THE IGBO NATION: EXPLORING AND ATTAINING HER FULL POTENTIALS IN A UNITED   NIGERIA -DISCUSS.

Igbos are formidable people that God has blessed. As the saying goes, “Whom God has blessed no one can curse. Igbos have today, shown their expertise in commerce, technology, education etc. It is on record that wherever Ibos are found, they have justified their usefulness in any field of human endeavour.

CRY FOR MARGINALISATION.

Today, the cry for marginalisation of Ibos by the federal government occupies the centrepiece of the current discourse. Speak to some Igbos and many will gladly tell you that the federal government have not done enough to assure them that they have been fully accepted after the war, despite the fact that civil war ended over five decades, under the maxim of no victor no vanquished,

 The question is, where did the Igbos get it wrong? How can a race that was given just twenty pounds, irrespective of what they had in the bank after the civil war, and despite this, have performed creditably well and today, the states occupied by Ibos have consistently taken the first position in the area of reduction of poverty, when compared with other states in Nigeria, cry of marginalization?.  The question is why the Igbos haven’t made the same advancement in politics that beats our imagination? Time has come for Ibos to review their strategy in democracy, and that time is now.

DEMOCRACY IS A GAME OF NUMBERS?

Yes, democracy is a game of numbers but minorities have their say only, if they use their votes to support those likely to win in that election. Only then, they can be remembered and considered, when strategic appointments/projects are being shared after election, the so-called dividend of democracy. The question is what has been the nature of politics being played by Ibos that made it impossible for them to take their pride of place in Nigeria? Have Igbos really realized that politics in a democracy is a game of numbers? Have they, over the years, considered the impact their number could have in changing their fortunes in a democracy, if they failed to vote wisely?

HOW HAVE THE IGBO’S VOTED?

Based on strategic analysis of the pattern of voting that Igbos have consistently resorted to, it is clear that they have not taken cognisance of their numbers in casting their votes. They have always voted for their choice candidates or for those that they think would give them the dividend of democracy instead of voting for candidates that are likely to win, hence they have never benefitted as they would have wished, for some time now. Head or tail, politicians all over the world tend to reward those that helped them to win, than those that did not do so.

HOW THE IGBOS CAN ATTAIN THEIR FULL POTENTIALS IN A UNITED NIGERIA.

Having regard to the fact that Ibos do not  have the population to make significant shifts in any election at the centre possible, Igbos must change their pattern of voting, from voting for candidates of their choice to voting for any candidates that are likely to win, against all odds. They must also, reach out to those likely to win and support them and if perchance that, it is not possible to know who is likely to win then, they must support both candidates equally, so as not to lose out completely.

It is my considered opinion that the above strategy if fully implemented would change Igbos fortune in any future presidential election.

Eric Olie.