ENUGU — Yesterday in Enugu, it was a gathering of Igbo intelligentsia, political leaders and giants in various works of life, to look at the plights of the Igbo nation in Nigeria. Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and 2019 Presidential Candidate of the YPP was the keynote speaker at the event which took place at the Best Western Hotels, Independence Layout, Enugu. Prof. Moghalu, who also is the convener of Moghalu4Nigeria and a 2023 hopeful for the highest office in the country spoke on a very topical theme, “What do we want?”.
Discussion around this particular theme has been necessitated following recent developments in which some groups have been advocating secession from Nigeria for Ndi Igbo, in response to evident marginalization and victimization of Ndi Igbo in Nigeria, especially under this administration. However, many other people, including Igbo leaders of thought, political and cultural leaders advocate for something different. This has resulted in discordant tones regarding what the Igbos really want in, or from Nigeria.
Thus, the Igbonine conversation and gathering are designed to take a critical look at certain concerns and limitations of Ndi Igbo in Nigeria, with a view to articulating a near-perfect representation of the aspiration of Igbo people in Nigeria, in order to have a common front that is pursued or one that is the central target of Ndi Igbo, going forward.
In his inaugural address, Prof. Moghalu remarked that the ingenuity of the Igbo people set them apart as most distinguished Nigerians. “The Igbo of Southeast Nigeria is arguably the most cosmopolitan, demographically mobile, and sociologically adaptive of all Nigeria’s ethnic groups…Ndi Igbo are in reality more Nigerian than anyone else”. He then wondered why such people who have contributed the most to the Nigerian project will suddenly not be sure of their own place in a country they have played critical roles at the building.
“It is, therefore, a paradox that today; Ndi Igbo are at a crossroads, wondering what they want out of Nigeria’s fragile and troubled nationhood”. According to Moghalu, the depth of this development is further exacerbated by the fact that “We are divided internally over what our response should be too many failures of the Nigerian project, including indisputable political marginalization of Igbos…”, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu said.
Essentially, for Prof. Moghalu the keynote speaker, the Igbo people have four possible options which are as follows; the status Quo, Constitutional Restructuring, Nigerian President of Southeast Extraction, and finally, secession (Biafra). Moving forward, however, Prof. Kingsley Moghalu recommends as follows; “the Igbo must continue to resist any hegemonic worldview in Nigerian politics and assert their own political relevance”.
Secondly, “Elected Igbo political elite must demonstrate its commitment to the people of the region in order to regain their legitimacy”. Moghalu also suggested that Igbos must shift from reactions to proaction, just as Igbo people must insist on power rotation to Southern Nigeria and must be strategic about 2023 presidency, among other recommendations.
In his reaction, Sen. Abaribe, a leading voice in Nigeria’s Senate of Igbo extraction extolled Prof. Kingsley Moghalu as an embodiment of the political aspirations of Ndi Igbo in Nigeria. He also expressed confidence and support for Moghalu’s presidential aspiration in 2023. In his address, the Senator regretted that Nigeria is fast drifting as a result of unfair and unequal treatment of Nigerians.
“Unequal treatment of the people is at the root of the problems of Nigeria. There is now a feeling of alienation of the Igbo and it is not just us the Igbo that has that feeling, it has spread all over the place in the North, West, and South”, Sen. Abaribe said.
Ebuka graduated with a second-class upper-division degree in Political Science from the University of Calabar in Nigeria. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master's Degree in Political Science with a specialization in Government and Development Studies from Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Nigeria. His academic background and professional experience have equipped him with a deep understanding of political dynamics and governance issues.
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