To commemorate year 2016 United Nations Declared World Day for Indigenous Peoples which was observed August 9, the Eze Ndigbo of Mushin LGA Lagos state who oversees the welfare of Igbos in that commercial community of Lagos took time off to give the world a peep about the Igbo persona, writes Sam Nwokoro
The United Nations Organization earmarked August 9 every year for the observance of the World Day for Indigenous people. It was a day set aside for nationalities in the world to reflect on their common ancestry and further consolidate the bond among them. In today’s world of commerce and trade, the concept of the day is most profound. The Diasporas use the occasion to address issues concerning them wherever they live. There are thousands of indigenous groups swallowed in the nationality of the about, 169 countries of the United Nations. In Nigeria for example, there are about 250 or more mini nations, that is natives which speak different languages that make up Nigeria, the dominant tribes being Hausa, Ibos and Yorubas.Every tribe has one form of annual or monthly get-together -social event that brings them together. There is the issue of Ibos being one of the major voices of Nigeria’s affairs in Africa and the world forum owing to the role the group played in the attainment of Nigeria’s political independence in 1960.
Her son, the late Owelle of Onitsha Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe led the struggle that forced the British colonialist to agree to hold series of conference that led to Nigeria’s political independence in 1960, and afterwards became the first Governor-General and Executive President of the country, after being the first Senate President of Nigeria.
Thus in Nigeria, and indeed, Africa, the Ibo race, occupying much of present South East and South-South part of the country are a noted group of people because of their peculiar values and ways of life routed in unpretentious republicanism in a country where cultures and traditions up till now still envelope some peoples from embracing universally appealing ethos. The people are known the world over as the remnant Jews in Africa because of their unadulterated Christian belief and democratic nature that emphasizes plurality, freedom for anyone to hold his or her preferred opinion which he or she believes suits his or her interests, their rugged inclination to commerce and business, even where the opportunities are not available and their love for western education, values and ideals which they believe is Godlike because of its embedded freedoms. They are a people who don’t like to be caged, and who easily blend to different cultures and traditions provided they perceive opportunities for material advancement in such places. This behavior to a large extent has helped the people recover at a surprisingly astonishing speed even after suffering holocaust and pogrom visited on them in Nigeria between July31 1966 and January 1970 civil war with the Nigerian state. The Ibos in Nigeria are respected for their intuitive ability and egalitarian ethos, which make them one of the most adventure-seeking people in the planet earth, for there is no country in the world you cannot find an Ibo man or woman. At the same time, their enterprise ethos incessantly bring them into collision with other peoples in Nigeria and in fact Africa, especially in societies with discriminating institutions, cultures and practices that are not so permissive to ‘outsiders’, such as replete in many parts of Nigeria and Africa. The Ibo man or woman is notable for such characteristics as: industry, competitiveness, honest yet manipulative, God-fearing and at the same time indignant, especially where there is aberrant state- orchestrated or institutionalized road blocks and bumps in his efforts to advance; when his material interest is at stake. He hardly yields to inferior positions in the contest for social relevance, could be philanthropic and yet prudent in matters of handling money. He is democratic in nature and abhors domination and enslavement. He likes to be independent of any controls that seems to regiment his fancies and efforts at material attainment. All of these and many more characteristics make them easy preys and targets in today’s world.
In observance of the day, an Igbo diaspora leader who leads the Ibos in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos state, one of Nigeria’s major commercial hubs, Eze Ndigbo, Dr John C Nwosu shed more light on the Ibos while fielding the following questions:
Defining the Igbos:
Igbo people are hardworking. They depend on themselves and what they can get for themselves. They are industrious. They don’t take chances. They are good servants. That is why you would see an Ibo apprentice serving his master for upwards of seven years when they have good masters. But that is the area Nigeria misunderstand them. Igbo people are peculiar. He progresses wherever he is.He his somebody that progresses even inside cage. He makes good use of his brain and that is why they are trusted. The Igboman is however not a fantastic politician. They believe much in commerce and training.
Why the Indigenous Peoples Day is not so observed by Igbos?
