Sanusi's CBN should extent its benevolence to Igbo victims

All Nigerians including Save Nigeria Group (SNG) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) should call on Sanusi's Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend his corporate social responsibility to Igbo victims who suffered mightily as result of Boko Haram’s rampage in Northern Nigeria. Many of the Ndi-Igbo residents in the north lost their husbands, wives and children together with their sources of income. Many of these residents (not all) have since departed from Northern Nigeria and are back to their ancestral hamlets.

It is there for the whole wide world to see that many southerners living in Northern Nigeria especially Ndi-Igbo have lost lives and property to Boko Haram’s wanton destruction. Many of these former residents in north have fled from their residential homes and businesses with their families back to south east. In their departure from north they have abandoned their source of livelihood, occupations, businesses and houses in order to protect their lives and the lives of their children.

In most cases the bread winner of the families were killed and widows have to take responsibility of raising the children without help in the absence of their late husbands. It is becoming self-evident that Sanusi's CBN is the only institution that cares for the victims. These families need help and if Sanusi's Central Bank of Nigeria can offer the help as it has demonstrated with the N100 million gift to Kano victims, they do not have any alternative than to make appeal to the CBN.

To be truthful, no one can blame another human being for running away in order to safeguard his or her God-given precious life. History has taught many of these fleeing southerners that time is not on their side and that there is no reason to anticipate for the best as lives and property were being destroyed before their presence. When these victims chose to linger around, hoping for the best and if the worst continues, they have themselves to blame. That is why they were precautious and took off because they do not want history to repeat itself and be blamed for not hearken to the voice of reason and not learning from history.  They do not want to abandon their property and businesses, but the threat of terror and its visitation gave them the compelling reason to run for their dear lives.

When the governor of Central Bank of Nigeria gave a gift of N100 million to the victims of Boko Haram in Kano, many groups and others including Save Nigeria group (SAG) and  youth wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) were calling for him to be sacked.  It is the prerogative of these groups to make their request for Sanusi's dismissal and to voice out their grievances but their actions are not necessarily fruitful. What they should be asking is for Sanusi’s CBN is to extend its gift and benevolence to the rest of other victims that have suffered at the hands of Boko Haram especially Ndi-Igbo residents of North who have lost everything - life and property.

Ndi-Igbo residents of the north love their homes and many of their children have not known another place as home but northern Nigeria. In most cases they have assimilated, socialized and are fluent in Hausa and local dialects. When everything stabilized and when the unrest is finally checkmated, these victims may even decide to return back to their old homes. But at the moment they need help from where ever they can get it from.

Instead of these groups (SNG and CAN) asking for Sanusi to go, they should come together and make it known that many other victims should also be taken care of. These groups with their clout can make their case to the presidency and stake holders, appealing to them to have a comprehensive agenda plan to aid the victims of Boko Haram destruction. The sacking of Sanusi is not necessary because it is not going to contribute to making things better. Moreover, the letting go of Sanusi may not be realistic due to constitutional constraints and the independent of CBN from the executive as was promulgated by the Nigeria's constitution. Moreover Sanusi Lamido has executed his monetary policy responsibly and has won many accolades.

Igbo widows who came back from north have to etch a living in the absence of the heads of the families. They have to provide for their children and raise these children alone by themselves. And to add insult to the injury, most of these widows were home makers, who stayed at home and do domestic works. Now they have to go out and earn a living by going to training school or start small businesses and they need the funds.

Therefore, the federal government including the Central Bank of Nigeria should come to their needs and render the desired and deserved benevolence to the helpless victims. SNG and CAN should also participate in asking CBN and the government to aid the people that greatly need the help. The aiding of Nigerians who are victims of the social unrest bodes well for a stronger and united Nigeria.

