23rd October 2027, NewsOrient, Encounter, Politics, Governance And Development, News

Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu- Uko is the Founder of Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), the Secretary-General of Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) and the Deputy Secretary of Igbo Leaders of Thought (ILT). Here, he x-rays the recent political developments in Igbo land, expressed his fears and recommends the way forward.

*Nigerian 2027 Election is around the corner. Presently, it looks like a three-horse race. Everybody thinks he will win. How will you read the development?*

I don’t think it’s any different from previous elections. Politicians are the most optimistic people on earth. They are gamblers who always wish themselves well in order to influence others to vote them.
But I agree they are all forward looking, which isn’t bad at all.
Even though I never get involved with partisan politics, I think the opposition may stand a chance only if they bond together and adopt a single candidate. Tinubu is defeatable. But not when opposition remain fragmented. It’s difficult for any one party to defeat him. They can only make impact if they come together and stand as one. How Mwai Kibaki came to power in Kenya two decades ago. Tinubu is a strong and consumate politician. It’s unhelpful to underate him.

*Which candidate or party do you tip, and why?*

As is customary with me, I usually do not endorse, support or campaign for any politician. That’s my principled position for personal reasons. I made up my mind as a teenager to  create, dedicate my life to create awareness towards enthroning justice and a level playing field in the land. Sensitizing the younger generation to stand up for equity. I can’t do that properly while taking sides with politicians against each other. Moreover, the problem of Nigeria has everything to do with a choking and suffocating unitary structure that breeds prebendalism and impunity.
All the politicians are the same. They share with each other safe island to stash away their loot, regardless of the political party they belong to. Their children marry each other. Don’t let them fool you. There’s no angel or saint amongst them. They are same people, same values, same dreams. The masses are their mugus. They are all same people. We only pray for devolution of power and true federalism. That alone will check the brigandage and uncontrolled corruption in the system. No political party can turn Nigeria into an el dorado under this unitary constitution inspired and imposed on us by unelected soldiers. I don’t have a candidate.

In early 1999, Dr Pius Okigbo through Prof Ben Obumselu pleaded with me to mobilise all the Igbo Youth organisations to support Dr Alex Ekwueme at the PDP primaries. He said there will be transport and accommodation in Jos. I pleaded with him that I chose to stay away from partisan politics and leave that for others. I know many people who passionately love politicking, campaigns, elections etc. I leave that for them and stick with my activism for fairness, restructuring the polity and pressure group for infrastructural development and justice for every region.

I believe Nigerians will elect their choice in the coming election 90 days away.
There’s huge awareness in the land today. I believe Nigerians are capable of electing whoever they want.

*Do you think the hardship and suffering in the land will influence voting pattern?*

Of course yes. Mr President knows that the sharp, unexpected and audacious reforms he introduced on his first day in office, occasioned difficulties all over the country and that his opponents are dutifully exploiting these challenges to try to demarket him and his party. Wether that is enough to bring him down, will be seen during the vote. I believe he knew the cost of embarking on those fundamental reforms. And that his opponents will latch on it to paint him black.

I’m sure he knew that even before he embarked on the reforms. There’s no doubt he’s courageous and audacious. Leaders before him were afraid to thread that path. Beneficiaries of the disparate foreign exchange rates and the fuel subsidy scam won’t forgive him. They can no longer afford to organise two-week international wedding fiesta for their children from Dubai through London and Paris all the way to Disney World. Giving away latest iPhones as wedding gifts and spraying hard currency during the obscene feasts.

There’s no longer endless flow of unearned and cheap easy money. Billions made without hard work. They will certainly come for his jugular. They’ll do everything to bring him down.
Moreover he has a reputation of being his own man. Some people fear he may begin the restructuring of Nigeria in his second term. Therefore they are doing everything to stop him. It promises to be a very interesting election. May the votes count. The North desperately wants to take back power. They feel naked and empty without power. It’s actually a straight fight between Tinubu and Atiku.
May the eventual winner accept the verdict of Nigerians. The hardship in the land will definitely play a role in the figures. The President and his team say the reforms were necesary. The opposition tell Nigerians the reforms are inhuman and that the regime is corrupt. January 16th we’ll see the vote pattern of Nigerians.

*The South East believe they are always shortchanged. From the agitation to political choices of their Governors.* 

Ndigbo desire justice and equity for everybody. They want a restructured Nigeria built on devolution of power and true federalism. They want to see infrastructural development deliberately denied their region for loosing the war. They want an egalitarian society where education, hard work and talent pay. Where all are equal, where no one or section is oppressed. They’ve been misunderstood. They’ve also made some mistakes. They are presently not in a very good situation. They are split into three opposing groups. Which will hurt their future. The deep thinkers are quiet and the errors are growing.

