The brouhaha that has followed Nnamdi Kanu’s conditional
call for election boycott is deafening the ear. The way people write about it
and condemn Nnamdi Kanu makes the call look unconditional. It is a pity that we
find ourselves in country where figment of the imagination holds supreme. We
live in a country where reality is relegated to the background and half truth
and total falsehood are promoted with impunity.
What I hate most in Nigeria’s journalism sector today is
their penchant for sensationalism and simulation. It was so bad that our
journalists and political commentators are mostly “arm chaired” and “internet
research” based. Today they have added high profile simulation to their
laziness. What most of those who call themselves journalists do today is just
to sit at the comfort of their homes and offices buy data, surf the internet
ant whatever news that makes the headline, becomes news for them. Whatever that happened to investigative
journalism only God knows.
Today what our journalists do is take any part of a story
they believe that will gain more sympathy or out cry and publish it then
strangle if possible the main body of the said story. It is so unfortunate that
many of us that claim to be learned and intelligent are far behind what we
claim. Well sometimes I don’t blame the journalists because the owners of media
houses are more interested in making profit than passing on information.
I have watched disgustingly how our journalists and
political commentators have snuffed life out of Nnamdi Kanu’s statement on
election boycott. Sometimes I wonder if a blanket is placed on our eyes for us
not to see the statement in its completeness. What a shame to those who claim
to have been to school. What a shame to all those who call themselves Leaders
of Thought. What a shame to Ndi Igbo that have been busy calling Nnamdi Kanu
names for going against the status quo.
I am one of those who do not like Nnamdi Kanu and his manner
of approach to things. I don’t like the way he talks. As a matter of fact,
prior to his arrest by Emperor Buhari, I call him a comedian. I call him a
comedian because then any time I listen to his broadcast in Radio Biafra his
style puts laughter on my lips. But though I call him a comedian, I don’t shut
my eyes to the truths of his words. Let me also add that I have never been and
will never be his fan. As I wrote before, I will never shut my eyes to the
truths in what he says.
WHY I WRITE THIS PIECE:
The news has it that
Nnamdi Kanu is telling Ndi Igbo to boycott elections but I have taken my time
to listen and read what Nnamdi Kanu and his people said. No where did I see
where they said Ndi igbo should not participate in elections in Nigeria, what I
heard them say is “there will be no election again in Biafran Land until a DATE
for a referendum is fixed.” That statement has a condition attached to it. Why
are we not talking about the condition? Why do our journalists and political
commentators avoid that part that says “until a date is fixed for a
referendum?” Why dish out half news to the people just to buy sympathy and promote
hatred against our people?
What I thought all these Igbo political juggernauts that are
running up and down calling for the head of Nnamdi Kanu would have done is to
find a way of making the FG government to come up with a date for a referendum.
Anyway I must be deluding myself to think that men and women who are political
jobbers will ever think of a referendum. People whose only trade are politics
because in a country like Nigeria where people get into politics to collect
their own share of ‘National cake” to the detriment of their children unborn anything
against the status quo is vehemently rejected.
These men have made us think they are trying to protect the
interest of Ndi Igbo by shouting down IPOB/MASSOB and their leadership for
trying to think outside the box. No! They are only interested in what they will
lose if the status quo changes. These men do not care about anybody who does
not belong to them. They only care about Nigeria because it is their cash cow.
MY OPINION:
Instead of Ohaneze Ndigbo and APGA wasting their energy on
Nnamdi Kanu and his group, they should fine a way of engaging the Federal Government
in dialogue to come up with a date for a referendum. I know referendum was in
our original constitution but it was removed by the Military that packaged 1999
constitution as amended. Those who are worried that if election does not hold
in Anambra state this year it will spell doom can prevail on NAS to invoke the
doctrine of Necessity. I am sure if those people that call themselves Honorable
Members and Distinguished Senators love Ndi Igbo the way they are all claiming
to, they will accept and fix a date for a referendum.
Referendum is a 50/50 thing. If FG think that Ndi Igbo is
happy with them and love the name Nigeria so much. What they should do is to
get prove of it by fixing a date for a referendum. If Ohaneze Ndigbo thinks
Ndigbo love Nigeria so much, they should get FG government fix a date and
organize a referendum.
Ndi Igbo have a saying that says, “obughi onye kporo polisi
na ekpegbu” (It is not the person that invited the police into a case that
wins). IPOB/MASSOB should know this. After all, in Spain the Catalonians were
shouting like this some years ago but when referendum were eventually held
those that want to stay with Spain won and today they are still part of Spain.
What about the people of Scotland? Some years back they were also shouting they
want to leave the UK, but when referendum was eventually held. Those that want
Scotland to remain in the UK took the day and today they are still there. So my
Biafran agitators should know that referendum might favor or not favor them.
Finally: For peace to reign, LET A DATE FOR A REFERENDUM BE
FIXED before November 18. The referendum can be fixed to hold in 2019 but let
there be an agreed date between the agitators of Biafra, Igbo Leaders and
Federal Government. To stop the shedding of Blood of Ndi Igbo, to stop the
incarceration of young Igbo men and women by this blood thirsty Government.
Chief John Nnia Nwodo should mobilize Those that call themselves Igbo Leaders
so they should approach Abuja for a DATE.
Thank you for reading… Onye n’agu ya na atughari uche…
Aham bu Onuigwe Chidi Sirnoel…
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