Lekan Sote
The Nuremberg trial of former Senate Deputy President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, reminds one of the vital challenges of Brother Jero of the immensely hilarious playlet, "Trial of Brother Jero," written by using Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka.
The lesson from the senator's event is that Nigeria's political elite cannot hide from their materials, even outdoor the country. the realm is now "flat," as the convergence of computer, telecommunications, and air trip technologies, has reconfigured the area into one unit.
it's now difficult, notwithstanding now not impossible, for a traveller to prevent being monitored. A mobile call made within the Pakistani boondocks created a digital path in which bodyguard Al Kuwaiti unwittingly led the american citizens to the lair of Osama bin laden.
If bin laden, conscious of the potential of virtual technology to find any individual (as monitoring of area travels have shown), may also be ferreted out via a virtual slip, no person can escape being found out via these determined to locate them.
Senator Ekweremadu had responded to an invitation to carry a lecture at the 2019 Yam festival in Nuremberg, Germany. however on arrival on the venue, he obtained a adversarial and downright unhealthy reception.
His hosts' efforts to offer protection to him failed, and he became pelted with what gave the look of sticks, eggs, and yam tubers, via individuals stated to be members of the separatist Indigenous americans of Biafra. They described their action as mere picketing.
At some extent, Ekweremadu ran right into a constructing, for protection, it gave the impression. however he became overwhelmed returned unto the road. It need to have taken sheer good fortune for him to get away what gave the impression of a lynching-about-to-take place. He definitely stood at the verge of losing his existence, or a limb, if he had no longer been spirited away.
The interesting element is that some people, who looked like German police officers, stood by using, looking at the incident, as if what changed into going on was neither dangerous, nor a breach of the general public peace.
Ekweremadu's immediate offence, some claim, turned into that the "isiagu," or Igbo ethnic jumper, that he wore, bore the insignia or coat-of-hands of the Nigerian state, which the IPOB believes not serves the interests of the Igbo nation.
The far off reason behind the assault is the allegation that the senator, and a lot of contributors of the Igbo political elite, have didn't steer the route of the Nigerian ship of state to tackle the geopolitical interests and existential wants of the Igbo americans of Nigeria.
The IPOB has accused governors of the Southeastern states, and the Igbo political elite, of giving at the least subterranean approval to Operation Python Dance I, II, and III, the military excursion despatched with the aid of the Nigerian state to the South-East.
take into account that these dance steps led to the dying of many IPOB participants, and the extraordinary return of IPOB chief, Nnamdi Kanu, to exile. thus far, there was no clear assistance in regards to the defense or health of Kanu's father, the traditional ruler in Afaraukwu, Umuahia, Abia State capital.
regardless of being companions within the countrywide politics of the primary and 2nd Repulics of Nigeria, the Igbo, have yet to absolutely improve from the political and economic dislocation they suffered automatically earlier than, during, and after, the civil battle that caused the lack of many lives, limbs, and fortunes. The Igbo are still handled like outsiders within the Nigerian political space.
yes, an Igbo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, become ceremonial President of the first Republic; another, Gen J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi, was briefly a armed forces Head of State; and yet a further, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, changed into vice president in the 2d Republic.
notwithstanding a fourth, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, was Chief of usual team of workers to defense force dictator Ibrahim Babangida, it nonetheless appears that there is an unwritten code that bars the Igbo from main Nigeria politically.
The Igbo have a sense that they've been railroaded out of the scheme of things in Nigeria, and it doesn't appear as if the Nigerian state intends to correct the perceived wrongs anytime quickly. That informs what's panning out as an urgency of the Igbo to exit, or BIAFREXIT, Nigeria.
It also informs the frustration of the Igbo within the Diaspora, considered one of whom complained that if Nigeria had been thoroughly run, he would have had no intent emigrate to the tough weather and different conditions of Europe or North the united states, to search for economic succour or the famed greener pastures.
however the charge of the insensitivity and negligence of the plight of elements by way of Nigeria's political elite is not unique to the Igbo. practically every country wide neighborhood, the Yoruba, Ijaw, and even the Hausa-Fulani, whom others allege solely hold the levers of vigor in the country, complains of marginalisation, and of being schemed out of the privileges of citizenship.
operating all the way through the nation is a thread of frustration, arising from poverty, unemployment, insecurity, and dilapidated and inadequate infrastructure. in the face of all these is the crass reveal of power and wealth inordinately obtained by using politicians who've unbridled entry to the standard wealth.
no longer a few other Nigerians have expressed assist for the Igbo's added-territoral approach to "knocking" the Nigerian political elite into form. You see, Nigeria's political elite have perfected the artwork of ultimate within the corridors of power even if the voters like it or no longer.
at first, Sections 65(2)(b), 106(d), 131(c), and 177(c) of Nigeria's charter provide that "an individual will be qualified for election to the (workplaces of legislator, President of Nigeria and State Governor simplest) if he's a member of a political birthday party and is backed via a political birthday party."
Secondly, Sections 66, and one hundred ten, of the charter, which supply for the recall of countrywide and state legislators are cumbersome, labourious, and prescribe as many as 90 days before the system can be concluded.
Thirdly, Sections 143 and 188 of the constitution additionally provide an difficult mechanism, that may take about six months, before an erring President, vice chairman, Governor or Deputy Governor may also be impeached.
The Nigerian state has so impoverished the individuals of Nigeria that any crumb from the table of the political elite will preserve them from rocking the political boat. by way of paying each senator N14 million per thirty days, whereas nevertheless having problems paying a mere N30,000 minimal wage to people, the Nigerian state is guaranteeing that the masses will continually kowtow to the political elite.
A maverick Nigerian suggested that it's probably time for the Nigerian Diaspora to extend the Ekweremadu "courtesy" against or babies of Nigeria's political elite who're researching in foreign larger associations.
This, he argues, may still compel the political elite to improve the crumbling local tertiary associations. regardless of the skills danger that this recommendation may additionally pose to the bad children, he thinks there's benefit in it.
when you are legislations-abiding, civilised, and don't like violence, you're going to now not aid lynch mobs. but this novel method of communicating the pondering of the dominated to the political elite might compel a favorable overview of government policies to favour all Nigerians.
regardless of Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi's bravado in declaring, "i will be able to tell IPOB anytime I need to shuttle," observers say Nigeria's political elite ought to watch their returned abroad. The Orwellian massive Brother is looking at: 1984 is right here!
Now that even "standard" Nigerians are being despatched out of other countries, everybody may still sit down it out right here to salvage Nigeria.
Twitter @lekansote
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