LESSONS FOR NDI-IGBO, THE YORUBA EXAMPLE

Lessons for Ndi Igbo: The gubernatorial candidate of the all progressives grand alliance (APGA) Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr.

has in a delectable and absorbing lecture tagged “reclaiming our Identity: Politics and Development

in Alaigbo” which was delivered on Thursday at the University of Nigeria Nsukka shared some

heartwarming nuggets for ndi igbo.

Mr Nweke who has been at the forefront of the restoration of the identity of the Igbos believes

that the Igbo political class has a lot to learn from the Yorubas.

He pointed out how the Yorubas deployed the expertise of their intelligentsia and the influence

of their socio-cultural groups, made up of their elders, who enjoy the recognition and consultative
patronage of the ruling political elite.

In His Words:

“The additional lessons that the Igbo political class can learn from the Yoruba experience are cohesion,

unity, clarity of vision, patience, dignity, tenacity, mobilisation, accommodation and, most importantly,

contentment.

They were in the political trenches for 16 years or so to speak. Still, they persevered, coming together

when they needed to and disagreeing when they had to for the
ultimate and overall benefit of their region.

I cannot fail to point out the influence of the Yoruba patriarchal system on the politics of the region

and how they deploy the expertise of their intelligentsia and the influence of their socio-cultural groups, made up of their elders, who enjoy the recognition and consultative
patronage of the ruling political elite.

We can, in the same way, turn our acephalous system into an advantage, having a common goal and a body of elders
who are trusted to provide guidance.

yoruba journey to politics

How the Yorubas worked their way to political reckoning is not novel, as shown in the example

of Okpara’s exploits. Still, it suffices to say that it holds significant lessons for Igbo political elite, the region’s intelligentsia and important cultural organs which had played major roles in
Igbo thought, leadership, and ascendancy in the past.

Rather than moan under the weight of despondency that is pervasive in the Southeast today,

the region must see its current political dilemma as a great opportunity for introspection and mobilisation for the resurgence of Igbo

The Southwest has even gone ahead to formalise these practices and structures by establishing

the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, the DAWN Commission, under which they have

coalesced irrespective of political differences and built consensus on the strategic
development needs of the Southwest.

the Ohaneze

Today, we have Ohaneze, the foremost pan-Igbo socio-cultural organisation. I am unaware of any

other sociocultural groups that constantly face the kind of challenge that this group faces daily,

internally and externally. We must revisit our drawing board and craft a plan on how to reach a consensus on issues of common interest and sacrifice political mercantilism for our
collective group interest.”

the igbo structure

Borrowing the words of Dr. Okechukwu Ikejiani an astute scholar Mr Nweke defined what a formalized Igbo structure should look like:
“an institution in itself. This body must be greater than individual groups or individuals.

It will be capable of maintaining and repairing itself. It will have a life of its own which must

be longer than the life of its individual personalities. It will be anchored in integrity, decency, responsibility, and

honesty of purpose. It must reach every nook and corner of Nigeria wherever an Igbo man or

woman resides, just as the Igbo Union reached every nook and corner of Nigeria. It must have

far-reaching implications for the socio-political spectre of Nigeria. It must include all the Igbo within

Nigeria and the diaspora. It must have a permanent arm through which it can carry out its missions.

And above all, while some of its characteristics will not facilitate overt actions, the main and central machinery of the structure must remain a closely”

Click on the link for the FULL TEXT of the lecture:

https://www.franknwekeii.com/post/reclaiming-our-identity