Ndigbo In Nigeria: History is My Witness By Joe Igbokwe
A few days ago a friend, patriot and a committed Nigerian, Emmanuel Majebi reminded me of the tragedy of looking the way and keeping quiet by men who should know better in times of crisis. He reminded me of the calamity that will befall a society or nation when real men choose to be neutral in times of great moral crisis. He reminded me that evil triumph in every society when good and thinking men do nothing. Hear Emmanuel: "The story is usually told of how Years after the devastation of Germany in WW2 ... There was a meeting of German eggheads ...

BY JOE IGBOKWEJUN 25, 2017

Sahara Reporters

A few days ago a friend, patriot and a committed Nigerian, Emmanuel Majebi reminded me of the tragedy of looking the way and keeping quiet by men who should know better in times of crisis. He reminded me of the calamity that will befall a society or nation when real men choose to be neutral in times of great moral crisis. He reminded me that evil triumph in every society when good and thinking men do nothing. Hear Emmanuel: "The story is usually told of how Years after the devastation of Germany in WW2 ... There was a meeting of German eggheads ... And the question was how did it come to pass that a nation that produced Great Thinkers like Friederich Nietzsche. Karl Max ...Albert Einstein....Bruno Bauer. Friederich Engels... Etc ..etc...get seized and goaded into ultimate destruction by a looney like Hitler... Who was not even originally German but Austrian!!!! The thinkers came up with the conclusion that complacency and indifference until it became too late ... Was the main cause!"

A.J.P Taylor captured it succinctly when the German war machines crumbled in 1945 when he said: "The real problem of German history is why so few of the educated recognized Hitler as the embodiment of evil."

The blame was put squarely on the inability of the German political class and the elite to rise up to the challenges of Hitler and his collaborators. The consequences of their inability to call a spade a spade resulted in the death of 20 million people and the massive destruction of property worth several billions of dollars. The rest is now history!

Before 2015 and after the 2015 general elections I had a running battle with the some Igbo writers and opinion builders both at home and abroad on the choice of words they throw to the public space. I reminded them those of them living outside Nigeria that they creating millions of enemies for our people living and doing businesses outside Igboland. I was abused as a sellout, a saboteur, and betrayer. Nnamdi Kanu's Radio Biafra was there and is still there as I write this spewing and spreading hate, ethnic bigotry and primordial tendencies with reckless abandon.

I did not see Ohaneze, Ndigbo Lagos, Aka Ikenga and other Igbo political class rising up to say enough is enough. The brigandage continued unabated until the Arewa Youths of the North responded in their way a few weeks back and hell was let loose.

Yes, the Arewa Youths flouted the Nigerian Constitution by asking Igbo to quit their territory. Yes, the Arewa youths took laws into the hands. Yes, the Arewa Youths response was reckless and totally unacceptable but has anybody taken mental notice of the abuse and uncensored choice of words used on the person of the President and Northern Nigerians by some Igbo at home and abroad? Why did our leaders keep quiet in the face of these provocative statements and abuse? Why did they not care about others in Nigeria? Why did it not bother them? Why was Nnamdi Kanu not called to order? Did they address any press conference calling for the censure of hate speeches and abuse of others who are different from us?

The same Igbo leaders who could not speak when elders are supposed to speak were the ones visiting Nnamdi Kanu in prison taking pictures with him. Now, what signals are we sending to other Nigerians who are not Igbo? Can you see what I am seeing? Can you add two and two to get four? Can you see that Arewa Youths ran away with the thinking that those who are abusing and cursing them got an endorsement from Igbo leaders? The evil spirits visited in the night and the child died in the morning and you are still waiting for the proof of what happened. What the Arewa youths did is to practice what political scientists call the balance of terror, a balance of abuse, the balance of hate, a balance of ethnic bigotry and balance of primordial sentiments.

It was when the Arewa Youths reacted the way they did that Igbo suddenly remembered that they have investments worth trillions of Naira outside Igboland. It was then that former Governor Kwankwaso reminded Igbo that they are occupying the size of South East in the North. It was then that it dawned on Igbo and other Nigerians that we need one another. It was then that we started looking into our Constitution. It was then that Igbo leaders started speaking out. It was then that they realized that hate speech can cause war because war starts by hot exchange of words. It was then that it dawned on Igbo that while it is easy for Northerners to quickly vacate the South East it may not be too easy for Igbo to move their physical assets out of the North. It is impossible. It was then that we realized that nobody has a monopoly hate language.

