Man, Know Who You Are Our history among all people of the South is not one replete with wars or domination by any particular tribe among our various people. We definitely do have our animosities and misunderstanding but not the extent of seeking the extermination of each other. Even going up north, there has been a common understanding among the people even with all the religious and cultural differences factored in. Our people have almost always maintained cordial relationships with all its host communities. But all these changed the moment the British came to town to enslave and later to colonize us. It led to breakdown in the peaceful relationship that all the various tribes were enjoying. This led to amalgamation and the declaration of animosity against the Igbo people by the British. It is not that the Hausa or any other tribe for that matter had this monstrous hate against the Igbo man. Yes there is jealousy for the fact that the Igbo does well at school, work and business and every other human endevour. We do not wish anyone ill but have contributed in any environment that we are given chance to develop. Our history going back supports good neighbourliness with the people across the land. We are not known to be invaders but peace loving settlers in other parts of the land outside our ancestral land. Changes began to manifest the moment the British figured that the only thing that will make them relevant would be to sow the seeds of discord among our various tribes and keep us perpetually divided. By this 'divide and rule' tactics, we became permanently occupied on how to out do one another while our task masters go about destroying the very element that could have held us together. Amalgamation drove a wedge between our various people to the point that we became haters of ourselves rather than being unified. We became hunters not after animals but seeking a way or means of exterminating a section of our land. We seek to wipe off the face of the earth the very part of our diverse cultures that was working hard to contribute to our over all development. One then begins to wonder what led to all the deceptions and misleading mindset of the people. You hear things like, you know so and so will cheat and take advantage of you if you ever take side with them. The fear of one tribe became the beginning of wisdom across the land. Going back in time, we could see that all the various tribes both the big and not so big, have managed to live peacefully even when there were tribal wars to settle land disputes. The various tribes nevertheless were always in constant reminder of who they are and their relationships with each other. For example, the history of our ancient place supports the claim that Oduduwa was a relative of the Igbo people who due to expansion ended up being settled in the western part of Nigeria where you have the Yoruba people today. The Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Efik, Ogoni, Isoko, Tiv -going all the way to the entire plateau mountains etc are historically cousins just like the people of the so called Niger Delta which many fail to realize are completely part and parcel of Biafra before and even now. We all know where Bite/Bight of Biafra is located in Bayelsa State even though the internally generated slave masters have tried everything to wipe the Bight of Biafra off the map and rename it Bight of Bonny. Nigerian rouge leaders believe in deceit and fraud to keep the people in check. Settlement has always been a tool in the hands of the ruling class and we all must take it upon ourselves to deliver justices to all those collaborators among our kindred and villagers. We know who they are and where they live across the land. Very soon they will begin to hear from our people in different ways. We made mistakes before but let not those who are dividing and benefiting as a result of our disunity, fool themselves any more by thinking that Igbo, Ijaw, Efik, Bini, Yoruba, Tiv and all those communities that fall under the Ancient Map of Africa that goes back 1400 CE, will continue to fall for this joke all the time. We must all rise up now and support the emergence of a federation that will cater to our people and allow unhindered development just like is happening in other African countries. As independent States, we can all adopt good neighbourly policies that protect our peoples across the land. We will establish diplomatic relations and do business according to international rules and regulations. If we also choose to live without normal relations, then we must abide by international armistice. We do not need to shade the blood of our people who have gone through so much in the hands of the criminally minded occupiers of our land. Criminal cabals that must pay dearly for their crimes against our people all over the land. They will do everything to derail us but this time around, there are two things ahead of us: On the front we have the reed sea, on the back we have Egypt and on both sides we have the mountains. The Holy one who divided the sea for our people in time past, will surely raise up help for us. We straight away extend hand of friendship to all but not out of weakness but in pursuit of peace. We must never allow 'stone age era reasoning' to derail us this time around. Our time is here and what we do with it, will reflect upon our people for perhaps eternity. It is not going to be easy to say the least, but who said that it would be? The criminals will not let go easily and we must be prepared to take on them on the streets. The entire world is waiting for us. The injustices and crimes of the Nigerian leaders