The Nigerian question is not a proclivity of the Igbo nation. It cuts across all the ethnic nationalities in the country, even zone by zone. However, the South East zone has been asking more of the questions than other zones. And this is a disturbing revelation.
Why, for instance, is the Igbo discriminated against when it comes to project locations and appointment of heads to sensitive positions? It is quite disgusting that in the almost six years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, no Igbo is found worthy both in trust, confidence and performance to be appointed as a service chief? This is a disturbing national question and the Igbo are singing it as a slogan.
Yet, there are even worse instances. For example, how can it be explained that the South East is completely cut off from the rail project of Buhari and no one is asking any question? This is a huge and embarrassing national question.
From the entire southern part of the country comes the founded fear that the Fulani herdsmen are poised even unashamedly, to take their lands. They are therefore calling on the Federal Government to call the herders to order. But this present federal government cannot muster the needed courage to ask the herders to retreat? Not only in the south, is the middle part of Nigeria equally crying foul. These are examples of national questions without any answer in sight.
It is this absurdity called national question that has denied a quintessential figure like Dr TOE Ekechi victory all the time he stood for election in Imo State. TOE is a man you can reliably toe with. He is a workaholic, ingenious, inventive and creative.
A businessman turned politician, TOE has lifted the poor, assisted indigent students, helped the sick by picking their hospital bills and ultimately provided employment opportunities to hundreds of people both in the rural and urban areas. Sadly, this noble man of ideas and strategy failed elections!
What is even more curious is the disappointing disposition of his Ngor Okpala LGA of Imo State. You see, Ngor Okpala is among the biggest LGAs in the state. It is densely populated and its landmass is enormous. If the government of Imo is serious, Ohaji Egbema and Ngor Okpala should be made the food basket of the state.
Not only that, Ngor Okpala was a pace setter in the past. Look at this: in the early days, there was Owerri County Council, Okigwe County Council, Mbaise County Council and Orlu County Council. Owerri County Council now has three LGAs. Okigwe has six, Mbaise three and Orlu 12, yet Ngor Okpala still has one. This is a local issue that forms a part of the national question we are talking about.
In the First Republic, the late Dr. Basil Nnanna Ukegbu was a member of the Eastern Parliament. He was the first educationist to invest and open a private university known as Tedem and Dorothy College. He contested for the governorship of Imo State in 1979 on the platform of GNPP. Of course, he was a member of the Great – 38 that fought the late General Abacha to standstill for a return to civil rule.
Also, the late Chief Mrs Maria Egu Eke was among the few Owerri personalities that ensured that the capital of Imo State was in Owerri and not Umuahia as initially opted. Are you even aware that the capital of the old Owerri LGA was at Umuneke Ngor till 1991?
Shortly after the tragic civil war, the musical group known as the Oriental Brothers international Band was put together by two Ngor Okpala wards namely Kabaka and Dan Satch. The sponsors were also Ngor Okpala businessmen James Azuwuike and Ikediala.
The Imo Airport is located in Ngor Okpala, the Catholic junior seminary is there, the most popular priest in the state, and the now late Monsignor Theophilus Okere hails from there. Yet, it has never produced any governor, no deputy governor, no minister, no ambassador, no senator, just nothing!!!
Lastly, the enclave is studded with firsts in almost all human endeavour to wit: the late D. N. Okere, ex speaker, Eastern House of Parliament, Sir Onyeso Nwachukwu, Dr Mrs Ndii Okereke, Perpetua Nkwocha, Sir George Eche, Bishop Gregory Okereafo, Jossy Nkwocha, Ethelbert Okere, Henry Ekpe, and Enyinnaya Onuegbu. Others include Prof Jude Njoku, Dr. Mrs Christy Njoku, Barrister Onyekwere, Dr Austin Uganwa and few others.
As we ask the national question centered on the marginalization of Ndigbo, we must equally ask this local question about the exclusionary of Ngor Okpala from state matters.
