Naked truth
with
…Comrade Okoye, Chuka Peter
Southeast Nigeria, which used to be one of the most peaceful regions in the country is now nose-diving into a state of chaos, given that the region seems to be lacking in the blessing of some form of leadership which understands that “everything in the universe is tending towards to disorder”.
In other words, this state of chaos is simply a fall-out of irresponsible governance.
Chinua Achebe once said, “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else. The Nigeria problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example which are the hallmark of true leadership”.
Leadership is not so much about titles (e.g. Governor, L.G.A. Chairman, etc.); it is about providing direction for a people in a world where everything is tending towards chaos. And also the ability to always engender people oriented policies, implement same and all ratified treaties, memoranda of understandings, including campaign promises. If we take our minds back, we will remember that the outcome of the three (3) years Nigerian civil war is agreed to be of ‘No victor No vanquish’, although it is being professed as a genocide against the eastern region.
The mutual understanding to reunite and engender peaceful coexistence was established with the introduction of the three R (Reconciliation, Reintegration and Reconstruction) by the then federal government. Unfortunately, the 3R was never implemented as widely believed by Igbos because there was never a genuine reconciliation and proper reintegration of Igbos nor the reconstruction of Ala Igbo by the federal government, since then till date.
We all can still remember that the Igbos were given paltry sum in equivalent to whatever they had in their bank accounts before the civil war, including other said unfair treatments being meted out to the easterners by the federal government till date.
However, we all know the constitutional stance in continuity of government that should have made the successive regimes to implement the aforesaid mutual understanding (The 3R), in order to uphold the acceptance of ‘No victor No vanquish’. Nevertheless, I wish to disclose that after a thorough research, it downed on me that the aforesaid ill-treatments alleged to be on the increase in this present time, is the root cause of the ongoing clamour for self-determination cum re-establishment of Biafra state by the South Easterners.
Supposedly, being facilitated by the federal government and intensively aided by the South East leaders, whose leadership pattern has failed to initiate and entrench a holistic development of the region. Consecutively ended up reducing the peoples’ confidence in them to a very low percentage, thereby creating an unimaginable leadership lacuna presently casing great confusion in the entire Southeast.
Down to the Eastern regional governance, its present state is somewhat similar to ‘a commercial vehicle on a high way, that narrowly escapes being crushed by an approaching heavy truck. And when the passengers of this commercial vehicle later found out that their own driver was under the influence of alcohol, there arose a commotion among them which brought about a volunteer-driver.
But having succeeded in disengaging the drunk driver, some passengers later on began to grumble alongside the former driver, lamenting that the volunteer-driver is insultive to everyone on board and reckless as well. Meanwhile, there are some others who are more concerned about not having a driver that is under the influence of any substance so to speak’.
In view of the foregoing allegory, it is evident that the present situation in Southeast is facilitated by the irresponsibility of those in leadership. Everyone may not agree with the volunteer-driver, but at the same time it is more dangerous when a driver – regardless of his age at driving – is guilty of ‘lack of exemplary leadership’.
For instance, the people of Anambra would be going to the polls come November 6, 2021. If a new governor eventually emerges, obviously it is going to be a new dawn for the people of the state. But inside every new dawn, there will be a dusk. A dusk is a time of test for anyone in the position of leadership.
Question is, does anyone whoever emerges as the new governor has the awareness that his or her leadership, in the long run, must be tested? In light of that, Abraham Lincoln once said, “The true test of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem before it becomes an emergency”.
It is very unfortunate what is happening in the Southeast today, but at the same time a lesson to all leaders and would-be leaders in the region.
There is an urgent need for a holistic interventions towards the redemption of the southeast which has to start with the leaders at all levels of governance. It is high time these Southeast leaders understood that it takes all sorts to be a leader. First, they should avoid making empty campaign promises to a suffering masses; anti-peoples’ policies and undemocratic approach in handling issues, which are major causes of the chaotic state of the region today.
Okoye, Chuka Peter is presently the Executive Director of Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS), a private not for profit, non-religious and non-partisan, pro-democracy organization committed to the entrenchment of good governance, respect for the rule of law and protection of the universal human rights of Nigerians, particularly the vulnerable, with base in Aba, Abia State. He is a native of Enugwu-Agidi in Nijikoka local government area of Anambra State, born and raised in the ancient city of Aba, Abia State.
