THE death of the Ikemba Nnewi and ex-warlord, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu recently marked the end of an era in the political structure of the country. His death at the age of 78 heralds a watershed in the annals of Nigerian history and most especially, for the Igbo nation he fought and strove for. At a time like this when many Nigerians don't live to see their 50th birthday, Ojukwu's 78-year sojourn on earth, coupled with his mien, astuteness and penchant for justice in the last couple of decades, most especially towards his Igbo kinsmen, was one which perhaps, was well spent. It is with deep sorrow, therefore, that this writer wishes to send his heartfelt condolences to the Ojukwu clan simply because Ojukwu's contributions to the development of a nation fast turning into continental pariah, will be missed and wouldn't have come at a better time, if he were still amongst us.Having said this, Nigerians of Ojukwu's generation and several of those he has left behind will remember him much for nothing (even as Ojukwu had a rich history many would be proud of) other than the secession of the old Eastern Region he embarked upon against the geographical expression (to borrow the words of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo) called Nigeria. Historians, political scientists, academics and journalists alike have had and continues to give several reasons as to why Ojukwu plunged the nation into a three-year bloody Civil War. However, the fact that Igbos who lived in the North were systematically eliminated in the aftermath of the 1966 failed coup led by Major Chukwuemaka Kaduna Nzeogwu, would be said to be one of the major reasons which gave Ojukwu (even though some have argued oil and tussle for leadership among junior military officers were responsible for the war), the temerity to call his compatriots back home and eventually asked for a seperate entity named Biafra.Several voices have been linked to the 1966 war, which ended in 1970, but many opinions have failed to state categorically how the war eventually nailed the political coffin of the Igbo. At the end of the war, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd) embarked upon what was known as the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation programme which was a novel idea to bring the Eastern region back on its feet. However, despite the sincere packages inherent within the 3Rs, failed to play the critical role they were meant to play, thus leading to a setback for not only the Igbos, but the entire Eastern region and today's South-East. If perhaps the 3Rs had worked in few areas, like bringing the Eastern Region back into the Nigerian Federation, it did nothing to raise the political strength of the Igbo.Assessing the decade before and during the First Republic, the Igbos, like the other two dominant ethnic groups, were active in all strata of the nation especially politically. In fact, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, having joined Balewa's NPC in a coalition government, became the first President of Nigeria, though in ceremonial capacity. The emergence and eventual collapse of the Gowon regime and the coming of the Murtala Muhammed junta finally nailed the political coffin of the Igbo. The reason for this assertion could be seen in the fact that no Igbo has been able to attain political power from 1975 and even as the Fourth Republic progressed. The only times the Igbo have had a shot at the political ladder was during the botched Second Republic where Chief Alex Ekwueme served as the Vice-President to Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Vice-Admiral Augustus Aikhomu (rtd) under General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd). Under another democratic dispensation, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was married politically to the Northern candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. As if that was not enough, the zoning formula of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gave the North the 2007 presidential election ticket, under the late Alhaji Umar Yar'Adua and surprisingly, a man whose unreadiness to govern at the highest level became a source of worry for many.One would have thought things would change for the better when the Igbo, led once again by Ojukwu tried a shot at the presidential election in 2003, while Chief Rochas Okorocha too tried, yet their stories became like that of the tortoise who broke his shell, after trying to jump down from heaven to earth. The question which the Igbo should be asking at this time is not what led to this unfortunate act upon them, but how they can move away from a decade-long political stagnation, most especially when their sole voice, Ojukwu, is dead. The Igbo should be asking when they had been removed from the political scheme of things and how they can emerge at the highest political ladder. The Igbo should look at the Obasanjo era, down to the current administration and count how many Igbo occupy and still occupies strategic positions in the country. It is true that Baba Iyabo tried to give the Igbo sensitive positions in his administration, but has there been continuity' Where are the likes of Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, Frank Nweke Jnr, Professor Charles Soludo, Onyuike Okereke and other Igbos from the East who served under that administration' Where were they during the late Yar'Adua administration and where are they today' It is also true that an Igbo man heads one of the arms of the Armed Forces in the country, but how feasible is his replacement with another Igbo man when he retires or his tenure ends' How many Igbo can be seen in control of the ruling PDP' How many Ministers and Ministers-of-State exist in President Goodluck Jonathan's cabinet
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