Thandie Newton, English actress  born in London to a Zimbabwean mother and British father

No sooner had the announcement been made that the film adaptation of Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s award-winning novel Half Of A Yellow Sun was to star Thandie Newton, than a petition rang out. By now many people, mostly of Igbo or other Nigerian origin, have complained that the casting of Thandie Newton as the book’s Igbo female protagonist Olanna, is a slight they are not willing to suffer. The 2006 book tells the story of the Nigerian-Biafran War of 1967-1970, in which over a million people were killed or died of starvation. To be fair we do not know yet what role Thandie has accepted, but many are outraged that she could possibly be playing the role of Olanna.

The director, Nigerian novelist and playwright Biyi Bandele has a great cast locked into the film, including Nigerian Brit Chiwetel Ejiofor. Surely Bandele could have a say in who plays the Nigerian woman? Why did he not insist on a Nigerian actress if not an Igbo one?

As the petition’s originator, Ashley Akunna, said in the comments section on Clutch:

“This petition is about authenticity. Igbo people come in all complexions. However, the majority are dark brown in complexion. Thandie Newton is a wonderfully talented actress. However, I would be lying to you, if I said I know anyone in my village who looks like her. I have traveled all across Nigeria, from Abuja to Calabar, and Thandie Newton is not an accurate portrayal of what Igbo woman look like. Not in the slightest. Hollywood is known for giving preferential treatment to black female actors of a lighter hue. And that is definitely being displayed here with the casting of Thandie Newton. 365 days out of the year Africans are portrayed in media as some of the darkest people you will ever come across. However, when a role requires a beautiful Igbo actress, they want to cast a bi-racial woman who looks nothing like the people she is supposed to be playing. That is nonsense. Of course I would love an Igbo woman to have this part. But frankly any African woman who fits the description of what an AUTHENTIC IGBO WOMAN looks like will fit the bill. Don’t give me a watered down version of my ancestors and accept me to be happy. It is an insult to Igboland. FULL STOP.”

We clearly shouldn’t take crumbs and call it a three-course meal, as someone else commented.

Clearly the issue is a deep-seated one with us black women. We want to see media representations of ourselves – fair ones, not ones about us being beautiful or having full agency only when we’re fair, light-skinned or bi-racial. Which is basically how it’s worked out thus far. There are not many dark-skinned actresses outside of Nollywood that don’t get a raw deal. We were given a template by others, and we are expected to fully adhere to it. The shame. We have to be represented accurately, especially if the impetus for such representations is from ourselves!

Chiwe Ejiofor, Igbo British

Which is why I support the petition and hope that the production company for Chimamanda’s film strongly reconsiders Thandie Newton for the role, and puts in a Nigerian, darker-skinned actress if not an Igbo woman. I am sure this would be easy to do as there is a wealth of talent in Nigeria. We need to see other faces besides the well-known ones from the West. Cast someone well-known in Nigeria and trust me that movie will make bank like nobody’s business. Because Nigeria is the second-biggest film industry in the world (after India) it makes sense to take on the viable marketing scheme of a Nigerian face, rather than a British-Zimbabwean one, much as we adore Thandie.

It’s interesting how this works – you write a book, it is your IP, but through birth, it also belongs to the people you belong to and wrote about. The book is now the cultural heritage of the Igbo people. I wonder if the author takes no issue with who portrays one of her characters. Is this not part of the danger of a single story about Africans or black people that she herself warned of? We are multi-hued, let the contemporary portrayals of Africans finally reflect that.

Ogochukwu Nzewi, an Igbo woman living in South Africa, weighed in:

“There must have been prior engagement with her for her to be happy with the casting – it’s not something she’s hearing about now. Many factors contribute to make a movie, including financiers. She may have had to compromise, though unfavourable to many of us. It may be the excitement of having her novel made into a movie. There’s no rush for it to be made a movie. She should have had more editorial control, and put her foot down on casting. It should be as close to the novel as possible and not be compromised. Also, it’s the same old London movie mafia – where are the new faces? We have brilliant Nigerian actresses, even those living in London!”

“We don’t know who Thandie’s playing – but the question remains – how much can we compromise? We continue to have these voices, representing us. And they are not always close to our truths.”

