OPINION: Why Ndi-Igbo should be United and Smart! –Tobenna Obiano.

Lately, the momentum with which Igbos of old Eastern part of Nigeria are clamoring for secession from Nigeria into forming their own separate entity, Biafra is rising.

In this quest, the elders and elites are using diplomacy, the very young are promising to unleash fire and brimstone. Some go as far as saying that even if it meant another war, a sad repeat of the 1966-1970 genocidal pogrom, that they are willing and very ready.

The journey to nation building is not always won by deploying all arsenals known to mankind, nor by making hateful and divisive speeches from illegal radio operations or by using very abusive and foul languages on whosoever that has a divergent opinion or a worthwhile counter one or someone who wants to ask very honest questions, as simple as, what is the prospect, what is the vision, what are the aims, what are the objectives and what is the master plan for this Biafran struggle.

Democracy is the world's greatest gift. It gives room for disagreeing to agree. It creates open spaces for diversification. It allows expression of views and opinions. It's so wonderful that the world accepts it with open heart and mind; and yes, it has been working so well in most climes. No doubt, it's prospect in Nigeria has been gory and a disheartening show of shame.

I'm a young Igbo man. I remain ever proud of my root and my origin. I have no other place to call home but the land of the rising sun, a people after God's own heart, ala Igbo, ala oma. Therefore, directly or indirectly, the Biafran blood runs through my veins. It's undeniable. Even if as some say, that Biafra died after the conflict, that we were conquered in that quite avoidable war; it still doesn't mean that as part of our own history, we shouldn't be ever proud, grateful and thankful to those Igbo Biafrans who fought strongly against neglect, abuses of various standards, hate, torture, arson attack and mass murder by those on the then Nigerian side.

Those said, atleast till this very day, I'm a Nigerian. I have no other nation to call mine. I can't introduce myself as a Biafran anywhere, for atleast I don't own or carry a Biafran international passport. Biafra has no legal tender and as far as the world knows now, as a matter of fact, there is no country like Biafra. There almost was!

The push for the Biafran nationhood is rising and honestly, it's not very bad, infact, it's very good for our polity. Some think I for one, that I'm entirely against it, well, wrong! I'm and will continually be against certain ways and approach that is used in its pursuit. The tones of insults, abuse and name-calling upon some of us who have a worthwhile divergent view, some classless orders like election boycott, the litanies of hateful, dirty and very abusive words used on Nigerians and all others within range is wholly against my standard and for me, it's very disturbing.

As ndi-Igbo, we are all Biafrans by blood, but not & NEVER street "agberos" or internet bullies under the disguise as Biafrans!

If Biafra should come, let's implore every sense of maturity, decency, decorum, modesty and respect for the sanctity of human life, including the embrace of peace and role of the United Nations in Nation building.

Yes, not this ongoing show of shame by majorly young and pitifully jobless e-thugs, cyber bullies and roadside "agberos". These class of individuals aren't amongst our best, neither can they get us anything or to anywhere.

Anything outside doing things aright for the founding of Biafra, count me out!

And for the records, as Igbos, we aren't actually afraid of any breakup especially if it's done with all sense of decency, modesty and respect.

Fact is, in Nigeria today, over 12million children are out of school. In that alarming population, 10million of those are in and from the Northern part of Nigeria. And quite incredibly, not minding her rich population and vast economic boom, Kano State alone has 3million "almageris" or children on the street as beggars. Even the remainder of 2million children out of school are mostly children of Northerners residing in the Southern part of Nigeria.

Igbos are more than ever before educating her young. The results from even as little as WASSC of students keeps mainly Igbo States atop at least in this last decade. Even abroad, many young Igbos are doing well in different institutions of higher learning. Those Nigerians in the last five years who got admitted into virtually all the Ivy League towers in the world are mainly from the Southeast of Nigeria. No doubt, good readers, make great leaders.

If the breakup must be done, to those on the other side, I implore thee, bring it on!

Meanwhile, has anyone noticed the public opinion of many as to showing concern and a seemingly sense of sympathy in the Biafran agitation with some Nigerian high and mighty even coming out public to speak up for ndi-Igbo and against the quit notice issued Igbos resident in the North by Arewa (Northern) youth and a somewhat of concurrent nod by their elders, yet till this day, not even a single arrest has been made

Unsurprisingly, Dangote lately joined the group of our sudden and accidental sympathizers. Classical of ndi-Igbo, we are clapping and hailing him for that show of uncommon "love", no be only!

Now, has anyone ever sensibly thought about why there is not even a single factory owned by Africa's wealthiest man, Aliko Dangote in any part of Igboland?

Yet today, even after many Igbos were disfavoured for political reasons, that his (Dangote) business alone thrives and grows in Nigeria, he is now claiming the friend of ndi-Igbo and speaking against the quit notice and "foolishly", some of us Igbos are clapping for him.

Do you know that Olusegun Obasanjo as Nigeria's President held back a shipload of Ibeto cement owned by Ibeto Cletus, an Igboman on the sea for the business success of Dangote alone. Those Ibeto cement wastefully spolit.

Till this day, in followership of the one-Nigerian mentality, many Igbo sons and daughters made and are still making investments and own chains of businesses running into billions in all parts of Nigeria, majorly in the far North and West.

Biafra is the initiative, but firstly, build the people, stand the society and then naturally, the Biafran of our dreams will come to fruition.

Let all well meaning and wealthy Igbo sons and daughters begin by infrastructural development of our home. Let them invest as little as meager US$1million in Igboland each towards the purpose of building their own businesses, maybe housing estates, shopping malls, schools, hostels, hospitals, factors and all those.

In that line, the duo of Innocent Chukwuma of Innoson Motors and Ifeanyi Ubah of Ifeanyi Ubah Games Village deserves to be richly commended for their true Igbo and yes, Biafran spirit by their choice of identifying with the Igbo think home ideology of "aku lue uno". Their huge investment in Igboland is unparalleled and only by mere coincidence, they are both from Nnewi, the industrial hub of Igboland.

Therefore, if we first, aggressively develop Igboland, the journey to our nationhood will be smooth and easy!

There are still doubting Thomases, two days ago or so, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike clearly stated that Rivers isn't and wouldn't be part of any Biafran!

I also have many friends from the South South and they tell me quite clearly, "it's obvious that your Biafran brothers are aiming our huge mineral deposits, oil and gas in their agitation. They can continue if they want to, and when they get it, there must be further break away, for them to leave our oil for us and we have our own Nigeria Delta Republic also".

And what if a repeat of 1966 to 1970 genocidal pogrom dares to repeat itself? How prepared are ndi-Igbo in readiness for even an eventuality of another war? Obviously, we are not and may never be at the shortest instance.

Lastly, it is pertinent to clearly note at this juncture, that the moves of IPOB and her foot-soldiers does not truly represent decency, discipline, sanity, respect or integrity. Nations built upon the opposite of all those is destined to imminent collapse !

I have always, like our forefathers wanted Biafra, only if it will be done rightfully not by this ongoing show of shame!

We want Biafra, not a nation built on hate, rascality, intolerance and abuses. Those classless styles has never been the true Biafran dream!

If my disagreeing with people on the way they are going about it and suggesting diplomacy and sanity as a better option amounts to going back and forth, so be it!

If Igbos were to be serious and sane in approach, "ala Igbo" would have since become the pride of Africa. Yes, it would have become the African-Dubai-Taiwan of our dreams. It would have long become a place where we would have proudly called home, where all other nations of Africa and even the world would be coming to our mercy.

Umunnem, make we receive sense!

Tobenna Obiano