Dear Charles Ogbu,
You spoke right; the Igbo should not be cutting their nose to spite their face. Some of us immediately started calling for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s immediate and unconditional release ever before others started imagining what to do.
We need a strong Igbo economy and educated Igbo youths to liberate the Igbo, and this in cooperation with others oppressed in Nigeria. We cannot destroy these three components and hope to achieve any success. I doån’t know how IPOB arrives at their methods, but I’ve written elsewhere that for several reasons, economic lockdowns should be in cooperation with other nationalities, and should be applied sparingly given that cruel federal policies had already locked the Igbo down for more than 50 years.
We should be more strategic now than tactical and no honest person must allow himself threats and fears in the effort to liberate our people either in a proper restructuring that most of us elders seem to favour, or going back to Aburi, or the Independence/Republican Constitution, or a peaceful separation.
Above all, the IPOB, MASSOB, and other groups should join in serious work to unite the Igbo nation in the 13 contiguous states of their ancestral presence, as well as the East, South and Middle Belt for a positive outcome in case of any referendum for any level of self-determination whether relative or absolute as the case may be.
Let’s not call each other names, but start loving and respecting each other’s views, and join hands with others to free our people from the caliphatic atrocities and enslavements facing almost everyone. Above all, without this being an excuse for treachery and betrayal, whether or not anyone agrees with you, seek not his harm or ruination for in a revolutionary struggle an enemy today could be a saving grace tomorrow.
Prof. Obasi Igwe.
