Before You Negotiate Restructuring: Letter To John Nnia Nwodo

A Letter to the President-General Ohanezr Ndi Igbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo:

Dear Sir,

It is with utmost respect and a deep sense of responsibility that I write to you today, 28 September, 2018.

Your emergence as the PG of Ohaneze, though initially viewed with the usual skepticism born out of the unfortunate fact that most of our Igbo brothers in strategic positions of influence derive their legitimacy from the North, the Ohaneze leadership inclusive.

I am not unaware that certain previous Ohaneze elections had aspirants who were sponsored and imposed from Abuja, hence our skepticism.

I am happy to say that unlike the others, you did not allow that skepticism to typically grow into cynicism and finally to total apathy.

You gave me hope when you stepped out in condemnation of the selective treatment being meted to ndi Igbo by both the President Buhari led federal government of Nigeria and the Nigerian military. You did not play 'politically correct' like the others before you.

For this, I say, thank you. However, Sir, I am not here to praise you but to call your attention to what I deem a matter deserving of urgent attention.

Sir I read your presentation at Chatham House and was filled with pride by the way you masterfully articulated the Igbo question. I have no problem with your belief in the unity and oneness of Nigeria and in your thinking that a properly restructured Nigeria with devolution of powers to the component units can fix the mess this country has become.

That view is equally shared by a great percentage of people within your generations. I would, under normal circumstances have probably aligned with that thinking, but Sir,  the circumstances are very abnormal.

The people we are dealing with are lacking in both empathy and logic. This restructuring had earlier been taken to the national assembly and the same people shut it down. They are gradually being pressurized to accept restructuring but in their characteristic God-almighty syndrome they are preparing a corrupt restructuring template they intend to force down our throats.

I believe your opting for restructuring is in the conviction that it will correct the systemic injustices progressively visited on ndi Igbo, the ethnic nationality you lead, since the civil war.

If that is the case, I equally want to believe you won't accept anything short of a total restructuring that comprehensively addresses these injustices that over the years have made ndi Igbo second class citizens in a country they boast of taking the first position in its foundation.

However, Sir, this whole talk about restructuring, in my thinking is akin to placing the cart before the horse. The Nigeria being discussed today,, Sir, is not the Nigeria of the 60s neither is it that of your generation. It is the generation of the youths in the streets either as IPOB or AREWA Youths. They need to be allowed a say in a country they are expected to inherit.

Have they said their mind? The answer is yes and boldly too. It has been expressed in IPOB's call for referendum. It has been expressed in the AREWA Youth's quit notice to ndi Igbo. It is expressed in the continued blowing of oil pipelines by the militants in the creeks of the Niger Delta. It has long been expressed by OPC and recently by a new Yoruba group calling for the Oduduwa Republic. We hear it being expressed by the youths of the middle belt. Boko Haram  and Fulani herdsmen have taken the statement to a violent degree.

The youths for whom your generation is struggling so hard to preserve Nigeria have said in very clear language that the basis for unity in Nigeria no longer exists. Sir, it is also important to remind you that so much blood has flowed in the quest for an illusive one Nigeria, especially Igbo blood.

I am therefore persuaded by the reality of our situation to tell you, Sir, to first conduct a referendum within the five Igbo states, on whether or not ndi Igbo want to continue as Nigeria, before you can go ahead to negotiate for restructuring. I very much doubt that in spite of recent recklessness, hate and genocide committed by both the Nigerian military and government, we still want to remain in the Nigerian union. But don't take my word for it!

Invoke the indigenous peoples right as enshrined in the United Nations' charter and conduct a referendum on this. Posterity will be kind to you, Sir, if you do the right things, so I once again reiterate the call for you TO CONDUCT A REFERENDUM BEFORE YOU CAN NEGOTIATE RESTRUCTURING.

Thank you and God bless you.

I am, yours in the quest for justice and equity,

Chidozie Chukwubuike
The Guerrilla Commentator