Ndigbo And The Tragedy Of Leadership

By Aloy Uzoekwe

A society is a reflection of its leadership. When a society is led by selfish and paranoid elites, the affairs of state of such society will be floundering like a ship in a turbulent sea with drunken sea men at the helms. Most at times the buttock of that society will be laid bare to its neighbours to peck at their whims. In such a society any sane voice out to stem the tide of affairs will be hounded by the peckish neighbours aided by the compromised elders of the enclave. The fate of such a society becomes like that of a motherless chick at the mercy of hawks.

Igboland is in topsy turvy mode now and it is because of the type of elites bestriding its landscape. There is a dearth of real leaders in Igboland ( the South-East region of Nigeria). The flock of elites in the region today who parade themselves as leaders are at best political merchants who lack the moral rectitude to influence anybody especially the youths. The footprints of most of them on the sands of time are their constant castigation and betrayal of their people’s interest. The pertinent question is who do we count as the leaders of the South East region?

Is it the Governors who prevaricate on every issue affecting the Igbo man? Ever afraid of God knows who or what. The Senators, sans one or two, who think it suicidal to promote and defend the welfare of the region? Or is it the Ohaneze, peopled by retired men who are not in tune with the pulse of the people, eager not to truncate their retirement benefits and always ready to genuflect to outsiders at the least how to the detriment of the people?

Compared to the Ndigbo Leaders of the past, the present crop of elites leaves much to be desired. In the second republic despite the memories of the war still fresh in the polity, Ndigbo had leaders who were not cowed in their pursuit of the good of the Igbos. There were two Governors who led from the front at that critical period – Chiefs Jim Nwobodo and Sam Mbakwe of the old Anambra and Imo States. They oversaw the resurgence of the Igbos and never wavered in their stance. They were influential in the miraclous reemergence of their brethren from the ruins of the war and the stigma associated with it. They never denied their Igboness neither were they afraid of proclaiming and demanding equity for their people. The term ‘political correctness’ was not for them.

Whatever view anyone may hold, the tragic truth is that Ndigbo are ensnared in Nigeria. In all spheres of human endeavours they are caged and treated like lesser citizens. Whether in politics, academics or business, the story is the same and the vice-like grips tighten everyday.

This is the reason one is at a loss as to the pervading selfishness, timidity and self destructive tendencies amongst the current set of the Igbo elites. Is it merely an art for self survival? Or total admission of helplessness in the face of brazen subjugation of their people? Or is it out of the belief that they do not owe the people any obligation because they are self made? Must personal interest override public interest? Or maybe the crumbs they pick from their masters tables, like the loquacious Nnewi man who feeds from the gutters in Lagos, have washed away their sanity.

The late Martin Luther King Jr said: “We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice. Not in love with publicity but in love with humanity”. The self aggrandisement of the Igbo elites is as irksome as it is shameful and the mumu don do (apologies to The Area Father) as no race thrives under continuous threats of annihilation yet keeps silent about their plight. There is no greater time than now for the Igbo elites – in politics, academics, business etc – to band together, eschew personal interest and present a common front for the emancipation of their people. Everybody does not need to agree on one goal but sacrifices must be made for the interest of the community.

Events of the past few days present a redemptive route for the South East top men and women to align with the people. A ram from the pen of Ala Igbo is currently in the grip of predators, every efforts must not be spared to free him. We cannot aid the Fox’s raid on the chicken on the silly excuse that the chicken strayed. After all the Chimpanzee is never disowned by its mother despite its looks. “Anara otu onye Oru azu, Oru nile ka anara ya”.

Hon. Aloy Uzoekwe can be reached via 
08038503174.