Collectively, it may not be observed because, by our nature, we are a very busy people. We might be marking it in our various individual capacities in small units. If not that you are telling me now, our government has not been taking the day seriously. But the only aspect of August that concerns us that we always observe is the August meeting and the Iwa Ji. At this time every year, our Ibo people do travel to their various communities at home for one form of meeting or the or the other, be it Community development meeting, women meeting or youth or age grade meeting. Then the annual Iwa ji, the new yam celebration following suit. So this August, most of our communities have their meeting. It is a very important in the life of Ndigbo in the world.
Whether Ndigbo would be better served under a regional government or outside Nigeria?
We have come a long way as one Nigeria. What Ndigbo are talking about is fair share, equal right and justice. We want the Federal character in the constitution followed. And not a situation whereby all the political appointments of the Nigerian Government are allocated to only one section of the country. After the civil war, the concept of reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation has not been done in any meaningful manner. And government should know that since we agreed to be together, there is no need for separation and therefore should not act in a way that would provoke agitations for separation. What is good for the geese is also good for the gander. All the appointments show that the South East is lacking. The national cake on the table, you should share it together because wherever we go, we develop that place. We happened to be Nigerians and found ourselves wherever we were in Nigeria because we believed it so from the beginning. In Lags for instance, most of us were born here. Our Children were being born here. In the East there are Hausas too who born and reside there. They are in most cities in the South East and South South, call it the former East. Igbos contribute up to sixty percent development in Lagos. This issue of non-indigene is spurious logic. What makes you a foreigner? I don’t see any sense in it. Are the resources from other parts of the country not used one way or the other in the development of Lagos? There should be no cheating. What we are asking for is fair sharing s that all of us enjoy our oneness in the country. There can be unity and development in diversity if everything is done justly.
Rating Present Igbo leaders
They are doing their best with the resources at their disposal. You know, there is general economic slowdown. The president has already said we are in a recession. So we would not expect them to do miracle overnight. Although some of them are executing several projects that will improve the quality of life of our people. But the Federal Government should come to their assistance and at least build their own projects and not just focus on only one part of the country. Carry everyone along together. Is there any federal highway in the East that is not important? The Federal Government should treat all the governors equally in attention irrespective of political party difference.
Pressing need of Igbo people:
What we need most is good environment and unity among our leaders, especially the governors. If they unite and reason together, they can represent us well. And not a situation where they would speaking in different tunes or one person would go and be settled and then he begins to sabotage the other. In appointment, we need fair sharing, equity and the FG to respect federal character. Then on infrastructure, the Second Niger Bridge, we need to see that bridge come through. We need to see work going on that bridge. The roads are still bad. There are still some roads that cannot lead to the next community. The weed god leaders in Igboland who can represent us well and not those who want to make gain out of any issue. We should not be seen as a divided nation who are easily bought over. So if we come together. We will not have problems. Another area is unemployment. You see a graduate after school doing hawking due to unemployment. Igbos are fine brains. So our leaders should create jobs by creative policies so that this thing graduate unemployment is tamed.
About your leadership tenure so far:
As Eze Ndigbo Mushin, I understand the wishes and aspiration of my people here and discharging my duties the manner it to be done. Eze Ndigbo was set up outside Igboland to defend and protect our people, and in this palace, we have been doing that, since 2012 I was elected. We have been doing our annual Igbo Day in Mushin to showcase our tradition and culture. And the Igbo people of Mushin has been proud of it because there is a synergy between us here and the traditional institution in Igboland whose leaders we normally invite every year of Igbo Day Mushin and they will grace this year’s occasion in December in December 31. Ant the event has been introduced to the Ministry of arts and culture and the Diaspora. And the Commissioner has indicated interest. We have a team headed by Mr. Chris Mba that introduced the annual event to the five eastern states together, more especially during Christmas holidays so that our people will remember themselves and what we are made of. So this palace is there for ndigbo, for the world to see Igbo culture.
If Igbos in Mushin are benefitting from Lagos state N25 billion Entrepreneurship grant:
Government has not done much sensitization about it so that our people would participate, like organise Town Hall with traders, traditional leaders and then directive of what will be given. They are supposed to create awareness for us so that we organise our children and lecture them how to benefit or guarantee them so that we will be part and parcel to benefit; then we will know what to do since we now know such plans would benefit our people.so Iam pleading with them to include us, educate us on the way and manner we would be part of that very plan. I don’t think that there is any Igboman that will not like to get it.