Danger of Failure of Anambra State for Igbo Civilization
By Okey Mbonu, JD
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USAfrica and USAfricaonline.com (characterized by The New York Times as the most influential African-owned, U.S-based multimedia networks) established May 1992, our first edition of USAfrica magazine was published August 1993; USAfrica The Newspaper on May 11, 1994; CLASSmagazine on May 2, 2003; www.PhotoWorks.TV in 2005. More perspectives and debates of Anambra politics and life are on the USAfrica-powered blogs and e-groups: IgboEvents@yahoogroups.com and AnambraPolitics@yahoogroups.com.
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I believe that if you want to destroy the Igbo, you must first destroy Anambra State, after that, the rest of the Igbo race can be crushed with ease.
The Guts And The Glory Of Anambra
Anambra State is a paradox of sorts, anchored by the commercial capital of West Africa-Onitsha, and populated by indigenes with the uncanniest abilities known in black Africa. The numerous achievements of the indigenes that claim their roots in this region should make any reasonable mind pause for reflections; especially when juxtaposed against the political landscape of Anambra today.
The Roots Of A Potentially Great State
To understand Anambra, one must first go back to the historical roots and culture of the area called Anambra today. The name Anambra itself is an aberration of sorts, for the state is aptly named after the Omambala River, a river that runs across the state and then empties into the Niger River.
The colonial masters in their bid to maintain an ease of nomenclature and pronunciation, renamed the river Anambra River-a name that means absolutely nothing in the surrounding area, or in Igbo language in general. This could have been the first strike against the region, since names have philosophical meanings in most African societies.
Anambra People And Their Aura
Regardless of nomenclature the people of the region called Anambra today proved to be remarkably brilliant, resilient, visionary, and tenacious. Thus for the past 300 years, well before Nigeria was artificially put together by the British, these people were already blazing trails.
Hundreds of years ago in pre-colonial Africa, a young Igbo, Olaudah Equaino (Ekweano), was captured in the region called Anambra today by slave raiders. Equiano was about twelve (12) years of age when he was captured in his Igbo village.
After being sold into slavery, Equiano went ahead to earn his freedom in America, taught himself how to read and write, and became a successful merchant, ship captain, and millionaire. Note that Equaino became a merchant among other things-thereby consummating the Anambra root in him. He became the first ex-slave to write and publish a historical account of slavery.
Equiano also wrote the first account of pre-colonial Igbo life in Africa, and ultimately became the first African to champion a fight for the abolition of slavery in the America’s. I first read Equaino’s work as a law student in Washington, DC, and even as a student of the most advanced legal training in the world (US legal training is a seven [7] year program), I still found his theories to be so highly sophisticated for 18th century work, that I marveled. Olaudah Equiano was from an area that is today widely accepted by African scholars as Anambra State, Nigeria
Re-Building Nigeria and Africa Via Anambra in 2010
In contemporary times, Anambra people again came into focus in modern Nigeria through a slew of great visionaries, each displaying gutsy brilliance, and blazing trails in uncharted territories.
These Anambrarians all ended up as firsts in almost every field in black Africa: from Zik of Africa-the first Governor General and President of the largest country in Africa-Nigeria; to Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu, black Africa’s first millionaire; to Prof. Kenneth Dike first African Vice Chancellor of a major University; to Prof. Chinua Achebe Africa’s best known writer; to Prof. Chike Obi, black Africa’s first Mathematician; to Emeka Anyaoku, first black secretary-general of the commonwealth; and finally in contemporary times, Phillip Emeagwali, the Anambra native who I understand contributed to the original code for the Internet.
Further, think about the countless other Anambra entrepreneurs, whose business footprints are scattered all over West Africa, from Transportation to Manufacturing, to Oil and Gas. Where would interstate transportation be in Nigeria without the Anambra business geniuses?
The Cultural Anchor Of The Igbo
Culturally, Anambra derives its strong cultural foundation from the town of Nri. Nri is an ancient town in Anambra where most Igbo trace their roots. The ancestors of Nri possibly migrated from somewhere near modern day Egypt and Israel, thereby laying a solid claim to Igbo’s Jewish roots.
