The 1994-5 constitutional conference birthed the principle of six geo-political zones in the country as well as the federal character principle. It is the resolution of that conference that formed the spirit of the 1999 constitution of the FRN. Yours sincerely has painstakingly done a study of the zones, and can freely announce that the idea of six geo-political zones in the country is a good one. Even if the initiators had the wrong motive, that idea is capable of skyrocketing national unity. It is a good thing for the minority groups in the country. It will give them a sense of community as well as a voice on the issues of national discourse. Take for example, the Igala people of Kogi state. Nigeria is too large for the voice of the Igala man to be heard, so the geo-political zone arrangement will enable our Igala brother to find his voice within his zone, and therefore, take that issue to the national front from there. So far, the south-south has been reaping from that arrangement. Remember the south-south economic summit? In the south-south, no ethnic group can lord it over the other, forget the argument of Ijaw as the fourth largest ethnic group in Nigeria. So the platform of geo-political zone is now a pedestal and a launching pad for progress for those who know. In the north-central, the unity is maintained in the older association called the Middle Belt Forum. Whatever name they choose to go by, the argument is there are the norths central. In here also, we have a diverse of minorities. Each one cannot meander her way to the centre to attract attention, so the need to come together became imperative. So we hold the view that the geo-political zone is good for the minority groups if only they can take the advantage of it. The south-eastern people of Nigeria, mainly the Igbos have not fared well on this arrangement largely due to the fact of their own inconsistency, gerrymandering and competitive politics. Among the Igbos, there are natives of particular fonts. Each nativity has its own peculiarity in tongue, which we call dialect. It is this dialect that gives one an identity, and thus serves as a distinguishing mark from the other. This peculiarity has made some to say that “Igbo abu otu” in such an insulting manner. Each group pride themselves in their achievements and so on. In our mind, the task of the Igbo intelligentsia is to unite these discordant tunes, reconciling them to understand the gains of their diversity. What we need is leadership. It is in the light of this that diverse Igbo association both home and abroad have decided to come together to discuss matters of interest, as it affects them. The pan Igbo socio-cultural organization known as Ohaneze Ndigbo will also take part in this loaded conference. One hitherto has observed that fronting of individual association in the name of Ndigbo will never prove to be a potent panacea for the malady of Ndigbo. One must congratulate the few intelligentsias that took the initiative to ask for the temporary dissolve of their pet projects to unite to achieve this needed unity. We must also add that anyone of them that decides not to key into this initiative for the betterment of Ndigbo is to be seen as the real enemy of Ndigbo and not the government.
Posted on: Fri, 16 Aug 2013 18:17:17 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015