One group, mostly made up young people are showing their anger and disappointment with the system through agitation for secession. They’ve been at it for 27 years. They scream “Biafra or nothing “, “Biafra or death”. They believe their anger is justified. They are not articulate enough to understand the local environment, global forces at play, the intriguing dynamics and consequences of their decisions. They resent the injustice they feel and breathe since 1970, they desire freedom from oppression of their region. Activated in 1999 by Ralph and his MASSOB, and later amplified by Nnamdi’s broadcast, these mostly youngsters believe that God is on their side. They have the numbers but their strategy and methods have not brought expected dividends nor arrival to their desired destination. But they remain determined, even though their huge numbers are yet to translate into great electoral victories. Politicians plot to use and manipulate them to their advantage while discreetly blackmailing them as criminals and troublesome mob. They are central to whatever happens in Igboland.

The second group are politicians who use the energy of the agitation to remain relevant. They insincerely befriend the agitators and, riding on the emotions of the agitators, they fly high on the genuine anger and emotions of the masses of the region. Present themselves as the Messiah and the only solution to the frustration, bitterness and miseries of the people of the region.
They plot to seize power through the energy of the agitation and seem to be in a hurry. But the age-old conspiracy against Ndigbo, religious and ethnic politics against Ndigbo block their political progress. Regardless, they seem determined to re-enact their 2023 miraculous impact. But they are dutifully sabotaged, undermined and subverted by the third group.
This third group of carrier politicians, made up of serving and current Governors and Ministers from the region, who adopted President Tinubu as their candidate and are doing everything to deliver him, each believe they will make the VP choice of the ruling party for 2031 elections. Wether they’re only being used as useful idiots now, who will be dumped for a South-South VP choice in 2031, remains a topic of debate. But they are doing everything openly and covertly to undermine the Messiah and his supporters.

These three separate groups in Igboland are undermining each other.

That is where Ndigbo sadly are at the moment. Three different groups,  each insisting their path is the best for Ndigbo.
Whereas they are subverting each other. Very sad indeed.

Add these to the fact that the online hatred and warfare going on, is unhelpful, unhealthy and dangerous. These online vilification of Ndigbo thrive on the complaint that Ndigbo disrespect and vilify other ethnic groups as well.
All these get worse during election season. But sadly the negative effects outlive elections. This culture of hatred, abuses and needless insults and attacks may lead to untoward negative consequences. God forbid.

Ndigbo need a rebirth, revisit to Bethel to exorcise our sins and to make peace with our neighbours, especially our immediate neighbours.

The hatred towards Ndigbo that leads to demolition of property, is actually accentuated by vote patterns during elections. It should not continue.

Elections should not lead to ethnic war. This is why power devolution and true federalism become absolutely neccesary. So, every region would develop at it’s own pace. I fear for Ndigbo. We are like an endangered species. I pray this election turns out peaceful. I pray the results are accepted without demonstrations and riots. Nigeria can be unpredictable.
Ndigbo needs soul searching and reflection on our condition today.

*What do you feel the voting pattern of the South East electorate will look like?*

I sincerely don’t know. The 2023 template doesn’t exist today. I know Ndigbo are very smart people. They will make their own choices themselves. The important changes that occurred in Igboland within the past decade is that the ruthless self-centered cabal who claim to be in charge of Ndigbo, are no longer parading themselves as eternal Igbo leaders like they claimed for almost half a century. Their game got bursted. For the first time since the end of the war, occupants of Aso Rock villa, now seek to touch the masses of the region directly through projects, needful infrastructure etc.
The cabal of middle men who used to collect every thing on behalf of Ndigbo, no longer lead delegations to the villa, purporting to be sent by Ndigbo. For fifty years, things they collected on behalf of Ndigbo never trickled down. They go to the villa to talk only about themselves and their individual needs. They never talk about, International Cargo Airport in Enugu, Eastern Sea Ports, Railways etc.

Their strange hold on the region collapsed through the uncontrolled agitation and sacrificial activism of committed voices from the region at very great personal cost. Now, for the very first time, both Federal and State authorities are now addressing the genuine needs of the people of the region rather than the outdated old fashion of settling a selfish cabal who claim they are in charge of the region. That once their personal needs and interests are satisfied, that Ndigbo are ok. That cabal have been retired. They no longer have access to the villa.
This is the only positive development from the South East.

But I am displeased that Ndigbo unwittingly divided themselves into three groups. One, seeking seccession, another prodding up a messiah, hoping to replicate their miraculous 2023 good showing and a third group undermining the second group, hoping to emerge as Vice President in 2031.
I fear all three groups may fail woefully. It seems very likely. Ndigbo need soul searching and sincere engagement with other regions. We need to bring to immediate end the current online ethnic warfare. It will not pay us.

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

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