EVERY IGBO IS SMARTER THAN EVERY OTHER IGBO!
Good followership is a prerequisite for good leadership. The Igbo saying, “Igbo enwe eze” (Igbos do not have kings) which was probably coined by a jealous nincompoop has continued to foment disarray in Igbo land. Igbos may never have had hereditary kings in the English or Japanese tradition but Igbos have always had kings.
Examples:
1. The head of the extended family is a “king.” He is the first to collect his portion after sharing of meat, land, etc.
2. The man with the highest title in the town or village is a “king.” He picks his portion before any other person in the town.
3. In towns with a strong oracle, the oracle priest is a “king.”
The igbos like to dismiss superiority, especially when the superior personality is Igbo. That disadvantages Igbos in their relationship with the greater Nigeria. The Yorubas prostrate before superior Yorubas, the Hausa-Fulani respect and worship superiority and the Igbo would respond with “Igbo enwe eze” or “Oo gi na enye mu nni?” (Do you feed me?). The Yoruba and Hausa-Fulani would proudly announce their benefactors while Igbos would undermine their benefactors. Introduce a fellow Igbo to the source of your riches and he/she will plot to exclude you from the riches! When every Igbo is as smart as every other Igbo, then every Igbo is dumb!
Since Igbos claim to have no ezes, is it any wonder why others choose and crown Igbo ezes (kings). While other tribes parade people of integrity with known pedigree as leaders, Igbo political leaders are passenger touts, shady contractors, 914 (advanced 419) practitioners, errand persons, and professional sycophants. 419 is an advance fee and confidence scam run over the Internet to defraud people. These pretentious defenders of Igbo interest are only interested in procuring a sinecure for themselves and their immediate families. While other tribes present young, vibrant, and enterprising leadership, Igbos present leaders who should be enjoying their dotage. Senile leaders make asinine decisions.
Igbos have always had ezes but every Igbo being smarter than every other Igbo wants to be an eze (king). In Imo State, an Igbo state, every village has an autonomous king and soon every kindred will have a king. Does it make sense that people who once claimed not to have kings, now, have more kings in one state than the rest of Nigeria?
This also explains the multiplicity of Igbo Organizations in the diaspora. Every Igbo wants to be the President (Eze) of an organization. In some jurisdictions, these inconsequential Igbos have arrogated the title, Eze Ndi Igbo (King of the Igbos) to themselves. Since Presidents of associations serve a limited term, some past presidents continue to append the “Eze Ndi Igbo” title to their names, resulting in multiple Ezes in one jurisdiction. This is an abomination in Igboland, as you cannot have more than one living eze in a jurisdiction.
In conclusion, Igbos should jettison the “Igbo Enwe Eze” saying, acknowledge duly installed ezes or their ezes will be chosen for them by Abuja. Igbo Charlatans need to be isolated to save Igbos further embarrassment. The new mantra should be that “Igbos have Kings” (“Igbo nwelu Ezes”).
If I put up my personal and observed opinions, am sure it will be more lengthy than the write up. In summary, I was accosted by a police officer whom claimed that I beat traffic ligh, but in all honesty I didn’t. I observed that the man may have wanted to extort money from me knowing that Igbos uses money to settle illegality. In the course of our discourse, he told me the problem with Ndigbo is that if for example the Igbos are asked to bring a president, that each and every man will be out to contest and that there will be no consensus candidate and no one will agree to step down.
Furthermore, I have always known that Igbos do not have respect for each other but rather have more respect for non Igbos. The spirit of comparison ruling most of them. Wanting to achieve a feat which they are not cut out for. Making a whole lot of noise just to be noticed and reverred either for financial or material possession.
Finally, I want to conclude by positing that all in all, if God permits the secession, there will be much disagreement, rancour and bitterness but all will end in tolerance and the ability to move on as a more civilised entity.
Thanks for your contribution to this discourse on igbos. Let’s all agree that the plight of the igbos have come once again to the forefront in national affairs, either non-officially, nay on social media. At least persons who never knew the history of Nigeria are getting to read quite a lot and know it now. Unfortunately, a lot has been said about the Nigerian civil war, perpetuated by 7 south West, 2 North West, 2 North East, 2 Middle belt, 3Mid west
with the leader igbo, unfortunately and erroneously tagged “Igbo coup”, depending on who is telling the story. From the discussions now, people know the truth. And that is one of the benefits of the on going discourse. But let me go straight to my point. I agree with the concluding paragraph of the essay, I wish to appeal to the Igbo race from three perspectives; One: The penchant for multiple “autonomization” of our polity – if English language will permit the my manufactured word. This waters down fact that we have kings, nay leaders – anyi nwere Eze. The continuous balkanization and division of our communities, home and abroad gives us away as people without leaders, “ndi na enweghi Eze”. This should not be encourages anymore. Two: Our penchant for materialism. This does not need much elaboration as it stares us in the face every day. The fact that we sometimes seem to celebrate persons with “money” than persons with known, identifiable means of achievement, education, community leadership, political clout, nay wealth. So Malay, 914, drug trafficking, 914, recently kidnapping, etc have become the way to go for igbo young men to rise to the ladder of popularity. Three: Everyone wants to be the Eze/leader. Just ask the igbos to present one candidate and everyone comes up, “I am the most qualified”. Anambra elections and Ahiara Bishop issues comes to mind. There are so much more, but let me stop here. Please let us go back home and agitate for development of the Igboman, the igboland, the Igbo race, the igbo nation. Someday, “they will look for us”.
Nothing to add!
I can’t believe that any educated human considering our country’s situation will make such comments.
“When everything Igbo is as smart as every other Igbo, then every Igbo is dumb”. Is there more to be said?