The Igboville in pictures: As Ndi-Igbo leaves North

"The Igboville group comprises Igbo professionals in Nigeria and the Diaspora. The group provided the buses to be used in evacuating Igbos who are stranded in the North to Enugu. Some of the returnees, who spoke to reporters, claimed they relocated to the bush for many days until they got hint of the free buses. Mrs. Patricia Agballakwe, an indigene of Nnewi in Anambra State, said, “We came back because of Boko Haram. My family members and I were hiding in the bush until we heard that free buses had been provided for us and we quickly came out and returned home. As you can see, I am a happy woman now because I'm out of the Boko Haram area.” Founder of Igboville, Mr. Emeka Maduewesi, implored the returnees to quickly resettle in the South-East zone while the government sorts out the security situation.--- PUNCH

Three Nigerian players of Igbo heritage are James Ihedigbo, Osi Umenyiora and Prince Amukamara

The most important date in a calendar of National Football League (NFL) in United States of America is the Super bowl contest. The Super Bowl XLVI maybe a local event but it has a global influence and flavor due to cultural heritage diversity of its players. Three Nigerian athletes of Igbo heritage will be playing in this important game event between New England Patriots and New York Giants. These formidable athletes of Nigerian heritage are James Ihedigbo, Osi Umenyiora and Prince Amukamara who will be playing against each other. While Umenyiora and Amukamara are playing for New York Giants, Ihedigbo plays for New England Patriots.

Many Americans and Nigerians are not aware of Nigerian presence at the Super Bowl XLVI. CNN's Fareed Zakaria, moderator of GPS did not mention Nigeria as a nation with presence in the super bowl when he was naming countries that have presence in the event that is fast  becoming an international event.

Osi Umenyiora

Writing about the heritage of these formidable athletes, Jim Slater (AFP) wrote: "Patriots safety James Ihedigbo's parents moved to America from Nigeria in 1982, the year before James was born.Ihedigo admires Giants rookie safety Prince Amukamara, whose mother was a Nigerian Olympian in 1984, and defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who was born in London to Nigerian parents."

Speaking about his fellow Nigerians, Giant's Osi Umenyiora was quoted saying,  "I'm definitely honored to be one of the many Nigerians in the NFL They are great players. It's the athleticism, guys that are big guys that are able to play versatile positions and do more and be athletic. It's awesome."

James Ihedigbo

One great thing about these gentlemen is that they have not forgotten about their heritage and they have always return home to contribute to social and civic development of Nigeria especially in the field of education empowerment for the less privilege of various communities.  Last time Osi Umenyiora returned to Nigeria,  his father’s home town Ogbunike, where his father is the Royal Traditional Ruler bestowed to him a crowned prince and chieftaincy title.

On the Super Bowl media day James Ihedigbo who lost his father Apollos Ihedigbo to kidney failure at age of 17, reminiscence about his late father. James Ihedigbo moving words were documented in Mary Paoletti's Comcast page:

Prince Amukamara

"[I think about my dad] a lot. I get emotional thinking about it. A lot. I know he would be, and he is, very proud of where I got to and the point that I'm at. It's taken a lot of years, a lot of hours of working out and training and film study and preparation to get to this point. I often think about . . . all the time . . . his hard work. He could come from Nigeria, a third-world country, and be successful in the United States and earn his PhD in education. He went from picking cans [off the street] to being an academic advisor [at UMass]. That's a true story. I feel I'm here in the United States and there's nothing that I can't accomplish."

And James Ihedigbo concluded with these powerful words, "I've been blessed to have one of the greatest games as a platform to do other things, to touch other people's lives. I think that's what I was blessed with. I'm a firm believer that I was blessed so I could bless others. That's what I'm trying to do. I just want to educate -- give people opportunities that they don't have -- in any way that I can. Give people what they need to be successful like I am."

The travails of Ndi-Igbo of  South East of Nigeria

DEFINITELY, a bad time has its advantages. That is when things appear to be at their dead end, and all roads seem blocked. It is the period when necessity becomes the mother of invention and when we get fired by our inner recesses. Options for overcoming a seemingly overwhelming situation appear limited, so we begin  struggle with ourselves for the best survivalist tactic and technique.

