Date Published: 06/09/09
THE CHALLENGES FACING IKEOHA NDIGBO
By Igbo Youths
As Senator Ike Ekweremadu representing Enugu West in the Senate has been conferred with what I prefer to call Ikeoha Ndiigbo on the 16 th of May 2009 by the chairman of the South east council of traditional rulers Eze Cletus Ilomuanya it occurred to me that a navigation pointer has been established or rather introduced in Igboland.
Since we are in the era of rebranding a country with ten years of civil rule which the citizens believe has not attained democracy yet, it will be good for me to throw more light on why I rebranded the title to Ikeoha Ndiigbo, instead of Ikeoha of Igboland. There is a difference in scope between these two titles though its originators may have overlooked. When the scope of the title is Igboland, then the holder becomes the red soldier ant that lives in trees. This ant cannot bite except when it is on the particular tree where it lives. Take it to another tree, or even on the ground, it will merely be running to get back to its tree of residence before it will summon the courage to attack. This is why the title brand of Ikeoha of Igboland will simply suggest that the efficacy of that title ends the moment the holder steps out of Igboland but by my rebranded title of Ikeoha Ndiigbo it simply applies that the holder remains strong anywhere provided there are Ndiigbo there.
A cursory look at the conceptual philosophy of Ikeoha Ndiigbo will suffice to be examined here. I do not really know if the originators and manufacturers of this initiative actually conceived and conferred by its merit, integrity, and purpose or if it is one of the money-making/praise-singing designs of some new generation traditional rulers who have thrown dignity to the thrash bin. Though there are numerous unanswered questions on how some traditional rulers ascended to power, their source of wealth and many, many unanswered questions about their backgrounds and conducts. No matter how and what prompted this chieftaincy conferment, the point now is that it has come, and we now have an Ikeoha.
The concept of "oha" in the Igbo society is a sacred one, and it is so because in the historical republicanism of the Igbo; "oha" is symbolized in the traditional "amaala" gathering wherein every household is represented served as the highest decision-making institution and level. It must be noted that the "oha" is the oldest institution of governance prior to the colonial-induced emergence of "eze," hence the concept of " Oha na Eze." The proponents of Igbo-Jewish origin will go further to state that the Igbo probably left the Jews before the introduction of kingship to the children of Israel, maintained republicanism until the colonialists began to introduce the paramount chiefs who finally transformed to "Ndieze" (Kings).
Ike , which coincidentally is the name of the man at the center of this piece, means "strength" in Igbo language. The strength here does not mean brute, partisan, arrogant, or irresponsible one but a strength that is born out of love, care, and concern for the Igbo nation. This therefore entails that Ikeoha will be the symbol of the strength of the Igbo society. He shall have the right fan to fan the ambers of the fire of unity, development, progress, and love in Igboland. He will use his position to help and defend the poor. He will be upright and sincere in his dealings with the various segments of the Igbo society. He should be accessible to his people, to appreciate their desires and aspirations. In the present political setting of Nigeria, Ikeoha Ndiigbo has the fundamental responsibility of liaising with political leaders and actors in Igboland and those of other nations and regions to ensure that the dream of a president of Igbo extraction come 2015 is actualized. Ikeoha Ndiigbo bears no greater service burden and obligation to Ndiigbo than this.
I personally do not know Senator Ike Ekweremadu before his mission into the Senate, so I cannot say much about his track record before coming to the hallowed chambers, but I see him like every other growing politician/leader. So far his conduct in the Senate, which is yet to impress Nigerians after ten years in existence, has been quite modest. Someone might say it is too early to judge, but Ikeoha (Ekweremadu) deserves the benefit of doubt. By his comportment so far, I think he is a gentleman and clearly understands what tasks his kinsmen have bequeathed on him. The least Ndiigbo expect of him is to play politics with this responsibility. He must know that right now he is a father and a leading light to where we are going.
Ikeoha should have the capacity and capability to navigate through the turbulent water of Igbo politics, which is characterized with so many disunited intelligentsia who are at best of pull-him-down (PHD) qualification. 2015 is by the corner, and he should immediately initiate the process of harmonization and unification between the various dissenting segments of the Igbo society. He should introduce a confidence-building mechanism in the Igbo vis-à-vis our continuous existence in Nigeria and possibility of a president of Igbo ethnic extraction. We expect the Ikeoha to use his position in the National Assembly to coordinate Igbo lawmakers effectively to attract the deserving federal presence to Igbo-speaking states and communities of Nigeria. He and other Igbo lawmakers must ensure that the marginalization of the Igbo in state creation, federal appointments, and employments is urgently addressed.
Finally, I want Ikeoha to realize that in as much as he has the interest and welfare of Ndiigbo at heart in his conduct he can be rest assured of the support of fifty-million-and-one Igbo youths worldwide to stand by him through thick and thin.
I congratulate you, Senate Deputy President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu (Ikeoha Ndiigbo), and hereby remind you that to whom much is given much is expected.
From Aku Obidinma, the National president of Supreme Igbo Youths Alliance. 07039519256. Email: siyanigeria@yahoo.com and writes from Abuja.
