South-East Bureau Chief, Jude Ossai, brings reports on the reactions and counter-reactions that trailed the recently held Igbo summit, which took place in Enugu State.

When will Ndigbo come together? This is not the real Igbo political summit we want. I ob
served at the hall today what looked like a market summit. Why blame the governors and the National Assembly members of South-East extraction for boycotting the summit, when there is a proliferation of Igbo groups.”

The aforementioned words of illusion came from an Igbo activist, who simply gave his name as Okechukwu. Truly, he, like many Igbos, were upset by the disunity of Ndigbo and the division manifested in the Igbo political forum, held at the Hotel Presidential, Enugu, on August 16.

Prior to the Igbo summit convened by the First Republic Minister, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, there were conflicting reports of the day of commencement of the political gathering. While the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, in a radio-paid announcement, called off the summit, the convener, Chief Amechi, in a counter announcement, urged the people to ignore Senator
Ekweremadu’s statement, saying that the event would go ahead as scheduled.

As it came to pass, the Enugu August Igbo summit took place, contrary to the order of the Deputy Senate President. But this act did not go without bruises, as the meeting did not attract expected opinion leaders, captains of industries and political lords of Igbo blood, which, many believe, robbed the summit its credibility.

Indeed, it might not be too far to say that the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Chief Ugochukwu Agballa, known as a great mobiliser, would have had the road smoothened, if he had heeded to the opinion of the senator, who, a source said, had advised the organisers to postpone the summit to September, when the coast is expected to get clear.

It was gathered that it was the office of the Deputy Senate President that laid the foundation of the summit before opposition leaders hijacked it, making the plea by the senator to postpone the summit to fall on a deaf ear.

Unlike in the North, where the people respect the views of an Emir, in Igbo land, every person seemed to be on his own and carries his cross. This, perhaps, was the reason the advised of the Deputy Senate President was not heeded.

The August 16 Igbo forum was not the first time the republican nature of Ndigbo played out, as even in Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex umbrella of the Igbo socio-cultural association, is also facing the problem of disunity, as prominent Igbo leaders in the union are singing different tunes on issues concerning next year’s presidency.

While Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu is rooting for President Goodluck Jonathan re-election and rotation of presidency between the North and South axis, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, suggested that the office of president should be rotated among the six geopolitical zones.

Even as the Igbo summit ended with an endorsement of President Jonathan for re-election in 2011, the endorsement was greeted with mixed feelings because some of the Igbo people kicked against it. They argued that it was undemocratic and against the philosophy of Ndigbo republican nature.
Further checks revealed that the earlier call-off of the summit by the Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu might have affected the turn out of the summit, as none of the South-East governors as well as national and states assembly members were in attendance. Even neither a serving local government chairman nor councilor of an Igbo origin was present.

Apart from Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, many prominent Igbo leaders, like Chief Ken Nnamani, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim and Senator Jim Nwobodo, among others, were conspicuously absent at the forum.

Reactions from the audience showed that many Igbo leaders had reservations concerning the summit, as they contended that it was not for the interest of larger segment of Ndigbo to have proliferation of Igbo pressure groups, most of which, they argued, were politically motivated.

Prior to the Igbo summit, a former Minister of Information, Chief John Nwodo, had raised alarm over the increasing number of Igbo fora, warning on the danger of having discordant tunes, which, he said, could jeopardise the collective interest of Ndigbo.

The ex-minister told elders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo called Imeobi, on August 14, that it was high time the Igbos came together to chart a common front, adding that he was surprised that another Igbo summit was being called when the apex umbrella of Ndigbo socio-cultural association, the  Ohanaeze Ndigbo was existing.

As predicted, the Igbo summit turned out to be a jamboree of rented crowd, most of who were jobless youths and opposition leaders.

Little wonder, one Emma Okocha, who spoke on behalf Igbos in the USA, described the Enugu gathering as “a market summit”. According to him, a credible Igbo summit should be convened in nearest future where vexed issues concerning Ndigbo should be tabled for proper discussion.
The son of late Nwafor Orizu, Barrister Orji Nwafor Orizu, told reporters at the summit that there was need for the people of South-South and South-East to come together just as they did before the civil war. He suggested that the Igbo Forum should form a committee that will liaise with the South-South people with a view to strengthening their relationship.

Also speaking at the Igbo summit, the convener, Chief Amechi, explained that the purpose of the summit was to talk on potent political issues in the country, which is on the nation's presidency in 2011.

“The most potent political issue in Nigeria today is who will be elected president and commander-in-chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2011. Should his selection and election be based on zoning or retention by present incumbency,” he added.

Chief Amechi maintained, “I have my views and poistion on the question of zoning or no zoning. The North has ruled Nigeria for 38 years and six months between Balewa, Gowon, Muhammed, Shagari, Buhari, Babangida, Abacha, Abubakar and Yar'Adua. The West has ruled Nigeria for 12 years and three months between Obasanjo (as a soldier), Shonekan and Obasanjo (as a civilan). The South-East ruled for six months by Aguiyi-Ironsi,” he argued.

According to him, it is left to the people of old Eastern Region to internally decide whether the Igbo side or non-Igbo side should pick the slot in 2011 presidential election.

It was gathered that top on the argument was that if the South-South is allowed to take the presidency in 2011 and hold it for 8 years, it will in rotaion get to the North who will keep it for another 8 years. Therefore, the shortest period when the Igbos may have a slot for the office is 16 years and no one can predict if the West will not join the contest. Some also agued that the people of the South-South do not like Ndigbo and will never, at any time, support the aspirations of the Ndigbo.
The National Secretary of the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Chief Osita Okechukwu, in his speech, tongue-lashed the Igbo governors for foreclosing Ndigbo from contesting the presidency in 2011, while describing it as a decree.

"We all know that the record of our fore-bearers is not the record of those who sell their conscience, beg or genuflect for others. How come a hard working, innovative and independent minded Ndigbo cannot elect their leaders? How come a self reliant and intelligent Ndigbo allowed their second and even third eleven to play their crucial political matches?” he queried.

Chief Iwuaynawu had earlier advised Ndigbo to support zoning system, as it was the easier way for the Ndigbo to get the presidency at a given time. The PDP chieftain urged Ndigbo to follow the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) decision on zoning by supporting President Jonathan to realise his re-election in 2011.

But the snag in the Igbo summit endorsement of President Jonathan re-election is that it did not, like the South-East governors, foreclose further dialogue on Igbo vision for the presidency as it categorically stated that in its five page communiqué that Ndigbo were ready to negotiate with other interest groups to pursue their agenda.  It, therefore, advised all stakeholders to always consult Ndigbo in reaching political agreements.

Some of the participants at the summit recalled how Ndigbo edged out the late Professor Eyo Ita from the defunct Eastern House of Assembly by late Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe who equally was not comfortable with the political environment in the former Western region.

To this group, Ndigbo should use the opportunity now to redress the alleged injustice meted to the late Professor Ita by re-allying with the South-South geopolitical zone.

Be that as it may, the happy development is that Ndigbo have begun to talk. There is no doubt that there were short-comings before and during the Igbo summit. But with time, perhaps, many Igbo leaders would see reason to have a common front, as no individual can make it alone without collective efforts.