[OPINION] Time For Action: The Igbo renaissance can no longer be denied nor wished away.

The new wave of progressive developmental advocacy among ndi Igbo presents a golden opportunity for the long awaited Igbo revolution. Now  more than ever before there are more groups championing different kinds of ambitions for ndi Igbo. While some demand a restructured Nigeria, some others want a total breakaway. There are those that seek economic freedom.

There are others that want ndi Igbo to be part of a bigger arrangement while others want to go Igbo alone. We are all witnesses. Intellectuals that hitherto stood aloof in the face of all the previous agitations are beginning to show interest. However, all the emerging groups have one thing in common, they want a deviation from the status quo. What are those things that constitute the status quo? (1.) Having leaders who are above the people with special constitutional provisions to sustain the hegemony. (2.) Routinely getting leaders through a compromised process and its attendant hijacking of the Igbo world by soulless bandits. (3.) So called Igbo leaders having to get endorsement from a northern Emir or from an Obasanjo at Ota. (4.) Selfish contentment with individual achievements as opposed to group achievement. And many more of such! Without fear of contradiction, the organization that is synonymous with the above traits is Ohaneze.

The Ohaneze, like Nigeria, is so corrupt that if you bring an angel to head it, the system will corrupt him. The beggarly state of Ohaneze makes it vulnerable to manipulation by the federal government. We have an Ohaneze that over the years has had those aspiring for its leadership being sponsored by either states governments or the presidency. When Nnia Nwodo mounted the throne, he made certain moves that raised the hope of ndi Igbo of true leadership. That is history now. It is apparent that his leadership has succumbed to federal pressure. For  the Igbo nation to move forward, we must look beyond all the elitist groups masquerading as leaders of ndi Igbo.

We must work towards a synergy by possibly beginning the practise of true federalism with forging a unique relationship among these pan Igbo groups. We must bear in mind that the Eze is a part and not the superior of Oha. So we shall have an OhaIgbo where ndi Eze are recognized and every town union in ala Igbo becomes a branch. Elections into the leadership of OhaIgbo is supposed to be felt in the entire Igbo land. An old woman in a very remote village should know that ndi Igbo are electing their leaders. It must borrow a leaf from the crowd funding formula of IPOB to keep it running and away from political hijackers who may wish to use monetary inducement to subvert the spirit of the movement.

Let all other groups remain intact inside OhaIgbo. Let ADF remain. Let LNC remain. Let Aladimma remain. Let IPOB remain. Let MASSOB remain. Let NTT remain. Let every other group remain. Those that want to merge can and those that don't want should be allowed to be. But let every group be part of OhaIgbo. Even professional groups should be encouraged to belong, for instance OhaIgbo Teachers Association. Every Igbo man or woman that has come of age should be member registered in the kindred and transmitted all the way to the center.

We must stop the bickering and one group fighting the other but rather develop a new consciousness in which Igbo progress and development must override personal or partisan interests. Those holding political positions should be ordinary members. Let the priests be members and the touts be members. Let the university professor be member and let the illiterate petty trader equally be a conscious member. Ohaneze failed due to its elitist posturing and funding method. Ndi Igbo have a time tested Umunna system, Umuada system, Umundom system, Age grade system that can be exploited in organizing a formidable pan Igbo organization. We are the ones holding ourselves back.

Chidozie Chukwubuike
The Guerrilla Commentator