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Ikwerre in national politics
IT is true that Nigeria is not a nation, but Nigerians have very high hope that Nigeria shall be one in the future when there will be true peace, socio-economic progress, justice and security determined and engineered by the peoples of Nigeria. It is only in this hope that Ikwerre can realise herself in Nigeria. Therefore, Ikwerre in national politics is a concept that seeks to explain what Ikwerre aspires for in a true nation called Nigeria.
This induced and threatening state of lack has exposed the Ikwerre to some very high level of hopelessness and vulnerability that has changed her from the very stoic, conservative and dignified Africans we used to be before 1849 when we started the colonial journey to those who, thoroughly frustrated, accept and believe any doctrine, idea or conduct that comes our way as ideal. That is the reason we believe any politician that comes and says "I am a politician". That is why cheap human conduct has been accepted as sources of survival and protection. Such conduct includes: cultism and membership of secret societies for false and vain connections, security and protection, sudden wealth for recognition, living a second-hand life with tokunbo cloths for nude dressing, condom for indecent sex, bribe to Nigeria's N20 police for state intimidation and harassment, reproductive health for abortion, homosexuality and lesbianism for marriage, third term interest as national interest, insatiable treasury consuming Generals as apostles of an indivisible Nigeria without good leadership, cash-and-carry education as post JAMB test, bribe for third term as lobbying, excessive HIV/AIDS campaign actually to depopulate Africa to be seen as efforts at combating the phantom man-made disease, etc. How can such a people be voted as the happiest in the world? They also say that our life span has been reduced from 56 years to 46. Hence, the massive celebration of 50 years of age.
To have back a meaningful existence on earth, the Ikwerre demands that she needs to be safe in Nigeria. She demands that educational policies that operate in Ikwerre land must of immediate necessity include the learning, teaching, research and development of Ikwerre life and identity. Ikwerre says she wants to see her identity in the midst of other identities of the world. An Ikwerre University should be able to address the issue of true development of the Ikwerre being.
Ikwerre needs self-determination in the management of her resources and space so that she does not blame any one else if her life is not what it should be. She must be allowed to rediscover, reclaim and resuscitate her development locomotive along her endowed resources. She believes it has comparative advantage and ease to pursue development from the resources God had given her and move on to higher levels. It is proper for Ikwerre development to be primarily resource driven than knowledge driven. Therefore, agriculture and oil and gas should drive Ikwerre development. Ikwerre needs a Petroleum University and an Agriculture University. These institutions should propound ideas that can move the petroleum and agriculture of Ikwerre to the production and use of numerous oil and agricultural by-products that can jumpstart other industries such that exportation of crude oil and wasting of fruits become things of the past. Risonpalm is a living example.
She needs equal recognition and justice at the state, regional and federal levels of governance in an unbrotherly country called Nigeria. Without fairplay, Ikwerre will continue to feel cheated and marginalised by those who control whichever government level that rules them. We need leaders not rulers. Ikwerre needs to be allowed to develop her own sports, songs and dances, language and socials through her own educational policies that will allow her children to continue to be the hub of that process. Ikwerre children need sound moral studies studied along Ikwerre positive values. These values strengthen the Ikwerre child against the distracting and destructive ills of today's Nigerian society, where the family, the pillar and builder of upright community, has failed.
Ikwerre needs desirable infrastructure to sustain social and economic systems. Functional roads, bridges, electricity, telephone, houses etc are facilitators and not development itself. Development is about the uninterrupted improvements in the traditional values and systems of a people. It is truly intangible. It is growth that is tangible like facilities. It is not development when people build these facilities and claim they have developed the community. Development goes far beyond facilities. Ikwerre needs to be loved and cared for. When a people are loved, those who work for such a people must be seen to have the quality of being people friendly and loving. Because Chief Obafemi Awolowo loved his people he offered them what they needed when he was alive and today the Yoruba is simply the best as a developed race in Africa.
To achieve these aspirations, Ikwerre needs politicians who are passionate to work for their people, selfless, people-oriented, sincere, less afraid of accountability and transparency (hence they are worried who succeeds them). They shall represent and boldly lobby for Ikwerre aspirations as local government councillors and chairmen, house of assembly members, members of the House of Representatives and Senators. These are the criteria on which Ikwerre and indeed other ethnic groups in Nigeria must make demands from whoever wants to represent them in governance. To continue the business of political leadership as usual come May 29, 2007 may not be in the interest of an indivisible Nigeria.
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