I cannot immediately recollect when genuine Igbo leaders came together with a single and unified spirit as was unequivocally demonstrated last Saturday. Not even during major elections such as the last presidential poll had the real leaders of one of the hardworking and ingenious tribes in the country converge to truly address the fact that the destiny of their people was in their own hand. I recall that in the past, when the apex-Igbo organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo deliberately tried to railroad the people into one partisan position, the people had asserted themselves and tried to exhibit some discernible degree of independent-mindedness. So, the meeting of those leaders in Enugu last Saturday was indicative that the Igbo had realised the dilemma the country had found itself as a result of complacency by all stakeholders in the Nigerian project.

Victor Umeh (left), Ralph Uwazurike; Mrs. Uche Ekwunfe and Gov Peter Obi at the funeral service

Be that as it  may, I know the death of mercurial Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, had been exploited by many who seek relevance in the politics of Igboland, with reactions to his sudden demise, ranging from the sublime to the humdrum. A few individuals holding public offices, either at governmental or party levels had been dropping the name of the former Biafran leader to gain political advantages. A couple of less fancied groups have equally been desperate in rising on the crest of Ojukwu, even after his death, to gain visibility. However, it was cheering that the genuine leaders of Igboland came out last Saturday to assert themselves in the face of what they see as ethnic persecution, or if you like decimation.

The communique issued at the end of the South-East leaders’ meeting said little, peradventure, for strategic reasons. Nonetheless, their message was poignant, clear and direct as to where they were heading for. That the time had come to rescue their kinsmen from the jaws of the Boko Haram, which has become more dreaded than the infamous devil all creeds seek to save mankind from.

Rally against Igbo killings by Boko Haram

Since most of the discussions were held behind closed doors, other Nigerians are waiting to see what other pragmatic steps the leaders that would follow, either now or after another meeting they have scheduled for this week. However, the sustenance of the current tempo of the emerging unity will be dependent on the ability of the genuine leaders to checkmate the few hawks in their midst. Such self-styled categories of leaders had done more harm than good to the Igbo race. They have proved, for decades, to be moles, just as you have other establishment of individuals in the political zones, placing their individual interests above the collective wishes and aspirations of the Nigerian people.  It is the activities of this category of people among the political, economic and ruling class that have brought the country to a parlous condition.

Most of them are principally responsible for the precarious state of the Igbos, because of their tendency to place their interest above that of the race in national politics. Since the meeting was held behind closed-doors, details of their discussions will only take some time before getting to the public domain.

Happily, there are many progressive-minded statesmen like the former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Dr. Emeka Anyaoku, a former Chief General of Staff [CGS], Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, revered Professor Joe Irukwu, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Major General Ike Nwachukwu and the first civilian governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Senator Ben Obi and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, and new breeds like the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Emeka Ihediora in the new derive for consensus in Igboland. Their experience and capacity to manage and deal with very difficult situations are not in doubt, but they must be ready to contend with those forces that have continued to try to create the impression that the Igbo political class is unreliable, compromising and merchantable and go by the words of Duke Ellington, that a problem is a chance for you to do your best?

The challenge confronting the country now is about the corporate existence of the country. The flame of disunity rages in the nooks and crannies of the land. All sections of  the country are losing in monumental ways to the crises triggered by the general insecurity, hence the search for an enduring solution demands utmost undisguised seriousness from consummate, intelligent and suave and forthright leaders.

That was why some of us were miffed that the seriousness epitomised by the display of tact and diplomacy demonstrated by the genuine Igbo leaders was almost obfuscated by the parallel event put together by Mr Ralph Uwazurike, apparently to further orchestrate his rabid quest to arrogate to himself the Igbo leadership.

