Of Nnamdi Kanu and Southeast Weekly Sit-at-Home: sabotage or struggle?

Pic: bbc.com

At 11 years old and in 1991 when Umuahia was made the capital of the newly created Abia State, I was very disturbed that the choice of the ancient city as the centre of administration was a sabotage. I haven't been wrong as much as I would have loved to be. If Ms. Otuomasirichi Nwachukwu, a classmate from Umuahia, at Ovom Girls' High School, Aba would recall, I was vehement in my insistence that it was a bad call to not have made Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the old Imo State, the capital of the newly created state of Abia. What were they talking about? Umuahia? Why? They didn't have the Aba Stadium. They didn't have Ahia Ohuru nor Ariaria. As far as I was concerned it wasn't a good decision. I was naive, probably silly and definitely trouble making but I was sincere. I'm not from Aba. I'm from Isiala Ngwa. We were all in Junior Secondary School one (1) C. As Ngwa, everybody thought I was rooting for my clan. But I was very 'detribalized' and I still am. However, I was very opinionated and I still am. When the facts stare one in the face what other evidence does one seek? Ihe agba n'aka, ejighi enyo ele ya. Sabotage is evil, struggle is a necessity. Nnamdi Kanu hails from Abia State, possibly from Umuahia. He's one of our own (one of us?). It is our duty to fend off what disturbs our humanity. And when one of our own suffers inhumanity, we cannot afford to let it rest easy. But is he a trouble maker? If he like the proverbial 'nte' that has something in his hole, how does he escape his assailant with a 'sit-at-home' strategy? It is with this knowledge that I wonder whether we are with the truth here. Is the call by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for citizens of the Southeast, Nigeria to sit-at-home a strategy or stratagem of theirs? Is there any way to tell? By the way, there was no helping the ever vandalizing people of Aba get a capital. So, Umuahia became the state capital, and still is.

I am a novice when it comes to the daily decision making of the Nigerian polity and back deals. I've deliberately decided to watch events from the sidelines. I'm neither a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) nor that of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). I have my reasons. It's natural that as an Igbo woman that I align favourably with the latter than with the former. I understand what I'm missing. But I've remained on the sidelines. I have, however, not sold my conscience to the devils of either major party in Nigeria. I don't know the issues. I hardly watch television because I don't ow n one. I was planning to buy one, when the family TV, was taken from the living room and taken into another's bedroom to watch BBNaija. Even a complaint with the police hasn't brought it back. And the Abia State governor terminated a job because of.... Separating state and gossip? Anyway....

Pic credit: Wikipedia

The call to sit-at-home makes me wonder whether the society is aware that it's either slowing down or (pretending to be) recovering from the events of the past year. It's recovering only if this is a strategy to recuperate from the troubles of the COVID-19 pandemic, but a problem if it's sabotage from the powers that be who are quarreling over 2023 and the political and economic dimensions that it would bring. Is it about Nnamdi Kanu, who's being held for jumping bail? That's unfortunate. Mazi Nnamdi Kanu started a movement to liberate the people of Biafra from the shackles of Nigeria. He called it IPOB - the Indigenous People of Biafra. This means all the peoples of the defunct 'Biafra' who comprise the Igbos, Efiks, and Ibibios of Nigeria, and rarely the Ikwerres of Port Harcourt. Perhaps the Binis were added to that list. He wanted his people to be liberated from all sorts of hardship brought their way. I believe he was calling for self determination of the Biafran people, who do not include the Yorubas, Igalas, whites and other ethnic clans who didn't make up the former 'Biafra.' Since the war, Nigerians have inter-married and have gone to many places to set up home and shop, including the North and the Southwest of the country. Many people have also set up shop (and hardly home) here in the Southeast. In fact, there's a Mosque Street in Aba, Abia State where a major mosque serving muslims in Aba and its environs worship daily. It's now rather confusing to understand what constitutes Indigenous People of Biafra. There are vast American investments in this part of the country. There's the temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a major investment of the American economy. How is that not a problem to the Southeast and Nigeria?

Those are key players, stakeholders whenever the political economy of any space is being factored in. Of course, it was only a few bombs and the Israeli headquarters of a major news bureau was sent packing. It's not always the case that people would leave when you need them to. Of course, there are fat chances that people would leave alone when forced to. Take what happened in Afghanistan in the last few weeks. People evacuated without any plans being made for them. It wasn't dignifying for them to have left that way. But that's the unfortunate part of conflict. And that's why I'm about nipping conflict in the bud. If you think it's better to resolve conflict than prevent it, then factor in that development cannot take place in such confusion. Only anarchy looms. Disagreements come when people refuse to embrace the truth. Two people can be wrong in a conflict, or at least one person is dead wrong. It's not easy to tell who's wrong or right whenever it comes to the trouble often called the Biafran conflict in Nigeria. There was a civil war, there was a surrender, some forgiveness, all because some parties played dirty. What got people into the military hasn't helped this country till date. Back to Nnamdi Kanu and the sit-at-home call in solidarity.