are a common knowledge around the world. Serious acts that lead to destruction of nations have always been part of the norm in Nigeria and yet its rouge leaders continue to preach fake unity. We all should collectively rise up and say no this time around to the British, all the oil majors as well as any section of the world that try to use tribe or religion to set us against each other. We have been taken advantage of, for far too long and the time has come for us to rise up from our slumber and take back our freedom from this bondage. There is really no need for doing it otherwise since we all already know what it means to do it the divided way. Let us put this credo to better use since the generation that invented it, did not put it to good use ”united we stand, divided we fall”. This is our chance to make a difference among our generations both those that are alive, dead and the future. The entire world will see what we can do if we stick together. If we fail to stick together, then we suffer greatly even for the next thousand years...God forbid. Yes let the Southern half of presently fragmenting Nigeria. We all are living witnesses of what corruption and greed for power can lead to. Let us also learn from all that we as a people have gone through since that ill fated mistake of 1914. It is not good for any part of the country be it the North, South, East, South South, Niger Delta, Middle Belt, Center Belt, End of Belt or any other communities that they may choose to rename to further break us apart. It beats me that the core north always display a sing of flu symptoms whenever the present state of Nigeria is the subject of discussion. There are great deposits that can develop the north and even export to other countries. The north is more than able to do well if left alone but the will is lacking among the people. Cheap means of making money is the way to go. If in doubt, then pay a visit to any federal ministry that is being managed by a northerner. I have been there and have witnessed what is going on there first hand. Contribution to national inter-national development is there but greed and the oil money is blinding its leaders. This is also going on more in the Biafran region but is coming to an end as our fullness is upon us. We all can do it together if we are willing to rise up above tribal or religious sentiments and take the bull by the horn. Our disunity have been greatly manipulated by the powers that be especially those that think that it is their birthright to rule. There is a lot of good that can come out of the north if the people pay attention to the agricultural sector and this applies to every other part of the land. We need to focus on those things that worked in the past such as farming and sound education if we ever intend to develop. We have what it takes to get it right across the board. Biafra intend maintaining peaceful co-existence with all our neighbours around . We also intend to defend our rights strongly if faced with any threats that challenge our people in any corner of the world. Civil war is in every mouth now at home and there is a great opportunity for us to free ourselves from the bondage that the that is impeding our collective development. I have been to the north many times and I have seen injustice against the people especially the poorest of the society. Such crimes against humanity must be done away with in all our communities but it all depends on how the people who are being persecuted decides to go about being free. Alliances with the north failed in the past now lets try aligning with ourselves down south and lets see how we fare. Loose federation failed to work and all shades of democracy failed us. Kleptocracy or 419 democracy finally drove the last nail on the coffin of what promised to be the dawn of a new 'African Giant' back in 1960 when Nigeria obtained the 'still birth' independence from her colonial master. A government of the thieves, for the thieves have never cared about our people. There are certain things that we must all learn from the past and forge a formidable alliance. Our places can be massively developed in peace rather than all the crimes currently being committed against our entire population. We must go our way now and conduct ourselves as good neighbours without lording it on any section of the divide. Let us say no to all those interest groups that does not truly represent our values. We were together before the slave-colonial-amalgamation. We all have witnessed what it means to be forced into a union against your will. Let us now collectively reject all the deceits that have been used to mislead our people to believe that we cannot do it on our own. Even the late Sultan of Sokoto Ahmadu Bello did proudly indicate that it is in the interest of the north to take off on their own rather than be part of Nigeria. I think I do agree with him totally now considering how far its rulers have gone in destroying what was once a promising country on October 1, 1960. Let us all take off on our various ways and go back to what worked for us in the past, rather than holding on to false peace that caters to the pocket stuffing of a few. We must call to mind the words of a legend, one who foresaw history as a means of finding our ways whenever we are lost in the journey of life. Marcus Garvey a great Igbo Jamaican stated that “a people without knowledge of its past, are like trees without roots” This philosophy stands today to lead us to the right way as against the rigmarole that we are engaged in right now. Emeka Eze [email protected]
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