Professor Chiweyite Ejike, the deputy
chairman of Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT, in this interview, spoke on the
centrifugal issues that give rise to Igbo marginalization and agitations for
Republic of Biafra among others. Professor Chiweyite Ejike, the deputy chairman
of Igbo Leaders of Thought, ILT,
On alleged marginalization of Ndigbo by the
President Muhammadu Buhari administration
The issue of marginalization had been a
constant theme in discussions of the dividends of governance in Nigeria since
Independence in 1960. At any point in time, it has been either the North or the
South claiming marginalization in the distribution of government amenities and
services and blaming it on the government in power while suggesting that the
zone or region producing the Head of Government is being favoured. Many a time,
one can say that there is no smoke without fire. There is no denying the fact
that favouritism, nepotism and related unwholesome practices are part of the
second nature of most Nigerians. In the current situation, it is important that
we work with the knowledge and understanding that marginalization form part of
the general problem of bad governance in the Nigerian polity.
What is necessary is that we should fight
marginalization not by pointing accusing fingers at any party, government or
ethnic group, but by undertaking a proper study of the genesis, causes and
empirical proof of this phenomenon both as it had played out in the past and as
it is now being practiced under the current APC government at the centre and
one might add, in almost all the state and local governments of the country.
Thereafter, we should be able to proffer ways and means of providing remedies
for this negative aspect of our national governance. The Igbo Leaders of
Thought had in the past discussed this and other related national challenges at
several of its Focus Group meetings. In summary, what we are saying is that,
first, we need to be fully informed about the remote and the immediate causes
of marginalization of Ndigbo. Secondly, the external and internal
socio-economic and political dimensions of this fact of marginalization must be
tackled.
Thirdly, the need to evolve a viable road map
with which to act in rectifying this deficiency. For the time being, the
immediate reaction recommended is to realize that we (Igbo) as a people
had fallen short of our expected role in preparing our people to take on the
challenge of appropriate positions and role in the national theatre of
operations in Nigeria.
We must therefore, through our individual and
corporate efforts, serious and determined good governance of the various
states, initiate emergency action-plans and programmes that would enable us
stand out as a beacon of excellence in Nigeria. That way, we would legitimately
demand and fulfil the responsibilities and duties expected of us and claim the
reward that Ndigbo deserve considering their past and present investments in
the founding and nurturing of the Nigerian nation over the past 100 years.
There is the opinion that Biafra agitations
are being fuelled by extreme marginalization of Ndigbo in the country’s
political and core professional appointments. Is this so and what have the ILT
done in this direction?
We are living in an age of grave
circumstances. Protests are accepted in the world over as modulating techniques
for keeping any given democracy on a steady keel. The danger, however, is that
what normally starts up as peaceful protests could readily escalate into
violence especially if not well led and if met with disproportionate police
action. As for the nascent militancy in the South-East, the ILT would like to
remind the nation that the
constitution guarantees freedom of expression
manifested in lawful protest(s) as a fundamental right. The solution to this
serious development of Pro-Biafra demands is that we approach it with standard
conflict resolution strategies accepted by the civilized world and directed by
rules of engagement prescribed for such levels of national difficulties. What
is required is not necessarily strong-arm response but consultations and
dialogue aided by peaceful negotiations.
No comments:
Post a Comment