By Jude Atupulazi
Many things have happened in quick succession around us and are still happening. Here I take a quick look at some of them and share my thoughts. Getting sense at last?
On Monday, October 20, Omoyele Sowore, a Yoruba and human rights activist, led some Nigerians on a protest in Abuja against the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. Before then there had been apprehension on the likely negative effect of the protest in the Southeast, a region ravaged by the pro-Biafra agitation and which is only beginning to recover from its effects.
It was feared that replicating the protest in the Southeast could reignite the dying fires of violent agitation in the zone, given the penchant of some people to try to forcibly enforce their sit at home order. Many believed the best thing was for our people here in the Southeast to go about their businesses and allow the protest to remain in Abuja. That eventually became what played out.
As it turned out, some of the protesters in Abuja were arrested, while the protest leader, Sowore, was also later arrested. But beyond that, no one accused the Igbo of causing trouble as was usually the case in the past. Recall that after the EndSARS Protest in Abuja a few years ago, the Igbos were roped in as the instigators of the protest, despite it not being the case.
This time, the Igbos stayed wise and even though many are sympathetic to Kanu and worried and angered over his ordeal, they went about their businesses peacefully. That is commendable. It shows we are finally learning from our recent history.
I am for anything that will preserve the peace in our zone which used to be among the safest in the country before the Biafra agitation madness set in. Indeed, henceforth, in all things we do as a people, we should weigh the consequences so we don’t end up inflicting self-harm on ourselves.
While I do not wish to comment further on the trending Kanu matter because of the different emotions tied to it, I will nevertheless advise that we allow the court trial to pan out before anything else. This is because, anything outside of the court will amount to factory noise that will bear no fruit. There is always a process to anything and no matter how agitated we are, we cannot stop an ongoing court trial until it is concluded.
We can shout from Umuahia to Agbani and from Mgbidi to Agbogugu and will still end up achieving nothing except creating unnecessary tension. We are just managing to come out of a self-inflicted injury caused by violent agitation and we will be foolish to plunge ourselves back into it so soon after. A word should be enough for the wise.
The truth about Soludo
No matter how anyone may look at it, it will take only rigging to stop Anambra Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, from winning the election slated for less than a week from now, November 8. It is not just because he has done reasonably well, but because here, it is almost an impossibility for a sitting Governor to lose an election. Were it to happen, then that Governor must have performed horribly as was the case in the time of the late Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju.
But Soludo can’t be said to have failed. He has built good roads; done his bit in the health sector, especially on the issue of free pre-and ante-natal care; empowerment of youths and security. Under him Anambra is still very much alive and it is expected he will do more. So, in such circumstances, people usually prefer to continue with whom they know; just as the incumbent is expected to use his powers to pocket many strong groups.
Today, Soludo has traditional rulers (except Obi of Onitsha), presidents general of communities, market unions, and virtually all groups under his control. These people and groups are going to mobilize for him and we can even see how they have been donating money to his campaign effort. Thus you may be asking yourself how any of the opponents of the Governor hopes to displace him, especially as he will also be drawing comfortably from the coffers of the state.
The matter is not helped by the fact that the All Progressives Congress, APC, the ruling party at the centre, is fielding who I consider the worst candidate among the chasing pack. Thus, even if the centre wants to rig the election, it will not be easy.
It will only be easy if the difference in the number votes is not much. Yet, if the APC wants to rig the election, they will do it and nothing will happen. It was done in Imo State where the man who came fourth became the Governor. The heavens did not fall.
However, Soludo seems to be in the good books of the country’s President. It is rumoured that part of the deal is for Soludo to try to diminish the popularity of Peter Obi, the man giving nightmares to the Presidency. Another rumour is that Soludo will eventually join APC some time in his second tenure. Well, we shall live to see if it pans out.
But beyond this, Soludo will make history as the first Governor in this state to win without being very popular. Indeed, Soludo’s popularity is mostly among his party people and those under his government as appointees. This is no thanks to Soludo’s brashness and garrulity. He talks before he thinks and this seems like something he can’t stop.
Some of his policies have not also resonated well with the people and chief among them is his failure to rein in agberos or touts. For instance despite outrage by the populace against his aka odo (pestle) carrying agents in Onitsha, those people are still flaunting their weapons and using them as if Soludo is daring the people to do their worst.
His tax regime has also not gone down well with many and it is surprising. This is because, given Soludo’s background as former Central Bank Governor, he was expected to have worked closely with such groups as World Bank, IMF and co.
These groups, as seen during the time of Peter Obi, are supposed to be working closely with Soludo and weighing in with counterpart funding. They are not doing so and that is majorly why his tax regime is suffocating as he has to raise money internally to stay afloat.
All in all, he doesn’t seem to have the charisma of Obi and Chris Ngige before him and doesn’t look like someone who will be remembered with fondness after he leaves office. But for now, he is in charge and he will make it count.
The red cap syndrome
Anywhere you go now in Igbo Land you will see many young men attired in white dress and wearing red caps. Ordinarily this means they are titled men. But far from it. Red caps are now worn by everybody, including even women. They are just the in-thing, as we say, and no one can do anything about it, seemingly.
Years ago, anyone wearing a red cap was known to be a titled man. He knew the responsibility that went with wearing it. There were rules and regulations. And most of those wearing the red caps were elderly men, not the kids we see today playing with the caps.
This does not however mean that some of these young men are not titled men. They are. After all, we live in an age when money buys titles, regardless of age, experience or background. This has made nonsense of the once revered traditional institution. What can be done?
I propose that the state governments in the Southeast liaise with Ohaneze Ndigbo to put an end to this growing nonsense. One of the ways of doing this is to decree that titles can only be given to those of a certain age; probably from sixty years. This will make the number of titled men minimal and earn the institution some respect.
They should be like the Ijele Masquerade of old that was only seen on big occasions, not these days that any man with money takes the masquerade to accompany him on a condolence visit to his girlfriend’s family. The Ijele has also become a constant feature of political rallies. In fact, the way things are going, I will not be surprised if the Ijele masquerade begins to appear at naming ceremonies and house warming.
So the governments of the Southeast should do something about the desecration of the traditional institution since they are already interfering. They should restore the dignity of the red cap.
