An Igbo socio-economic group, Igwebuike Alaigbo Development Association (Worldwide), has charged all Igbo communities in diaspora to henceforth revert to the town union system that Igbos were known for, and put an end to chaos often associated with the borrowed/controversial monarchical system adopted in leadership selection outside Igboland.
The group led by His Grace, Most Rev. Dr Isaac Chijioke Nwaobia also urged Igbos in diaspora to resort to their God’s given “Ako Na Uche” (cautiousness and sound reasoning), as a means of survival in this trial times, warning that as strangers in their host countries, they cannot continue to act in ways their host their host are apprehensive about.
Reacting to the recent developments in East London, South Africa, particularly the tensions arising from the said installation of an “Eze Ndigbo na East London”, appealed for calm, mutual respect, and engagement among all those involved.
Providing more solutions, the group said, “While we Igbos are purely republican by nature and nurture, most other African countries and societies were not wired that way.
“Some of these African nations were once empires rooted in a strong monarchical system, so the word king (Eze) resonates and evokes power, authority, territorial control and dominion to them, unlike us, that sees it as nothing too big.
“Yes, we affirm there could be some wicked misinformation and manipulative hands not too far from within our country that may have fanned the embers of these damaging anti-people moves against Ndigbo outside the borders, but we insist that it is time Igbos ‘boycott the boycottable’, for the survival of our race.”
The group reiterated its call on Igbos in diaspora to prioritize the Igbo principles of “Ako na Uche” (cautiousness and sound reasoning) in their dealings with their host communities, stressing that sound reasoning and caution will always attract love from host to guest.
In a statement signed by Comrade Godson Ibekwe-Umelo – Ag. Publicity Secretary and Chaplain Prince Kalu – Co-Chairman, Igwebuike Alaigbo, described as repugnant and unacceptable by every standard, the horrendous destruction of properties of Ndigbo with its associated collateral damages to others in the Republic of South Africa, but urged them to be more cautious and careful henceforth.
“Let every Igbo community in diaspora revert to our usual structured town union system with an elected Chairman or President, as the case may be, with administrative executives running the affairs of the union with zero Eze coronation for Igbo communities outside Igbo Land.
“It’s also important that elections to such offices should be democratic and open to host communities’ observations, if need be, to clear doubts and promote cordial relationships.
“We should henceforth invite the local authorities to witness how you elect your new leaders and allow the local authorities to know what your leadership looks like and let the security agencies and community leaders there be acquainted with whatever we’re doing to reduce mutual suspicion and rancour.”
The group further urged all Igbos in diaspora to use events like this to think about investing homeward and rethink general infrastructure and industrialization of the Igbo nation forthwith, stressing that this is why all Igbos must embrace a core cultural philosophy “Aku Ruo Ulo” (Invest At Home), because in all, home is the safest.
Igwebuike Alaigbo said that recent attacks on Igbos across different places are now looking like a deliberately orchestrated plot, whose foundation may not be too far from the maltreatment the Igbo have faced in their own country for some time now.
The group, therefore, called for concerted efforts towards strengthening the security, for the protection of the lives and property of Igbos, across Nigeria and in their home territory, stressing that it would be wrong for one who faced a crisis in the diaspora to face the worst situation at home.
The group condemned the action in East London as cowardly and terrorism in its most vicious form, stressing that issues such as unknown or misunderstood leadership style should not warrant any African with a clear mind and good human spirit to loot and destroy the lives and property of fellow Africans.