There are chances that somebody is someplace pulling a fast prank on this rather trusting Igbo populace. What is he or she trying to achieve? Prominence or notoriety? Is this a mere extension of the weekend? People no longer need weekends to end on Sunday but extend them to Monday? And even include Friday in the mix? Why? Is the call sabotage or a struggle? Let me define the two terms and explain my thesis before raising questions further. Don't worry, I intend to conclude my argument in due course. 

What is sabotage? It is 'a deliberate action aimed at weakening a polity, effort or organization through  subversion, obstruction, disruption, or destruction.' This definition is according to Wikipedia. It is to also deliberately destroy, damage,or obstruct (something), especially for political or military advantage. Most offices and businesses close for the week on Friday. It was typical for them to reopen on Monday. Now, with this call, business wait to reopen on Tuesday and mostly dull out throughout the week with minimal productivity. Are you watching? Is this good rest meant for hardworking Southeastern citizens or are people losing grasp on their lives and economy? I nearly understand what is at stake here. We are on what could have been a sympathy strike trying to get Nnamdi Kanu out of jail and acquitted. Are we doing it right? Yes. We are resting and making our mark. We are telling people that we can shut down the national economy if we aren't heard. But we aren't akin to the proverbial sheep that destroys her tail with her excreta while trying to create work for her owner to be any the wiser. This is only if the devil weren't in the details. That is, that nobody is feeding fat of this sit-at-home call and shames both Nnamdi Kanu and his IPOB lot. O di egwu. I've heard it said that 'anaghi anu na ihe di ise (ma o bu iri) a chiri chinye n'akpa.' One doesn't throw all that one is given into a bag (meaning to always verify the facts before an agreement is reached).  Could you do a better translation, please. It is imperative that facts are verified before arriving at indicting decisions. So, how do subvert sabotage before it destroys us?

The Sabotage?

Here, are a few of the points that I think can help us determine how sabotage works against the people....

