PROFESSOR ABC Nwosu, a former Minister of Health is one of the founding members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and was secretary of the National Burial Committee for the Ikemba Nnewi, Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
He is also a member of the Board of the Ikemba Odumegwu Ojukwu Centre. In this interview, Nwosu speaks on the 2015 Igbo presidency project, infrastructural collapse, the general state of the nation and the controversy trailing Professor Chinua Achebe’s latest book –‘ There Was A Country’. He spoke at the end of a long trip that took him through Abia, Enugu and Delta States. Excerpts:
This has been a long trip for you. From Ojukwu Centre Owerri to Arthur Nwankwo’s birthday in Enugu, World Igbo Day in Asaba and back to Enugu. How did you find the roads
It was a harrowing experience for all of us Commodore Ebitu, Ambassador George Obiozor and myself. But it opened our eyes to the infrastructure collapse in the South East. It appears to be the same situation nationwide even though we think that the South East is worse than the rest of the country.
Prof Nwosu: Our constitution says we the people, that is a lie
It is also my expectation that by the time the rains stop and the dry season comes, the task-force team including Army Engineers shall utilize the dry season to relieve the extreme suffering that Nigerians are going through now. If countries can deal with earthquakes, Tsunamis and Hurricanes Nigerians must prove to the world that they can deal with this matter.
What are the implications for the hardening of positions by the various ethnic nationalities in the country?
The present disequilibrium in the polity is created by the elite and must cease so that the masses can breathe and enjoy the benefits of the wealth of Nigeria. The disequilibrium has a cause and that is because Nigeria is living a lie. First our constitution says we the people, that is a lie.
Two, our name says Federal Republic of Nigeria, that is also a lie. Government must see how the nation can be enabled to practice true federalism and how the constitution must be drawn to reflect the wishes of Nigerians. When these two are done, Nigeria will begin to be true to its name and constitution, the disequilibrium will go and the masses will begin to enjoy greater democracy dividends.
So do you think that the current upsurge in the agitations of the different micro nations in Nigeria will vanish through the practice of true federalism?
I definitely think so. The agitations arise because the constituent micro nations be them Yoruba, Ijaw, Igbo, Tiv, Hausa, Fulani etc don’t want to lose their identities and don’t want to be maltreated in a country they call their own. In Igbo land we call it ahamefula. Federalism ensures that in a plural society all micro nations are enabled to self actualize.
This is why our founding fathers chose federalism and we must return to that federalism. Without true federalism there will continue to be agitations at some stage or the other by the various ethnic groups. Nigeria needs a system of shared power which is implied in federalism. The states as presently constituted are too weak to share power with the centre.
That is why I favour geo-political zones being created into regions without abolishing states. Creation of states has shown that whenever you constitute a minority into a majority by creating a new state, new minorities will emerge in the state.
Therefore, it is best to adopt the six-regional approach. The six regions, in my view, without abolishing states, are a better guarantee for the protection of minorities.
The matter of a President of South East extraction has again become a central issue with Ndigbo. Why?
It will continue to be an issue until a president of Federal Republic of Nigeria comes from the South East. The longer it is delayed the more dangerous it becomes.
It is a matter of pride. It is a matter of ahamefula. Beyond these two, it is a matter of a full bodied and able and competent person who can contribute to the development of his fatherland in solving key problems being excluded from doing so.
Any day that he suffers from these problems, he will deeply resent the fact that his brethren have contrived to keep him away. For these reasons, therefore, Ndigbo should field a presidential candidate in the year 2015. For them not to do so, will be to deliberately sentence themselves to insignificance and oblivion in Nigeria.
How can this be achieved given the division in the leadership of Ndigbo?
There are three key requirements. First, the Igbo must be convinced in their minds, bodies and souls that they want to produce the president not only because they are Igbo but also because they want to change the course of the nation’s history for good. Secondly, the Igbo must strategise for it and put their best foot forward by presenting a Nigerian who other Nigerians and the world will see that he is competent to address and redress the nation’s problems.
The presidential contest is not for incompetent persons and certainly not for political rascals and rabble rousers. Thirdly, the Igbo must rally round and support an internal leadership in this project that can effectively liaise with other geopolitical zones in order to build a national consensus. All kinds of persons currently masquerading as Igbo leaders must stop their game so as to permit a true leader from the present crop of genuine leaders to play the role.
Genuine leaders like who?
The late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu was a model in genuine Igbo leadership. The late Dr. M.I. Okpara was one too. Currently, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe is one. He is strong-willed, decisive, focused and possesses the strength of character for this kind of pursuit.
He has not shown that he can be easily compromised or distracted. I am sure there may be others like him. For example, Barrister Olisa Agbakoba, even though he is young, is very straight forward and steadfast. These are the kind of people that Ndigbo require now.
How do you see the insistence of the South South especially Chief Edwin Clark on a second term for President Goodluck Jonathan in the light of this clamour for Igbo presidency?
It is the right of any geopolitical zone to seek for the highest office in the land and so all the current six geopolitical zones are entitled.
Sometime in the past, the South East reached an understanding to support the South South because it had not at the time attained the office of the president at all while South East had had it for six months (through Ironsi). Right now the situation is the reverse. It would therefore make sense to me if the South South can reach a similar understanding to support the South East.
How the leaders of both zones resolve this and then approach the other four zones for support, will be a test of sincerity, accommodation and ability to present situations effectively by the leaders of the two geopolitical zones. The coming months will test how the leaders of the two geopolitical zones shall handle this sensitive and crucial matter.
There are murmurs that you may contest the Anambra Governorship election in 2014. Is it true?
No. No, no, no. It is not true. I am enjoying my retirement with my grandchildren and my major position is that young men in Igbo land should be groomed and given the chance to take up positions. As a masquerade, I have danced in the arena and I have given way.
Younger masquerades must be enabled to perform. Anybody of my age who is still angling for elected office at any level should either examine himself thoroughly or subject himself to a thorough examination by a doctor. It simply means that person has failed to groom a successor. In Nigeria people must learn not to hug the political space as active players at 70 years of age.
What is your view on the raging controversy regarding Professor Chinua Achebe’s latest book – There Was A Country?
Whenever Achebe writes, it is good. His latest book is not an exception and I am not surprised that the world has taken notice of the book. The current controversy is also very good. In my view, it is forcing out into the public domain pent-up prejudices locked up secretly in ethnic minds.
Hopefully, Achebe’s book will enable Nigeria to cleanse its soul so as to permit the country to develop into a nation. Ironically, Achebe said exactly the same thing he has just said about Pa Obafemi Awolowo in 1983 in his book titled “The Trouble with Nigeria”. In that book, he also had very unkind word for the Great Zik, for Tafawa Balewa, who he lampooned in his chapter on corruption and other Nigerian leaders. He only had kind words for Mallam Aminu Kano.
This was predictable considering that he and Chief Arthur Nwankwo had dragged young Igbo intellectuals into the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, in 1979. It is therefore clear that Achebe is consistent in what he says. His latest book is not about Pa Obafemi Awolowo, it is not about General Gowon, people should therefore not trivialize this serious book, which was about pogrom and genocide committed against Igbos and Easterners in 1966 and 1967 – 70.
Vanguard
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