Men who grow up in Anambra or have Anambra roots through parentage, go through a ritual of transition from boyhood to manhood at about the age of 10, similar to the “Jewish Bar Mitzvah” which is celebrated in Israel and the Jewish Diaspora to this day. This ceremony, known as “Ima Mmuo (translated as: Getting To Know The Spirits)” basically obliterates any kind of fear from an Igbo boy’s psyche after the ritual. Thus the Anambra man learns to operate without fear, reverence, or any kind of phobia in life. This lack of fear or reverence leads the Anambra-native to reach dizzying heights of achievements, or sometimes die in the midst of great and risky undertakings.
The Politics Of Endangerment
However, all these pale when compared to the political landscape of Anambra today. Because Anambrarians operate without fear or reverence, they operate like Eagles, frequently flying alone, as Eagles do, propelled by their singular visions. However, not even all Eagles are the same, and that is what many in Anambra fail to understand today, for there are various species of the great bird (called Ugo in Igbo).
In America, the most revered bird is the great Bald Eagle, a bird that can spot its prey from several hundred feet in the sky-clearly a superior Eagle. The Bald Eaglegets reverence, as it sits majestically atop most US national symbols like the US flag, and other US symbols. I do not know whether any of the Governorship candidates in Anambra are like the Bald Eagle of the United States, we are yet to see.
However for a people who flew and landed jet Airplanes in pitch darkness in the jungles of Uli Airstrip in Biafra, a people who refined petroleum without refineries during the Biafran war, and a people who survived three years in the jungle under the siege of a modern warfare, without importing necessities of any kind; a people who know how to learn to adapt or perish, the die is cast!
The people of Anambra must seize this moment to take control of their political life. Only the will of the people based on their perception of leadership should count this time. Anambra should at a minimum, eschew the evil lure of money, and create a new moment for themselves, the nation of Nigeria, and Africa. Anything less will dishonor Anambras heritage, their ancestors, and their contributions to Nigeria, Africa, and the world, which are many already.
An Empire Falls To Rise No More
In February 2010, Anambra people will face a test: To salvage their heritage, or to fall like other has-been societies, by succumbing to charlatans with bagfuls of cash. If Anambra people allow themselves to be raped, violated, intimidated with cash or threats of violence, it will amount to destroying the “participatory democracy” civilization of the Igbo’s, and the Igbo’s might as well take a back seat in Nigeria and Africa. As an Anambra-born stakeholder in the Diaspora, I dread that thought, but once an empire falls, it falls for good. Anambrarians must take the lead again, and arise to take control of their destiny. Enough Said.
Attorney Mbonu, contributing editor of USAfricaonline.com and CLASSmagazine, is based in the Washington DC-Marylnd area. He was a Commissioner for Housing & Community Development, Prince George’s Maryland and former president of All Nigerian American Congress (ANAC) and Board Member of the African Economic Development Corporation.
More perspectives and debates of Anambra politics and life are on the USAfrica-powered blogs and e-groups: IgboEvents@yahoogroups.com and AnambraPolitics@yahoogroups.com.
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Life and death tales follow Nigeria’s President Yar’Adua to Saudi Arabia, again.…
USAfricaonline.com Special report by Chido Nwangwu
USAfrica and USAfricaonline.com (characterized by The New York Times as the most influential African-owned, U.S-based multimedia networks) established May 1992, our first edition of USAfrica magazine was published August 1993; USAfrica The Newspaper on May 11, 1994; CLASSmagazine on May 2, 2003; www.PhotoWorks.TV in 2005
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Nigeria’s President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua, is back in the news as the subject of increased chatter across Nigeria’s international communities and inside the country’s capital city of Abuja on the twin-issues of the Fulani prince’s health condition and capacity to lead and serve as the leader of the country’s almost 220 million citizens.
The confluence of the Nigerian president’s health issues and the performance of national and international duties have also remained matters of debate and concern.
This time, he left late on Monday November 23, 2009, arriving next day on Tuesday November 24 and admitted for his renal, heart condition known as acute pericarditis, and asthmatic medical needs. President Yar’Adua’s media/communications assistant Olusegun Adeniyi’s formal statement as the president departed Nigeria indicated the President’s Saudi trip includes “follow-up medical checks.”
The Nigerian presidency, according to the Lagos and Abuja correspondents of USAfrica and USAfricaonline.com, is sensitive to the mounting speculations and polite inquiries following another of Yar’Adua’s urgent medical trips and admissions to the familiar Saudi Arabia’s King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah.
