…A MEMO TO THE IGBOS.
By Nwamkpa Modestus (KSM)
Let me quickly begin this exercise by agreeing to the fact that, indeed things are very difficult in Nigeria. Again, let me equally subscribe to the fact that protest especially a peaceful one is an inalienable right of every citizen in a democratic setting.
The essence of this clarification is to fumigate myself against any toxic attack on me or accusation of not being sensitive to the plights of Nigerians at this time. After all, we are all in it together. We buy fuel from the same fuel stations and at the same amount.
We buy food stuffs from the same market and we face the hardship generally together. I am not insulated from the present economic crunch in the country. .
However, we must admit that two wrongs cannot make a right. I want the Igbos to understand that we are always at the receiving end of every upheaval or protest in this country.
The casualty level is always highest among the Igbos. Curiously, every protest, at the initial stage, more often, were made to look nationalistic in outlook but at the end of the day, Igbos end up the most endangered species, the most killed, the most disadvantaged and in fact, the most blackmailed, betrayed and suffered.
Recall, the event that led to the civil war in 1967 where over 3 million persons of Igbo sons and daughters were massacred. The events that preceded the war were carefully orchestrated to drag the Igbos out to be killed and we fell into that trap and the rest is history.
Igbos were betrayed, demonized, killed and lost their prime properties in many states. Again, can you flash your mind to the Abiola crisis of I993 where what looked like a nationalistic agitation turned out to be an anti-Igbo protest? Consequently, Igbos lost huge human and material deposits.
Now fast ward to the last EndSars protest, at first, the protest was conceived, planned and triggered by the West but sadly, the most killed were the Igbos.
In Lagos alone, it was estimated that no fewer than 65 persons mainly the Igbos were killed and properties worth over two billion naira belonging to the Igbos destroyed. At the end, the Igbo were blackmailed as the protest was hung around the neck of the Igbos as though, they were the only people that participated in the protest.
The last 2023 election, despite the fact that Lagos state was a cosmopolitan state that houses all tribes, yet the truth is that it was only the Igbo business that were threatened and their shops at Ladikpo, Idumota etc were sealed and destroyed.
So, the Igbos are usually the targets and losers in every civil unrest or crisis in Nigeria and that is the reason they must be careful with anything protest in Nigeria.
For me, this protest being proposed is another trap against the Igbos and we should not fall into it as we did previously. It is one that we must be careful and possibly avoid completely. Let no person from south East participate in this protest.
Yes, the reasons for the protest touched on all of us but the intention of those organizing it is more political than selfless. The likelihood of it being hijacked and its likely dangerous resultant effect demands that we should not partate in it at all.
I must add here that war does not solve problem in decent democracies all over the world but dialogue does. The political undertone of this protest defeats the real intention. It has the imprimatur of 2027 election.
On a good note, the intention of the protest has started manifesting already even before the commencement of the protest as government has begun working on our national challenges. So, basically, there is no need for it again. I believe things will get better; God’s willing.
The truth again is that all of us Nigerians are contributory to the challenges we are having in Nigeria today.
Granted, government has a large chuck of the blame but the political class in all parties, market men and women, the clergy, industrialists etc all share in the blame. I have come to discover that business men hide under the excuse of hardship in Nigeria today to make life more difficult for their fellow human beings.
For instance, tell me why fuel stations that brought fuel from the same depot decide to sell fuel at different prices.
While one sells at N850 per liter, the other sells at N800 yet the other sells at N820 etc. Again, the prices are not even the same in all states. Why?
In conclusion, I advise that nobody should join in this politically induced protest because the Igbos are the secret targets. It is another ill wind for the Igbos.
Truthfully Yours, Nwamkpa Modestus is my name and I approve of this piece but disapprove of this protest.