Nonetheless, one of the challenges the Igbo face is usually the inability of the majority to see the close-knit relationship between commerce and politics. They have always played the Ostrich during major battles to give politics a human face so that commerce and other forms of  businesses can thrive in the land. I hope the Enugu parley will be the beginning of the necessary orientation of the people in that regard, as the meeting came on the heels of a warning by the South-East caucus in the National Assembly that it could seek protection from the United Nations [UN] if the Nigerian government proved incapable of curtailing the killings of Ndigbo resident in the North. The implication of this warning is that the caucus was beginning to lose faith in the Nigerian federation, because the Igbos were becoming endangered species in the country.

I do not think any right-thinking Nigerian would be happy that the country has found itself in a threatening, turbulent time, the second time in less than two decades. The annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election had triggered a gyration towards national disintegration. Except for a few, many Igbo leaders, who naturally should have stood on the side of justice, rule of law and democracy, had elected to become unabashed establishment persons and deployed propaganda to feed their people with utter falsehoods and blatant lies.

Igbo Clergy at funeral in Enugu

Of course, a few hired writers provided back-up in the media. All of them ended up heightening tension and fear in the country. Ironically, a few of them are direct beneficiaries of the existing democratic experiment. Sadly too, many Igbos lost their lives while trying to run to the East, following the tension created by their kinsmen in the propagandist machinery of the military government, since lies are always easier to believe.

The Yorubas have something to learn from the new initiative by the Ndigbo to forge unity and clairvoyance, by shoving aside political division. Nothing stops the Yorubas from borrowing a leaf from the Igbos, who have leaned on Albert Einstein’s saying that, “in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” But can it be said that the Igbo leaders have seen the wisdom in Taylor Benson’s statement that, it is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see light?

Oderemi, 08023501874 (SMS only)

Nigeria’s Igbo Tribal Elders Call for Evacuation Due to Violence

Nigeria’s Igbo tribes are staging a mass evacuation of women and children from the north due to violence blamed on the radical Islamist sect Boko Haram.

Nigeria’s eastern Igbo leaders are calling for tribal families living in the north to immediately return home so avoid being killed or injured.

Igbo Governors

At a series of meetings this weekend in Enugu State, tribal elders asked women and children living in the north to travel south to minimize their risk, while the men stay to look after their businesses.

The Igbo community is setting up shelters in the southeast to house the evacuees returning from the north.

Igbo leaders expressed their concern and anger at the spate of killings by the Boko Haram sect and the government’s inability to neutralize the group.

This follows the latest deadly blow from Boko Haram, which staged a series of coordinated attacks, mostly on police stations and government buildings, in the northern city of Kano on January 20th that killed nearly 200 people.  A separate Christmas day bombing of a church near Abuja killed more than 30.  The attacks have sparked fears of a religious war in Nigeria.

Uche Okafor - a trader from the east - agrees with the decision by some Igbo leaders.  “The elders are calling on our fellow brothers - the women and children should come home, and let the men stand and defend their own properties.  Let the women come home to preserve the families.  To preserve the community; if not they will lose everything.  This is necessary because the Igbo nations have suffered a lot and we should not have to suffer like this,” he said.

But not everyone agrees.  Some state governors, politicians and others in the southeast have criticized the evacuation call as unnecessary.

Read the rest: http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/west/Nigerias-Igbo-Tribal-Elders-Call-for-Evacuation-Due-to-Violence-138322529.html

As the sun shines brighter at the east and sets dimmer in the west; home will always be the best. Home is where the heart is and therein is the treasure. The World Igbo Congress (WIC) is an entity which has been nurtured through the years just like Igbo People’s Congress (IPC), have matured to what it is today. WIC may have noble intentions, with their humongous treasures buried in the south eastern region of Nigeria, but their home seems to be in Diaspora – United States of America. This ambiguity with a shade of abnormality gingers a need for rethinking.