1. Bandwagon syndrome: This call to sit-at-home has enjoyed the bandwagon adherence. Many people have agreed to sit at home for over four Mondays till date starting in August. It has continued. It's important that one questions the assumption that has necessitated this civil disobedience. Are the residents and citizens of the Southeast adhering to the call for their love of one of theirs in this case Mazi Nnamdi Kanu? I think so. Whether or not I understand the handwriting on the wall, I'm super sure that those who are at the head of affairs enjoy that people have sat at home silly or not. This is a scheme. I hope it's a positive one. It's even akin to the workings of the Mafia but.... Hence, one must look before one leaps in order to avoid regrets. Can we help not jumping on a bandwagon? When you cede your freedom tomorrow, biko, give yourself up not me, not your child, not even your  enemy. After all, no chicken at Chicken Republic has entered my mouth o. I hope this isn't the case of a people trusting their enemy. 
2. Pagan ordinance: It's rather naive that we all in the Southeast  are adjudged Christian. While most Igbo people are Christians, all aren't. While I haven't been to church in a very long time, I'm not pagan. I don't do pagan observances. I don't like ordinances that have no basis for observance. Why do people heed counsel or advice? Are they afraid of losing their soul to the devil or are just creatures of habit? Perhaps it's in line with the Igbo saying, 'o nuru ube nwanne agbala oso.' This is in order. The Igbo, and I must say all the people that constituted the defunct 'Biafra,' were philanthropist, at least most of them. The Igbo men saw no trouble in aiding one another until the White man came with his own designs and strange definitions of 'common sense.' But the Igbo society, which comprised the major group of 'Biafra' wasn't homogeneous. There were differences among the communities and there was the Osu Caste System. It isIf a  foolhardy to believe that one fully understands what really got Nnamdi Kanu to found the IPOB; calling or whim? If pagan worship or adherence is the reason why the Southeast, Nigeria is shut down in the guise of civil disobedience, then that's really unfortunate. We are no longer in classical times when we didn't care about the outside world nor gave heed to scientific rationality. Perhaps it's the antithesis of the Python dances prescribed by the Nigerian nation. Are babies best sired (and conceived) on Mondays? What's an ordinance? It's a rule, an order or a law or a regulation from a government or a person in authority. Who's this person in authority? Some pagan seeking attention or from the Southeast governors? We must beware that we are not by doing this ordinance of sit-at-home tacitly giving authority to an undesirable element be it local or foreign. Remember the plight of Israelites in Goshen? They came as visitors and left as liberated slaves after much trouble. Beware of 419. The reverse is also true in some cases. A visitor today can become your dictator tomorrow, it's all about ordinance. And history has a way of duplicating itself. Somebody comes begging for food today and when it's granted, you become the beggar tomorrow. Abi? Those Nigerians or Igbos with foreign citizenship are likely to be in the know of what would become the fate of the Southeast in particular and Africa in general in the future. Foreign investments mean foreign control. Where a man's treasure lies, there his heart is. Agreement is agreement. Don't agree to slavery one way or another.
3. Network Service Provider: This isn't the same as the hub or the telecommunication. I refer to the person here. Since the advent of the GSM, many Nigerians have turned informant. Is this a time for the informant to be rewarded? Each week, people ask me whether or not I opened shop, whether or not I sat at home. I don't think it's up to anybody to decide what gets compensated,  'civil disobedience' or 'patriotism.' Who gets the reward, the disobedient servant or the patriot. What disobedience? What patriotism? Those who sit at home are in civil disobedience, but are those who have chosen to open shop truly patriotic and their neighbour's keeper? Who knows? Are you a Network Service Provider? Do you gain from gossip and malice? Who does Nnamdi Kanu represent to you, Nigeria or Igbos and other 'Biafrans?' I am sympathetic that his case has been that of the pot calling the kettle black. Nigeria should bow in shame for 'winning' with Nnamdi Kanu. What a shame. He's seen as the felon, while animals are having a feast destroying all of the North in the name of jihad. He's blasphemous and Oh! he so erred trying to overthrow the indestructible, indivisible and indissoluble entity called Nigeria. But has anybody told the leaders of this country that it ain't indispensable? Yes, many have tried to dispense with Nigeria but what holds them down still keeps them returning home and that's sabotage. If the Nigerian government truly looked at the real picture, they could see who the real enemy was. Sabotage was and truly is the problem in any organized society including the much desired 'Biafra.' But what had the man Nnamdi Kanu been up to? A call for self-determination is one thing, while a call for secession is another. Which one does he support? Does he think that 'Biafra' would solve all his troubles and problems if he had any? How? And if it would solve his, would the largess be extended to all his citizens? I hope his supporters are aware of the real issues here and not just play the role of the saboteur or 'sabo' of other people's struggles and life ambitions.
4. Corruption: Is this call aiding and eliciting any form of evil or dishonest activity from/of you? Is it a scam, which is a dishonest scheme, a fraud and a deliberate act to deceive people and make money? Is it a bet? There are many bet companies around and you don't want to be a mere bet. Are the participants in the sit-at-home truly aware of who the organizers are? Are they IPOB or hijackers, the Cabal that has taken up the whole country and even the world? Hmmm...are we going to be subjected to a group of leaders who would show us out of Nigeria through the back door? Do we fully understand all that's at stake? Hardly do leaders tell their followers the consequences of their actions and inaction. Would this common debt equal common wealth? I often say that in Nigeria, I've seen where the mad are leading the blind. It's that simple. While compliance is an integral part of loyalty, it doesn't absolve anybody of blame when faced with the accusation and consequences of insubordination. Are we yet another experiment to enrich who knows who? Ndigbo must beware of being used as political pawns. 
5. Standard(s) deviation: Lastly, are standards being compromised by how willing Ndigbo and other peoples of the defunct Biafra want to conform to a lazy call to sit-at-home? Standards aid law and order. They maintain decorum. It's going to become the norm for people to consider Mondays a natural extension of the weekend if this call becomes the lifestyle of the Southeast. Of course it wouldn't. The end of the spell could signify the end of a bet and all would return to normal and Hallelujah would rend the air. Nnamdi Kanu is freed from bondage and we all return to our offices and stores. We all return to our standard of counting Monday as the beginning of the work week and traders can travel to Onitsha for their commerce. Soon, we mightn't recall what got us sitting at home, perhaps every day. Is the quality of life in the Southeast eroding for a select few to feel unnecessarily important that their order is being heeded? Beware of pride. Igbo life and culture are fast disappearing into the other tribe no thanks to the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The corps has shamed graduate from the Southeast for too long and I happen to be the only voice from this area calling for its proscription for only extending the 'wars' of Nigeria and deviating people mostly the Igbo from the norm. What influences our lives? Are we now Hellenic, pagan or Rosicrucian of a necessity? Nigeria and Igboland are not located in Greece nor in Germany. Beware of false influences that deviate from standard(s).
   

Whether or not we we understand what's at stake in Abuja with Nnamdi Kanu, we needn't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

But what if the order/call is a struggle?

To be continued....