Across different private and public platforms for Nigerians, and through phone calls, e-mails and text messages to the USAfrica newsroom in Houston, USAfricaonline.com and across its four main e-groups especially Nigeria360@yahoogroup since November 23, 2009, we have witnessed debates linking President Yar’Adua’s latest, sudden medical check up trip to Saudi Arabia as symptomatic of his inability to maintain a strong, hands-on grip on the affairs of the country.
In the light of the realities of the President’s health, Nigerians continue to seek answers to the mounting questions being raised
First, how medically fit is Nigeria’s president?
Second, how does his health impact his capacity to, operationally, govern Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy?
Third, who handles the levers of government in the presidency when, as we have seen, the president is himself indisposed?
Fourth, what is the reality of authority and power inside the Nigerian presidency?
Fifth, what are the actual capacities and putative roles of the Vice President of the country, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in these dynamic configuration of things?
Sixth, what circles of immediate influence shape the outcomes at the Nigerian presidency under Yar’Adua — especially when he’s indisposed?
Privately, the key members of his ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) express concern about the President’s capacity to execute his own 7-point agenda/program amidst the demanding task of leading the PDP’s large, diverse, cantankerous and complicated structure and partisans.
In a brief chat with USAfricaonline.com, a major co-leader of the PDP from Kaduna State who played a critical role in fighting former president Obasanjo’s failed 3rd-term shenanigans said: “He will complete his term, Insa’Allah. (Insa’Allah is Arabic for God willing). And aside from the human factor we’re also concerned about the president’s health and how it affects the North’s opportunity and ongoing turn at providing the president. We pray for his recovery and healing.”
The Action Congress (AC) party -led by Obasanjo’s former VP Atiku Abubakar – has never been subtle in expressing concern over the health of President Yar’Adua and its impact on governance. AC’s National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed argues that Yar’Adua’s incapacity to present the 2010 budget this week to the National Assembly requires and validates the call for a full disclosure on the President’s health: “We have said that the President is a human being who can fall ill at any time, and that his ill-health cannot be used against him. But since the President is the father of the nation, we – his children – must be fully kept abreast on his state of health. Failure to do that will fuel rumors, as we have now seen.”
But Senator Ayogu Eze of the PDP Enugu State argues “there is no indication for us whatsoever that the president is unable to discharge his responsibility. So far we do not have any evidence that the president cannot do his job so why should we pry into that.” Eze, chairman of the Senate’s Information committee adds “The health of the president is a constitutional issue and it is only a health board of enquiry that can determine the fitness or otherwise of the president, the composition of that board is very clear.”
On his part, the chairman of the U.S chapter of the PDP, Prof. Bernard-Thompson Ikegwuoha told USAfricaonline.com and Nigeria360 e-group that “It’s wrong and improper to add the president’s health to the issues for politicking in Nigeria. He deserves our compassion and should be commended for seeking and getting the best medical attention to be able to serve Nigerians better. Everything cannot be and should not be politicized.”
Another critical voice is that of the opposition party ANNP Governor of Kano State, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau who told me/USAfricaonline.com and CLASSmagazine during our November 2009 exclusive interview that the issue is not the private health of the President: “we are focused simply on the issue of his public performance and service to Nigeria. Everyone knows that Yar’Adua and their PDP government have failed Nigeria. There’s no light or security…. They do not have passing marks; even the members of Nigeria’s national assembly, their own party members have indicated so. What are they talking about? They have failed”
Like Dr. Shekarau, Yar’Adua served as governor (of Katsina State, from May 1999 to May 2007). Yar’Adua was handpicked and reportedly “pushed” by his predecessor Obasanjo to become President of Nigeria through a controversial Nigerian presidential election in April 2007, assessed by international observers as rigged and neither free nor fair. He was sworn in as president on May 29, 2007. He was born on August 16, 1951, into a family of political heavyweights of Fulani descent in the north central state of Katsina (at the time the old Northern Nigeria).
Despite the health issues, Nigeria’s largely indisposed President is also being positioned by some who benefit from his continuing role as president to seek a 2nd 4-year term, come 2011.
The latest, preceding background to the issues and reports about the President’s health status occurred on Tuesday September 22, 2009 when he made as priority one of his personal-cum-official trips to Saudi Arabia over his scheduled attendance of the very important event of the 2009 United Nations’ General Assembly meeting in New York same week/period. His handlers publicly noted and announced that his mission to Saudi Arabia was for the cause of education, specifically to commission the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, and by the way get some medical care for asthma.
