Weep not, Ndigbo

You are not so blind with patriotism, that you can't
face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it
or says it-—- Malcom X

I AM one of those , who never wished that APC, with
President Muhammadu Buhari, PMB, would lead this
country. It was not because we supported the ways of
the ruling PDP at that time, but because we had our
fears, about that change slogan, some of which are
now manifesting in PMB's government.

Our fears included first, that as Christians, the
killings and burning of churches will continue under
PMB, but will be seriously suppressed from the
public. Today, we hear less of the wickedness against
Christians in the north. We do not understand why
this is so, while Boko Haram has continued to kill in
the North East. Over three months of APC
government, Chibok Girls are yet to be recovered, for
example, confirming our fear that the whole noise
about Chibok Girls was to push GEJ, out of power.
Politics apart, we are all parents, and those parents,
who chose to use the Chibok Girls as propaganda
instruments should be hiding their heads in shame,
because politics should be fair, and honest, with
some integrity.

Our second fear was that PMB has been portrayed as
a hater of the Igbos, and that he would not only push
the South East to the back bench in his policies as
President, but would also initiate actions to Islamise
that zone that voted massively for the PDP. In Imo
State, which is presently APC, their Governor was
generally regarded as having betrayed the Igbo man.
Today, that fear has proved genuine, as Governor
Okorocha, is the one calling for calm among Ndigbo,
in the wake of the appointment by PMB of his
Kitchen Cabinet members, to the complete exclusion
of the the South East. Governor Okorocha, and his
colleagues in politics without identity, would have
seen by now that they backed the wrong horse as
Ndigbo.

If out of 42 appointments of persons who would have
close contact with PMB almost on daily basis, not one
Igbo man qualified, in terms of merit and confidence
by PMB, what else do they want the man to say? Is
the message not clear ?
The best known method for Nigerian Leaders to kill
any project is to subject it to what they call 'a review'.

The review of the second Niger bridge is to tell those
who are honest to themselves that the project is
dead under PMB, and no thanks to the Governor of
Edo State, who may claim to be fighting corruption,
but his attacks against that project has made him a
manifest instrument in the hands of the enemies of
Ndigbo. He may have his reasons for teaming up with
Igbo haters, my only concern is for Ndigbo who have
failed to read this hand writing on the wall.
Our third fear was that PMB would islamise the
South East.The first shot from him was the transfer of
Boko Haram suspects from Maiduguri to Ekwulobia
in Anambra State.In spite of the furore that followed
that decision, we are yet to confirm what government
has done to relocate those men. The matter seems to
have died down, with the usual ignominy with which
they treat issues that concern Ndigbo generally. The
recent alert issued by the DSS and the Army about
presence of Boko Haram agents in Lagos and the
South East, leaves it up to the people to decide what
to do to keep terror out of their regions, no matter
what politicians say.
Thirdly, we feared that PMB would kill the
implementation of the Confab Report, simply
because the South East among others has something
to gain from it.

It ought to be obvious that the whole efforts to swing
power back to the north were to prevent power from
getting to Ndigbo, who rather than weep, should
brace up boldly, work harder to put their houses in
order, and ensure that come 2019, their earnest
expectations shall not be cut off, not even by the
common sense revolutionists in the South West.
Just like we say in Igbo land, the masquerade that
blocks the road upon sighting me, will not shift
grounds when he sees others too. Igbo haters will
not change till their judgment by God comes upon
them suddenly.

Today, all we get are denials of electoral promises,
ranging from the election campaign promise that the
Price of Petrol would be reduced to N40/Litre if
elected, the second Niger bridge for the South East,
the provision of thousands of jobs for our teeming
un employed youth within the first 100 days, to the
promise of being the President for all Nigerians if
elected. We are faced with the grim reality of
petroleum subsidy removal, Naira exchange rates
slides to all time low, while we wait for our mechanic
to assemble his tools and men from the north, to
come and repair the sick vehicle we call Nigerian
economy.

They will need 100 days to assemble tools, 100 days
to remove the tyres, 200 days to remove and repair
the engine, 200 days to sort out the gear box, 100
days for the electrical and fuel supply system, 100
days to panel beat the vehicle, 100 days to spray it
with a new paint, then 100 days to find a suitable
northerner to test drive the refurbished vehicle.
Ndigbo, this brings us to a total of 1000 days, and
that is two years and seven months, thus, the game
will continue till 2019, with nothing in it for you,
except noise, propaganda, fear, intimidation, denials
and hardship.

This type of change cannot favour Ndigbo, who must
ignore it, no matter what is done or said, to provoke
them. Let the changers face the terrorists, and don't
give them the pleasure to spill Igbo blood in the
name of Biafra again.

Even when their hirelings try to create social tension
in your zone, just read between the lines and ignore
them, because in this Nigeria, this phase shall pass
away also, and Ndigbo shall prevail.

Mr Clement Udegbe, a legal practitioner, wrote from
Lagos.
AbleMoJah® Nigeria.