After another convention which ended September 4, 2006 in Boston, this body which some of their objectives are: to unify Ndi-Igbo everywhere; promote, protect and advance Igbo culture and civilization, promote progress and development in Ala-Igbo, promote and cultivate political awareness and civic responsibility among Ndi-Igbo, etc. has really come of age. However, its activities have shown to be more for the Igbo elites and its impact nominal in continental Igbo land. What explanation could be given that an organization which supposedly should be an umbrella for all Ndi-Igbo (both those in continental Africa and Diaspora); since its inception in Houston, Texas has had all its conventions in United States of America. One should start asking; where are the bulk population of Ndi-Igbo? Are they all living in United States of America or at the south eastern region of Nigeria? While kudos should be given to WIC for propagating the interest of Igbo internationally and sending echoes around the globe for the socio-economic advancement of Ndi-Igbo, they should think inwardly on how to get the common man in Igbo land involved. The only way to achieving that would be by hosting some of their annual conventions in various towns in south eastern region of Nigeria.

In the tone of the old school rhyme that says; summer is the season when students are so merry with a long vacation; for Igbo elites, politicians, nouveau riches and every person of substance, summer is the period to converge or retreat into ‘Camp David’ in United States under the canopy of World Igbo Congress. While WIC has provided a cornucopia for the rich and powerful to retreat in America and renew their contacts with the hope of advancing the Igbo course. But to millions of grass root Igbo in Nigeria, little or nothing is known about this Hercules of international symbolism. This is due to little or no impact WIC has made in the local Igbo communities. Even with the numerous teething problems buffeting ‘Ohaneze’ which if not well handled will lead to its demise, ‘Ohaneze’ an Igbo think tank has a wider grass root acceptance than WIC. Today, it seems that the beleaguered ‘Ohaneze’ and the elites are depending on the strength of WIC to resurrect the crawling remnant of the Igbo aspirations within the realm of political survival in the polity of Nigerian terrain.

It costs about $300,000 to organize an annual World Igbo Congress convention in American cities. The Igbo attendees that come from all corner of the globe spend close to $4m dollars annually to grace the convention. Yearly American cities where these conventions are held receive big economic boost. While it is good to support international friendship; imagine what good it will do to the people of Enugu, Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Delta and any other Nigerian states, if the sum of $4m dollars and more are injected into their revenue through the annual convention of WIC. WIC would not only have helped in the economic development of the people she claims to speak for , but also will generate awareness among the grass roots who are the prime reason for the existence of that body. After all, charity should begin at home.

The gathering of the Ndi-Igbo during the conventions organized by WIC has drawn more towards building political blocs and seeking for panacea to heal the wounds of the marginalization of the Igbo people in Nigeria political system. It falls on the Igbo to work themselves vigorously back into the Nigerian political system by presenting themselves trustworthy, united, staunch, willing and ready. The generality of the work to achieve these tasks falls on the Igbo politicians, elites and chieftains. No other body but WIC seems more organized to foster this action. As important as this may be, WIC has not come out with structures – political, economic and social that would reinvigorate the collapsing foundations of her people and position them for the new trend.

Swami Vivekananda, a 19th century Hindu holy man, once said that every nation has a "special genius" and that of India’s is religious devotion. For the Igbo’s, theirs are tenacity and patience . Those characteristics should be transformed into action if the Igbo should become relevant in the political navigation of Nigeria. Unfortunately, the general claim has been that the Igbo have been marginalized by the federal government of Nigeria, but internally the Igbo elites, politicians and the rich have in various ways marginalized their own people and that is the worst.

This could be a proper time for the evangelism, revival and salvation of this ethnic group who have been dubbed the "Jews of Africa’. How correct this is, only time will tell. There’s an urgent need for the Igbo to have an agenda which is democratic in nature and shun its misconstrued republicanism. The political image of the Igbo man in Nigerian psyche should be rebuilt. When an Igbo man or politician is asked: Got a brother to betray? And his answer is No, then all other regions of Nigeria will have no reason not to give massive support to the much sort Igbo presidency which has remained elusive for now and which is one of the major concerns of World Igbo Congress.

Sunny Oputa is a Senior Fellow and a Political Analyst on Nigerian Affairs at Afripol.Org