The more urgent question for Nigerians is how soon President Yar’Adua will return to take charge of the ship of state amidst competing and clashing interests across the various arms of government.
Also, they raise questions over deteroriating security, kidnapping and the epileptic energy/power supplies across Nigeria.
Even as Nigerians await his return, rumors of his mortality continue to fly. Truth is Nigerians love rumors; tales of death and dying; true or false, they trade in them….
We wish President Umar Yar’Adua speedy recovery!
•Dr. Chido Nwangwu, recipient of the Journalism Excellence award (1997), is Founder and Publisher of USAfricaonline.com (first African-owned U.S.-based professional newspaper to be published on the internet), USAfrica The Newspaper, CLASS magazine and The Black Business Journal, USAfricaTV, AchebeBooks.com, and several blogs/e-groups. He served as an adviser to the Mayor of Houston on international business (Africa) and appears as an analyst on CNN, VOA, NPR, CBS News, NBC and ABC news affiliates. e-mail:Chido247@Gmail.com
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President Obama, hate-mongers and mob cons. By Chido Nwangwu, Publisher of USAfricaonline.com, www.Achebebooks.com, CLASS magazine, The Black Business Journal, USAfrica.TV, and the largest digital images/pictorial events domain for Africans abroad www.PhotoWorks.TV
https://usafricaonline.com/president-obama-hate-mongers-and-mob-cons-by-chido-nwangwu/
https://usafricaonline.com/chido.obamavshatemongers09.html
Follow Chido at FaceBook.com/usafrica and at Twitter.com/chido247
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USAfricaonline.com goes richly interactive with new look, content….
By Alverna Johnson. Corporate Affairs, Houston:
On 10/10/09, the major redesign and addition of richly interactive options will go fully live on the award-winning web site of the first African-owned, U.S-based professional newspaper published on the internet, www.USAfricaonline.com
“The importance of this latest interactive re-positioning of USAfricaonline.com is to fully tap into the advantages of the digital world to benefit our community and readers. Especially, the key issue and leverage is that we have and own unique content; and with this initiative, USAfrica advances, further, the immigrant African views and news into the international media and public policy mainstream. It leverages the global resources of USAfrica, again, into the electronic frontline of critically informed, responsible discourse and seasoned reportage of African and American interests as well as debating relevant issues of disagreement”, notes Chido Nwangwu, the Founder & Publisher of USAfricaonline.com, AchebeBooks.com, The Black Business Journal, USAfrica.TV and CLASSmagazine.
“Some of the new features on USAfricaonline.com have enabled for our readers and bloggers, the live texting of pages and page links to phones and other multimedia devices, instant sharing across all the leading social networks especially Facebook, Twitter, digg, myspace, Mixx, Technorati, LinkedIn, AIM, LiveJournal and Yigg.”
Chido Nwangwu, recipient of an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree in May 2009 and analyst on CNN, VOA, SABC, highlights other advantages as “live RSS feeds and e-syndication of the USAfrica reports and premium content. In terms of graphics and structure, the new USAfricaonline.com has visually refreshing headers and crisp pictures. We’ve also added more columnists, regional news correspondents and incisive special features writers. The site will be updated regularly, especially for significant breaking news.”
The flagship of the American media, The New York Times, several public policy, media and human rights organizations have assessed USAfrica and USAfricaonline.com as the most influential and largest multimedia networks covering the bi-continental interests of Africans and Americans. The first edition of USAfrica magazine was published August 1993; USAfrica The Newspaper on May 11, 1994; CLASSmagazine on May 2, 2003; PhotoWorks.TV in 2005, and dozens of web sites and e-groups/blogs.
The Houston-based USAfrica has a formidable, experienced network of editors and correspondents across the U.S and Africa. Its Publisher served as adviser on Africa business/community to Houston’s former Mayor Lee Brown. https://usafricaonline.com/chido.html
contact: Alverna Johnson (Corporate Affairs). USAfrica Inc. 8303 Southwest Freeway, Suite 100, Houston, Texas 77074. office:713-270-5500. wireLess: 832-45-CHIDO (24436) e-mail: News@USAfricaonline.com or Chido@USAfricaonline.com
