The Journey So Far - post
The Journey So Far
This is exactly one year and 9 days I dropped into Igboville from nowhere. It is funny that Suleiman, my office colleague from Maiduguri was totally responsible. That was over our argument when he referred me to one facebook group.
As at that time, Igboville was such a challenging intellectual environment with lots of hot debates marked by logic, facts, references and punctuated by ideas raining down from the inspired spirits. It was at that point of frenzied but progressive activities with spatter of threads running on 400, 500, 600+ comments that I found myself here.
Suddenly, I heard there would be HotSeat and a guest to be engaged. The program scheduled to hold on Saturday, October 15, 2011, had the guest profile published few days to the D-day. And guest who it was? There came a name, Igbonekwu Ogazimorah, intellectually endowed, most generous with knowledge and unequalled in accommodating spirit. I later found out he was rarely in Igboville, and not quite sure he was even a member.
Ogazimorah’s Hotseat remains the best outing of Igboville, unbeaten till date. I challenged most of his positions, especially as it concerned the Administration of Governor Chimaroke Nnamani. The hotseat discussion continued for close to four days, each thread created out of it being interesting and richly informed. I could remember how the sage guided me in our unending argument when he said, “boy! Consider this as gist under the tree shade with keg of fresh palm wine”. It was under the influence of Ogazimorah’s cyber palm wine that I was inspired to writehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/igboville/doc/353166414738202/. How I long for that inspiration again!
As we stepped into this year, Chinenye Ufearoh-onoh hit us with idea of London protest over onslaught against our brothers in northern Nigeria. “Please those of us living in the UK let's organise a protest here, let the world here us it's ndiigbo n south south people they are killing everyday in the north.” She wrote, “Am ready to organise it here since our men here are not ready ( not insulting my husbands but am just tired of everyday news it's ndiigbo killed)”. https://www.facebook.com/groups/oganiruigbo/permalink/271936989533625/ That was January 7, 2012.
Within the minute, cash was raised, security clearance done, date fixed, banner produced, traditional music instruments provided ... I can vividly visualize our wonderful ambassadors in London, the Igboville Great Six, standing in defiance to freezing cold weather of 10 Downing Street, lined up like musketeers, ready to deliver our letter to British PM. The letter, smartly prepared by our two brilliant brothers in United States, was impeccable, short of nothing. Our leader, Barr. Emeka Maduewesi, made a terse release on the D-day, “Let us uplift UK-based Igbovillers and our other brothers and sister who are about to move into the streets of London to protest over the use of Ndigbo as sacrificial lambs in Northern Nigeria. They are booked to deliver our protest letter to the British Prime Minister. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will cause the PM himself, not just his subordinate, to read that letter. Let us pray that God will will cover our people and lead them back home safely after this date with history. Amen”.https://www.facebook.com/groups/oganiruigbo/permalink/275232669204057/. The spirit of pan-Igboism was flowing everywhere.
The wave of Stop-Killing-The-Igbos protest stormed Dublin overnight. In one swoop, our Dublin team led by Eresi Grace Okoh wrestled the Occupy Subsidy protest from the Yorubas and turned it to Stop-Killing-The-Igbos. The report from Philip Akwari is more interesting. “Protest against Killing of Igbos in the North also took place in Dublin, Ireland yesterday as we took advantage of Occupy Nigeria protest that was secretly organised by Yoruba youths. Trust our smart move, our placard was more pronounced. We owe so much to Eresi Grace Okoh for her quick thinking and mobilising her friends at the rally which passed off peacefully”. https://www.facebook.com/groups/oganiruigbo/permalink/276301535763837/. Shortly, South Africa followed and the wave continued.
A number of press releases and communiqués, with the name Igboville, were hitting the media wave. Some of the publications that made it to National dailies cost a lot. Thanks to John Okiyi-Kalu (funding each edition) and Socrates Ebo (Providing the connections). Many silent others worked with them. You can’t imagine the team work, one mind, one spirit, one goal. Every Iviller took our publications, clips, terse messages and other campaigns to their respective social media niches and we were deafening the cyberspace. Such was the zeal.
In a fresh move, Andrew Anya Etim came with a bang. He challenged us to prove our pan-Igboism by evacuating our brothers under the threat of Boko Haram in Maiduguri, North-eastern Nigeria. He immediately kick-started the project with a handsome offer. Within a twinkle of an eye, two long luxurious buses of GUO & Sons were dispatched to Maiduguri with armed security forces. Risks were taken to fetch our horror-griped sons and daughters from bushes where they hid from the murderous bombing campaign of the terrorists. This forum was excited in joy when the first bus-load of over 60 passengers landed in Enugu, the coal city. Andrew released a remarkable congratulatory note, “gbo ville has stopped just being a talking shop. God's blessing is going to embarrass all villers who supported this evacuation both with money and prayers.” https://www.facebook.com/groups/oganiruigbo/permalink/288963184497672/. The video clip interview of the rescued made some felt like crying when they narrated their ordeal.
Just as we were still relishing the success of Evacuation Project, came a publication where ONF shared in the glory. Before then, ONF was not known as offline version of Igboville. Questions were asked, explanations made, controversy arose and before you know it, damage was done. It is at this point that a thorn punctured our vessel.
Efforts were made to seal this vessel and set us afloat again. One thing led to another, blunders committed and the hole got wider. Ever since then, attempts to keep the sail have been a chequered history. To make matter worse, the sudden invasion of a certain government regime and some tacit support conferred got more spirits drooping, enthusiasm killed and misgivings rife. For the first time, I silently asked, “Who now is the captain of our ship?” I am not good at telling bad story. But I know we have not got better since evacuation project. Many things didn’t help matter. And I fear we are yet to learn a lesson.
Most people know what is wrong but prefer not to talk. They know what should be done to make us rebound but reluctant to come forth. The recent crisis even further deepened their silence. I have this to say. The success of Igboville lies in the goodwill of the masses. Therefore, conscious effort should be made to restore confidence on the leadership. Care should be taken to build trust and good relationships. I gave a short piece of advice in my piece one year today, “Igboville admin shall be responsible for searching for the qualified and available personalities to fill the positions of PGC. Such person(s), as they may identify, shall be posted on Igboville for members to vote simple YES or NO under 24hours. A personality requires 75% (3/4) of the YES to be chosen. To circumvent 'infanticide', PGC nominees should be persons distant from known political cliques, not a conspicuous beneficiary of a seating politician or opposition, averse to gluttony and positive in thinking. Oratory is an added advantage.”https://www.facebook.com/groups/igboville/doc/353166414738202/ . Heeding to it would have saved our vessel from this puncture. And even if it can be taken serious henceforth, the hole won’t only be sealed, but also fly with unprecedented speed.
I still strongly believe Igboville is for Ndigbo. Please, make it to Nnewi 2012 Retreat. Let us pull strength together to seal the hole. We just need to talk.
Onye aghala nwanne ya!
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I dedicate this piece to all Ivillers and friends who wished me well on my engagement. I chose to make it known to you today, being my birthday. May my double celebration also brings to you double blessings in Jesus Name. Amen.
CEC
19/10/2012 — with Onyema Uche and 6 others.
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