We are gradually witnessing what happened in Biafra from 1967 to 1970 when patriots and genuine Igbo leaders who offered alternative views to Ojukwu then were branded as saboteurs and tied to the stake and gunned down. Zik, C C Onoh and Professor Enegere of the University of Nigeria Nsukka confirmed this to me. God forbid. We are in the age of ideas and the age of learning. May the voices of the uneducated, unlettered, and the uncivilized in Igbo land do not swallow the voices of reason, hope, truth, and life. Before the declaration of Biafra on 30th of May 1967 at the then Eastern House of Assembly all the bonafide leaders in Igbo land were seated. More than 80% of the people in that hallowed Chamber rose up for Biafra and it came to pass.

Now if we want Biafra again 50 years after everything must be debated, Mark my words. Let us call for the debate and let the intelligentsia and those who can add two and two together to get four go to speak for Igbo land. A lot is at stake in Nigeria, and I do not want Igbo to lose again.

I agree 100% that Igbo have suffered systemic, organized, structured and official marginalization in Nigeria but let us go into constructive and civilized engagement to redress the imbalance. For us to do this we need to play better politics by working with other Nigerians. I have a reason why Igbo should see Nigeria as their country. There is no other country in the world where the Igbo language is spoken. Yoruba have three million of their kinsmen and women in Benin Republic. The language spreads to Liberia, and even up to West Indies. The Hausa-Fulani have their kinsmen and women in Mali, Niger, and even up to Saudi Arabia etc. If there is serious crisis in Nigeria they can move. Igbo have no outlet anywhere in the world. You cannot plant and another will come and harvest. You cannot build and another will come and occupy.

Now what is the way forward? Igbo should stop persecution complex, marginalization complex, defeatist syndrome, leadership complex, and what Prof Ozodi Osuji will call selfish sense of superiority and paranoid grandiosity. We can do better than this. Nnamdi Kanu' Biafra project will not fly in the 21st Century. Igbo must see Nigeria as their own where they have invested trillions to build. We are all Nigerians. Given my experiences in Nigeria and Igboland we may not be able to live as one in one country. I am a living witness of what happened when Enugu was carved out of the old Anambra State. I am a living witness how Ebonyi State always join the North when issues concerning South East are put to votes at the National Assembly. I am a living witness when former Governor Orji of Abia State sacked all civil servants from Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Enugu from the State civil service. Catholic Diocese of Ahiara Mbaise cannot accept the man is from Anambra State as their Bishop. An Anambra man Mr. Cletus Ibeto who bought the Nkalagu Cement Factory cannot start operation because the bigots feel and an Anambra man cannot buy and own Nkalagu Cement Factory. This is the country the small boy Nnamdi wants me to be part of. Let common sense prevail even though I know common sense is not common. Case Rested!

Joe Igbokwe
Lagos.
(Follow me on Facebook or nationalvision@yahoo.com)

This thread go dey active!

They will call him Afonja, Yorubakwe etc.

This stvpid man that kept quiet when his brothers were shot dead by Nig army in Onitsha and Port Harcourt.
The same idiottt kept quite when Buhari committed blunder of 97% vs 5%, because he didn't want his masters and personal saviours Buhari and Tinubu to get offended all because this animal is benefiting from one Nigeria.

I don't blame those that called you efulefu, that's what you are and you know that and that is what you will remain until you get back to your root and call a spade a spade.
Anyways, like Joe igbokwe, Okorocha, Uwazurike, and Ken Nnamani... these are men people don't respect anymore as long as majority of Igbos are concerned.
To tell you how mischievous this anu mpama is.. he made an attempt to divide Igbos by listing their internal crisis as if other tribes are not facing one from of crisis or the other.
This man is shameless.

Joe park well

Anything that will reduce the control of northerners am in support.

Your master tinubu would have been supporting biafra if not of osinbanjo is Yoruba Man.

Anytime month end and this Idiot sees alert he wil start writing another nonsense to remind his paymaster that his Igbo is contaminated


Foolish Igbokwe.




I can't read any trash from him

Yorubakwe is a big fool. Always talking nonsense to please his paymasters.

Well after that second world War which Germany lost yet again, the Germans gained something.

Mr Igbokwe, Igbo ekwelugo na fa ga na. Ikuku will swallow you when the time comes

Kathmandu:
Anytime month end and this Idiot sees alert he wil start writing another nonsense to remind his paymaster that his Igbo is contaminated


Foolish Igbokwe.




I can't read any trash from him

Can you point out the lies in Joe Igbokwe article? Emotion don't win arguments.

Joe Igbokwe is a morron

Lajet:
Yorubakwe is a big fool. Always talking nonsense to please his paymasters.

Why do you get uncomfortable when your hypocrisy is being revealed, even by a bonafide Nwafor? Between Cow-Nu and Joe Igbokwe, who is more educated?

deji15:


Can you point out the lies in Joe Igbokwe article? Emotion don't win arguments.

