By Ijewa, Zeb Obioma

Through time and history, most social rebirths or reawakening could be traced to the realisation or regaining of a certain lost consciousness of a people’s worth, value or heritage.

Another could as well be linked to persecution and undeserved treatment at the hands of neighbors or masters as the case may be.

Israel (Jewish nation) had been one of the oldest nations on earth.

Remember that the Egyptian slavery experience was a primary lesson that necessitated Moses’ deliverance plan of “let my people go”. But that was a child’s play compared to the Holocaust that took place in Hitler’s Germany which, apart from dispersing the Jews like oilbean tree to the utmost ends of the globe, resulted in the concerted efforts of the  United Nations to return the Jews to their ancestral homeland of Israel (Canaan) in the Middle East, late ’40s.

In other words, when a people – mostly a travelling and adventurous tribe like the Igbo, begin to undergo certain socio-econmic persecutions and ill-treatments at the hands of their hosts, it begins to demand for such a people to make a rethink about their lives of adventures and sojourn, with a tendency to retrace their steps and invest their living homewards.

The Igbo is a highly traveled, urbane, business minded, fortune hunting, detribalised and success driven adventurers. They are prosperous in most things they do, just like the Jews. The Igbo story in Nigeria is repetitious.

First, the politico-socio events of the 1960s culminating in the pogrom, and consequently, the near three years genocidal Nigerian- Biafran war, were big lessons for the Igbo of the past, the present and the future.

Worse still, the ‘un-attachment’ attitude of the Nigerian federal government to the ‘vanquished’ state of the Igbo’s and their homeland, has not helped matters. Seriously and very practically speaking, there is obvious lack of federal presence in Igbo land.

The neglect nature and marginalization of the Igbo tribe by the federal government, in spite of its glaring hypocrisy, would suggest a deliberate orchestration to make a people loathe their homeland and disperse to other places in search of greener pastures.

Apart from making uncommon exploits in business and commerce, the Igbo invests in Education. For a people who cherish civilization, education became a prerequisite for other engagements. Even the business man – the ordinary trader, would squeeze out time to engage extra moral or part time educational pursuit so as not to lag behind where and when it mattered. The Igbo is popularly known as a most industrious people on the surface of the earth. Sometimes, somewhere, they are rated as the most intelligent group of people from the continent of Africa.

Now, in most parts of Nigeria, the Igbo, the people who carry and bring development to anywhere they go, are facing one form of persecution or another. If they are not made sacrificial lambs during religious crisis or extremism, they are bullied or discriminated against in places of business or work.

In the past, such atrocious treatments were only common in the core Islamic states and regions of the North. However, the unconscionable political inconsistencies, overreach, and atrocities of the recent times have indicated that, even in the Southern part of Nigeria, mostly the Southwest of the Yoruba tribe, the Igbo could only be said to have been tolerated all the while.

True, the Yoruba has never hidden their fear, detest, envy and acrimonious jealousy of the Igbo – mostly as they could not fathom how, after all the devastation and economic wickedness meted on the Igbo by emasculating federal government policies, the Igbo still picked up from the ashes to emerge strong commercial and economic power in the country.

Most large business in Lagos are owned by the Igbo.  About 80% of investments and buildings in Lagos are owned by the Igbo. Most painful is the fact that the Igbo population in Lagos is seriously undermining the political prospects of the Yoruba.

This, they are not comfortable with. Thus, the recent demolitions of residential and commercial buildings owned by Igbos and unprovoked attacks directed at Igbo businesses, owe to the frenzy venomous orgy to weaken the Igbo economic prospects.

Fear of Igbo domination! Somehow, the Igbo had never at any point in time held their people back from enterprising in their chosen fields. So, the bottom line is that the realization that the Igbo is indomitable, irrepressible, indefatigable, irresistible, resilient and bold is the reason for the current campaign of calumny and annihilation by the other tribes.

The above and more are the reasons for the mission, vision, and philosophical content of “Igbo Ruo Ulo, E Dozie AlaIgbo”.

It will be an effort in futility if mention is not made of the human factor protagonist of this all timely and important venture and agenda. In life, leadership has always been prominent in human affairs.

Somebody must be the initiator of any movement or ideology. It might not indicate that such an individual is the only one affected by the ugly situation, but it would imply that what others see as not their concern gets deeper reflection and understanding by that initiator.

In the light of this, Chief Agumba Obioma Ezinwa deserves all the accolades and appreciation for sacrificing his time, energy and resources to establish this all timely and necessary call of reawakening for all Igbo sons and daughters to return home and develop Igboland – where their investments will be safe, enduring, and protected: and they would be appreciated, too, as against the wicked ways they are being treated outside Igboland.

Therefore, “Igbo Ruo Ulo, E Dozie AlaIgbo” is a movement of consciousness and awareness creation for all Igbo sons and daughters to rise up to the challenges and demands of the present situation, with a view to appreciating the advantages and benefits of bringing their investments down our homeland, in preparation for a more secure future investments and protection of our hard earned wealth. In other words, “north or west, home is the best”. This is a modern Renaissance!

It is good to mention that in doing this, in making these many sacrifices and running the risks of tireless traveling, Chief Agumba is not unaware of the possible hitches on the way. Yes, the Igbo are naturally stubborn and difficult to govern.

Leadership by one man is historically unpopular with the Igbo. Hence, the Igbo do not recognize leadership by one man. So, this continues to play out when at any instance, a lone man brings up an idea to lead and educate the people, it has always proved a herculean task.

But the good turn is that, if such leadership could endure the seeming early distractions and forge ahead, with time, he will be faced with those who had been complacent or detached trying to wrestle the leadership position from him, because they have seen the prospects of success in the venture.

That is the Igbo Republicanism – bringing the matter at the public square and waiting until all have given consent before identifying with the issue.  No. Waiting until all have come to agreement could mean waiting forever.

Good enough, the movement has gained speedy acceptance and the membership keeps growing on daily basis. “That all might come to the knowledge of the truth”. “Igbo Ruo nu ulo, ugbu a bu oge!”

Ijewa, Zeb Obioma writes as Director, Media and Publicity, Igbo Ruo Ulo Edozie Ala Igbo Development Union Worldwide.