06/11/2022
COPIED
AFTER THE SOUTH WEST, SOUTH EAST YOUR OWN POLITICAL MOVE
Dr Uche Diala
Question I: What did the Yoruba/South West do between 1999 and 2015?
They united, rediscovered and developed their political identity as progressives, founded a political party, groomed it and persevered for 16 years; with clearly identifiable democratic political leaders who they (majority of them) followed and respected. Thus the Yoruba/South West remade its politics.
They were not in power at the centre from 1999 to 2015 but they did not sit wailing about it. Instead they doubled down and with purpose, clear vision, and determination rebuilt their zone; politically and in terms of development.
The Yorubas/South West painstakingly rebuilt their political ideology, strength and relevance; navigating a SW-centric but outward looking political vehicle the AD to AC then ACN so much so that by 2014 they were formidable enough to play a leading role in the birthing of a national political party in Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC) which snatched power from the PDP behemoth after 16 years in power.
With the 2015 success, the South West/Yorubas had worked their way back into Nigerian national political limelight and relevance in a major way for the first time since the defunct Action Group (AG) of the 50s to late 60s; no shots fired and no much enemies created.
Indeed the Yorubas/South West are apparently gradually displacing the South East/Igbos as key political ally of Northern Nigeria.
That is what the Yorubas/South West are enjoying today. No one should begrudge them.
Question II: In contrast, what have the Igbos/South East been doing since 1999?
The Igbos/South East built no political identity or ideology neither were they able to build a viable political vehicle. The closest thing to one, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has remained at best an enterprise endemic to Anambra state and seemingly in recession.
In 1999, the South East married or adopted wholesale the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that showed its true colour very early in the day at its inaugural Jos Convention of 1998 after HE Dr Alex Ekwueme had played a key role in midwifing the party.
Incidentally, apparently the South East was more interested in enjoying the perks and lucre with the PDP for 16 years; behaving like a tenant who planted flowers on the grounds of a rented apartment; not remembering to build his own house; forgetting that 'nke anyi bu nke anyi' (our own is our own) and 'echi di ime (tomorrow is pregnant).
Consequently and unfortunately so, by 2015; when the South West was set to reap the fruits of their 16 years in the political wilderness of self discovery and renaissance, the South East receeded and not to meditate, reorganise and restrategise with a view to building, rebuilding and resurging politically.
Instead, the South East further alienated itself politically with the weirdest kind of politics of; 'us versus them', 'the world (everyone) against us' laced with an ultra victim and persecution mentality so much so that as at 2022, the South East has neither an identifiable political identity and ideology, a political vehicle nor a dependable and trusted ally; having essentially lost its natural and historical political ally, the North.
Epilogue
In an impromptu and not-well-thought-through or discussed and agreed turn of events, the South East seems to have jumped on another borrowed vehicle and shockingly every South Easterner or Igbo person is expected to w***y nilly, 'by fire by force' play along and get on board that vehicle with no recourse to history and its lessons.
In doing so the proponents of such seek to demonise or at best emotionally blackmail fellow Igbos who have not jumped on that bandwagon chosen with neither prior dialogue, consensus nor consent.
Such people forget that democratic paths are cut on the back of a meticulous process of concensus building and that political choices and associations are free and voluntary.
The Yorubas or South West have meticulously built and rebuilt their politics thus naturally would attract admirers and followers; including Igbos as well as Northerners and other tribes.
If the South East were to equally build and rebuild its politics and political identity, surely it would equally naturally attract Yorubas and other tribes and geopolitical zones without the need for compulsion, threats or blackmail.
Even at that it will not have ALL Igbos agreeing on or supporting any one particular political offering from among the Igbos or the South East. Afterall not all Yorubas agree with or support the instant political offering from among the Yorubas or South West. Just like not all Northerners agree with or support the instant political offering from among the Northerners.
It is high time some of us Igbos stopped the emotional blackmail and confront our political demons like the Yorubas have done. There is no other way forward.
It is never too late for a new beginning.
Taa Bu Gboo!!
©️ Uche Diala