It's like asking if i can point out
Lies from Satan's words.

Kathmandu:
It's like asking if i can point out
Lies from Satan's words.

At least you can try.. Just one example will suffice.

deji15:


Why do you uncomfortable when your hypocrisy is being revealed, even by a bonafide Nwafor? Between Cow-Nu and Joe Igbokwe, who is more educated?

You voted buhari and you are talking about Education



You are truly a Yoruba Muslim

Kathmandu:
You voted buhari and you are talking about Education



You are truly a Yoruba Muslim

The conversation is comparison between CowNU education and that of Joe Igbokwe. Do not deflect the topic

deji15:


At least you can try.. Just one example will suffice.

Why should i bother myself reading from someone that talks trash when he gets his salary alert



Go and play with Aregbesola beards and leave me alone

Uncle Igbokwe, you have spoken well. Just allow these brainwashed miscreants to be running their mouths. They've been given an ultimatum up north and I'm sure those in Lagos, Ibadan, Akure and the whole SW will be given theirs too.
Too bad you are based in Lagos and may be affected, y'all should meet us in Onitsha.

deji15:


The conversation is comparison between CowNU education and that of Joe Igbokwe. Do not deflect the topic

You don't have any right to do education comparison after you campaigned for London vegetable without certificate

This is my problem with Nigeria.
Two kids were born August 31st, 1980, one in Kano (Abdul) another in Enugu (Emeka). They go to primary school in those areas and get to Primary 6, now the twist begins. They both take Federal Common Entrance, Emeka scores 168/200 and Abdul 16/200. For some silly quota system, they both end up in the same class at Federal Government College, Enugu (FGCE). Emeka continues to come 1st-3rd in the class of 30 and Abdul 25-29th/30. 6 years later, WASCE and JAMB are taken. Emeka had 6As and 2Cs (WASCE) and 286/400 (JAMB) while Abdul had 5Cs and 2Ps and 106/400 in JAMB.

Again by a warped and weird stroke they end up in the same Law Faculty in University of Nigeria, Enugu campus. 5years later Emeka graduates with 2-1 and Abdul with a Pass! Emeka is done with Law school at Abuja - No Job after NYSC. Abdul as soon as he gets out of Abuja Law school then one year NYSC gets a job as a Magistrate at the Federal Magistrate Court Abuja, 2 years later he is promoted as a Judge. Emeka still struggling, decides to join some Trio Igbo Law outfit in Abuja as a junior lawyer. 5 years later he is still carrying files and coming to defend low level cases at Abdul's court.

Now, you are Emeka or Emeka's relative, kit and kin, will you want Nigeria to continue like this. No way! That's the problem with Nigeria as it is. It's strongly skewed to the advantage of a particular ethnic group in Nigeria and cannot continue. Plain and Simple!!!
- Ikem Ikechukwu[quote author=deji15 post=57857736]

Kathmandu:
You don't have any right to do education comparison after you campaigned for London vegetable without certificate

Again, deflection from the topic.

todayboy:
This is my problem with Nigeria.
Two kids were born August 31st, 1980, one in Kano (Abdul) another in Enugu (Emeka). They go to primary school in those areas and get to Primary 6, now the twist begins. They both take Federal Common Entrance, Emeka scores 168/200 and Abdul 16/200. For some silly quota system, they both end up in the same class at Federal Government College, Enugu (FGCE). Emeka continues to come 1st-3rd in the class of 30 and Abdul 25-29th/30. 6 years later, WASCE and JAMB are taken. Emeka had 6As and 2Cs (WASCE) and 286/400 (JAMB) while Abdul had 5Cs and 2Ps and 106/400 in JAMB.

Again by a warped and weird stroke they end up in the same Law Faculty in University of Nigeria, Enugu campus. 5years later Emeka graduates with 2-1 and Abdul with a Pass! Emeka is done with Law school at Abuja - No Job after NYSC. Abdul as soon as he gets out of Abuja Law school then one year NYSC gets a job as a Magistrate at the Federal Magistrate Court Abuja, 2 years later he is promoted as a Judge. Emeka still struggling, decides to join some Trio Igbo Law outfit in Abuja as a junior lawyer. 5 years later he is still carrying files and coming to defend low level cases at Abdul's court.

Now, you are Emeka or Emeka's relative, kit and kin, will you want Nigeria to continue like this. No way! That's the problem with Nigeria as it is. It's strongly skewed to the advantage of a particular ethnic group in Nigeria and cannot continue. Plain and Simple!!!
- Ikem Ikechukwu

Don't over generalise....dont we have federal judges of Igbo origin??

