Nnamdi Kanu at Aba
Azuka
Jebose explains that Nnamdi Kanu would have succeeded in his call to
arms struggle for the secession of Biafra, if not for his "thuggery",
lack of discipline, careless utterances and unchecked rage.
Love Nnamdi Kanu or loathe him. You cannot ignore him. He is young,
bold and brave. He took a path young politicians of Nigeria, feared or
failed to walk on, in our nation’s political turbulence. He came and
disturbed our nation's conscience. He was the proverbial gunpowder
waiting to explode. Nnamdi exploded to national prominence with his call
for a separate entity from Nigeria, threatening death and destruction
to his once nation which in later years, he branded a “zoo”. Nnamdi was
once a Nigerian patriot. But for his “thuggery”, lack of discipline,
careless utterances and unchecked rage, Nnamdi Kanu would have succeeded
in his call to arms struggle for the secession of Biafra.
Young Nigerians from East, West, North, South, paid attention to
his defiance, commitment and courageous challenge to our rotten system.
He brought to the forefront of our existence, sacred conversations,
previously whispered in certain corners of our political frontiers.
Nnamdi Kanu pricked the conscience of a troubled nation with a history
of mismanagement, corruption, disenfranchisement, insincerity, and
neglect of its everyday people, especially its youths.
Those who were
left behind by the system, privileged him attention, affection, welcome
his selection as their inspirational leader, to deliver them from the
ineptitudes of Nigeria. Nnamdi saw this acceptance and adoration from
his people, thus, took a chance, but rather, as a separatist. If Nnamdi
had been a nationalist, with an inclusive brand product and messaging
for all Nigerians, I swear: I would have abandoned all things bright and
beautiful to join him.
Despite his separatist agenda, he poked the ethnic and moral
principles of our nation: he demanded we engaged ourselves as different
ethnic groups: We did. We became our enemies: our best friends from
different regions suddenly turned against us as our worse enemies,
neighbors could no longer respond to early morning salutations from
across the walkways because tribes and tongues differ: we became
divisive with insults and dehumanization of our being. We lost our
humanity and dignity as one people, under God. Nnamdi Kanu separated us.
The wounds may later heal. The scars would be reminders that Kanu was
here.
Nigeria, times are changing: we cannot continue to ignore what led
to the anger and rage. The government cannot proscribe and declare
Nnamdi’s platform, IPOB, as a terror group without addressing their
grievances. Their reasons are our reasons as a nation in distress: the
time is NOW. Let us examine the causes of our rage. Every tribe in
Nigeria complained, through the years, of alleged marginalization by the
Northern ethnic group. Most Ethic groups in Nigeria are treated as
second-class citizens in our homeland. This may rattle my dear Northern
friends. But we cannot continue to deny our problems: Plenty Nnamdis
would be birthed very soon if attempts are not made to level the playing
field.
Sadly, Ndigbos have turned their silent protests into a movement
for the creation of Biafra nation. It did not start today. It may not
end tomorrow as long as the government remains passive about these
brazen problems. It is time to listen to our complaints, recognize these
problems and proffer a permanent solution. Every Nigerian should be
guaranteed equality, equity, and fairness.
Ndigbos too should examine that which makes a great culture
separate and unequal. Ndigbos are the most divisive ethnic group, among
themselves, in Nigeria. Affluence, influence and morbid archaic cultural
beholdings continue to create a clash of class within different Ndigbo
nations. It’s time to revisit the Efulefu, "Oshu Outcasts" and other
nonsensical primitive cultural norms that are retrogressive,
dehumanizing and not dignifying to a unique and amazingly industrious
and brilliant people.
The next Nnamdi Kanu will certainly come with a more appealing message.
He shall be prepared and shall not fail. The next Nnamdi Kanu’s
appeal shall penetrate beyond marginalization of a people, he shall call
to action, awaken the minds and souls of disenfranchised unemployed
brilliant Nigerians, young, old and dying. Guess what? Nigerians shall
gravitate to his message of empowerment, of taking back Nigeria from an
institutionalized ruling class, to we, the people.
The Next Nnamdi Kanu may not throw sticks and stones or wield
machetes at the Army, carelessly insult and abuse leaders, elders, grass
root leaders, Kings and other custodians of our cultural and tribal
institutions: he definitely would not come under Ipob’s platform. He
shall walk our paths, urge Nigerians to get ready and take back our
country from corrupt jack-booted politicians and past military
authoritarianisms. The next Nnamdi Kanu shall be larger than him and
broader than Biafra. I await that. What about you?
***
Written by Azuka Jebose
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