successor. It was truly the turn of Jagaban; and it was audacious of an Igbo man to dare alter the trend – a sacred arrangement by the kingmakers.
Nobody expected failure; it was not a natural failure, but massively rigged election, blatantly rigged- an artificial failure. The election must be obviously rigged or constraints would cost the kingmakers, there was nothing to conserve, they won’t take chances, steal it, grab it and run as fast as you could, remember to run faster than light. Kill, threaten them and remember to boldly do it, because the executive, legislature and judiciary are behind you. Those were the words and sentiments that drove the election.
They believed it was a political war against Igbo – who once raised arms against them in 1967, and raising their thumbs on a ballot paper was proportionate to the 1967 act. There would be consequence; Igbophobia would go beyond a feeling, there would be dire consequence, physical action to take a pound of flesh and serve as deterrent.
Igbo didn’t consider cons and pros; they failed to plan for failure because success was glaring to them. A Governor wrote a long epistle, and narrated how Igbo ship was sailing to the rock, but like the titanic ship, confidence was high and they were complacent. The Governor wrote from a position of experience; he knew the country is a third world country controlled by few men who had decided to crown Bola Amed Tinibu, it was indeed his turn.
The election is now in the past and the ticket to Aso Rock is Igbophobia. To access the government of Bola Amed Tinibu, your ticket is Igbophobia. Without Igbophobia, you will not be part of Nigeria. You must confess your hate to prove your commitment to the country. You cannot like Igbo and Nigeria; there is a choice, of course, everyone knows Biafra once existed – two different countries in one territory. You can only hate Igbo to convince them you love Nigeria.
Peter Obi was largely tackled, his commitment came into question, and they asked him if he wanted to be the President of Biafra or that of Nigeria. They ridiculed him, because he was a suspect- a sworn enemy of Nigeria- he ultimately got Igbophobia treat.
Igbophobia has no boundary; there is a simple rule, hate Igbo and partake of this government. They had crippled the economy and hushed the finances of the country, loyalty is needed to feed or hunger holds one sway. If you are Igbo, there is option of self-hate, it’s the trend, Igbophobia is institutionalized. Hate yourself and your brothers, deny your brothers and access the presidency.
Asari Dokubo, a perfect example. After visiting the new god of Nigeria, he profoundly changed his root; Igbo that used to be his blood became slaves that were sold for financial purposes by him and his ancestors. Asari Dokubo made it obvious; but it was uncalled, because many others concealed their Igbophobia. They speak good and kind words to Igbo, but behind the scene, they loath Igbo and devise destruction of their properties, killing of their champions, children and youths.
As usual, cover-up actions to avoid international questions on ethnic profiling will be slated. Igbo will get a few appointments and projects, like Second Niger Bridge was Buhari’s signature project for eight years and his pilot of Igbo origin. Ethnic betrayal is a cheap price for good life; a lot of Igbo will fall on the shoes of Bola Amed Tinibu to seek a place on his list of cover-up tools.
Still, Igbo remain in the burrow of confusion; not knowing what next to do, ballot failed, secession barely contemplated by the elites, and they seem happy to be well fed slaves than hungry freemen. Igbophobia can go on as long as their means of daily bread remain accessible.
Ifeanyi Chijioke: Author, Journalist, Political Analyst
Ifeanyichijioke97@gmail. com