About 2 years ago, the FG release the list of civil servants we have in Nigeria by state of origin and I see that the Igbos are well represented.....we shouldn't argue blindly

todayboy:
This is my problem with Nigeria.
Two kids were born August 31st, 1980, one in Kano (Abdul) another in Enugu (Emeka). They go to primary school in those areas and get to Primary 6, now the twist begins. They both take Federal Common Entrance, Emeka scores 168/200 and Abdul 16/200. For some silly quota system, they both end up in the same class at Federal Government College, Enugu (FGCE). Emeka continues to come 1st-3rd in the class of 30 and Abdul 25-29th/30. 6 years later, WASCE and JAMB are taken. Emeka had 6As and 2Cs (WASCE) and 286/400 (JAMB) while Abdul had 5Cs and 2Ps and 106/400 in JAMB.

Again by a warped and weird stroke they end up in the same Law Faculty in University of Nigeria, Enugu campus. 5years later Emeka graduates with 2-1 and Abdul with a Pass! Emeka is done with Law school at Abuja - No Job after NYSC. Abdul as soon as he gets out of Abuja Law school then one year NYSC gets a job as a Magistrate at the Federal Magistrate Court Abuja, 2 years later he is promoted as a Judge. Emeka still struggling, decides to join some Trio Igbo Law outfit in Abuja as a junior lawyer. 5 years later he is still carrying files and coming to defend low level cases at Abdul's court.

Now, you are Emeka or Emeka's relative, kit and kin, will you want Nigeria to continue like this. No way! That's the problem with Nigeria as it is. It's strongly skewed to the advantage of a particular ethnic group in Nigeria and cannot continue. Plain and Simple!!!
- Ikem Ikechukwu

This is part of the Igbo propaganda. Go and read about affirmative actions in the USA and understand its basis.
Whenever I read about the massive cheating in National exams by Igbos, it punctures your argument about the scores of " Emeka"..
At the end of the day, how many Abdul and how many Emeka's do you produce? Don't you want others to have anything?

Producing the Nigeria President is by election. Spread love and stop the hates that you circulate among yourselves, maybe an Igbo man can get elected. After all a minority Ijaw won the Presidency in Nigeria.

deji15:


Again, deflection from the topic.

THERE IS NO TOPIC SO



park well

This foolish man thinks everything is politics and the problem he sees in the Igbo people isnt present in others.

He talked about hate speeches. Where was the idiot when hate speeches flew like missiles in past administration? A sitting president was stoned and nobody was arrested cos maturity was @ play.

Same idiots who insulted Jonathan neva knew a time like this would come. Its tit for tat now nobody should complain.

Where was Joe the mumu when Enugu state was ransacked by Fulani terrorists? I neva read a word about him condemning such mindless attack but now he found his foolish voice.

Again those who aren't speaking up for the igbos like Joe when it matters shouldn't be seen attacking KANU cos they willingly handed him a position they shud have taken long ago.

as for playing politics the way Joe suggested, well he should vie for president as well and not sitting on the fence asking others to play politics. Nonsense

Kathmandu:
THERE IS NO TOPIC SO



park well

Your propaganda is DOA.

reptile1:
This foolish man thinks everything is politics and the problem he sees in the Igbo people isnt present in others.

He talked about hate speeches. Where was the idiot when hate speeches flew like missiles in past administration? A sitting president was stoned and nobody was arrested cos maturity was @ play.

Same idiots who insulted Jonathan neva knew a time like this would come. Its tit for tat now nobody should complain.

Where was Joe the mumu when Enugu state was ransacked by Fulani terrorists? I neva read a word about him condemning such mindless attack but now he found his foolish voice.

Again those who aren't speaking up for the igbos like Joe when it matters shouldn't be seen attacking KANU cos they willingly handed him a position they shud have taken long ago.

as for playing politics the way Joe suggested, well he should vie for president as well and not sitting on the fence asking others to play politics. Nonsense

You wonder where was GEJ when over 50 corpses of MASSOB members were found floating at the Ezu River in 2013? Hypocrisy is a vice

Alert don come... Joe has started his monthly rambling.

100% Afonja won't read what he wrote but would agree with him..shallow minded souls.

deji15:


You wonder where was GEJ when over 50 corpses of MASSOB members were found floating at the Ezu River in 2013? Hypocrisy is a vice

Yes and the same idiot didn't say anything to condemn such mindless killing. So who is he now to advice anyone?

reptile1:


Yes and the same idiot didn't say anything to condemn such mindless killing. So who is he now to advice anyone?

That idiot must be your hero Jonothing who said and did nothing.

If I start to pinpoint all the inaccuracies and unsubstantiated garbage in joe igbokwe's article I would be here all day.

All this trash that the compound buffoon wrote is probably so Tinubu can give him a small motor park to manage