By Ezeikolomuo
Igbo Consciousness Teacher
Dr. Dozie Ikedife who was one of the early five founders of IPOB is among the few Igbo men in this modern time that was buried how an accomplished Igbo man should be buried.
In Igbo tradition, anaghị agba ozu dike enete maka na ayamaya anaghị afụ nga. You do not lie a great man in state for public viewing because what is sacred is not meant to be seen by all eyes.
Despite Ikenga Nnewi’s national status, it was only his immediate family members and few elders that saw his earthly remains before he was quickly interred into the mother earth.
This is one rule from ancient Igbo tradition that many accomplished Ndi Igbo have failed to keep. Dr. Dozie who was a core promoter of Igbo tradition left a clear instruction; upon his demise, this rule should be followed to the later.
Despite the fact Ikedife transitioned when his friend was the president of Nigeria, the family obeyed the instruction.
Dr. Chu Okongwu, a former minister of finance in Nigeria and an Ozo title chief in Nnewi with the Ozo name, Dunu Mekam, was another accomplished Nigerian. He was also buried without the public viewing his corpse.
Now, let me tell you why I told the stories of these two great modern Igbos.
Dr. Dozie Ikedife while he was alive requested for Nnamdi Kanu to visit him, this was the period he came out from his first prison odyssey. In the course of the visit, he told Nnamdi in clear terms that he was derailing.
He told him to stop insulting other tribes.
He told him to stop insulting a sitting President.
He told him to stop saying things that will inflame the nation.
He told him that Biafra is a long term project that can only materialise through diplomacy.
Did Nnamdi Kanu listen to the advice of this accomplished Igbo elder? No, he did not.
Ikenga told me, “each time you advice Nnamdi Kanu, Nnamdi goes out to do the worst”.
Dr. Dozie Ikedife was an accomplished medical practitioner. He told me in clear terms that he suspects Nnamdi has schizophrenia.
Now, enter Chu Okongwu. Chu Okongwu whose entire family resides abroad has his Country home beside Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) office in Nnewi. As a result of this, he voluntarily sheltered some staff of FRSC. Especially those from out of state.
The sheltering of staff of FRSC was the only crime that led to the burning of the house of Dr. Chu Okongwu in Nnewi by IPOB foot soldiers.
Dunu Mekam when he returned to see what was done to his house by his own people, the old man could not bore it. He died few months later, completely heart broken.
I laid out these two stories for two reasons:
1. To show you Nnamdi Kanu was dialogued with by many Igbo elders but his mental sickness could not allow him to see reasons in any superior argument that was not emanating from his troubled brain.
2. IPOB as a body had and still has no regard for what is sacred.
You see, when the likes of Peter Obi screams, Kanu should be dialogued with, Peter as a distinguished Igbo elite who knows the mental handicap of Kanu is not being sincere.
When the likes of Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and his fellow lawmakers are asking Mr. President to release Nnamdi Kanu, these men are not being sincere at all. Rather, they are only talking out of fear.
The truth of the matter remains, Nnamdi Kanu was a problem, a menace, a public enemy number one that became too difficult for Igbos- both small and big- to handle.
If any informed Onye Igbo who is privy to this truth, yet, comes to the public to state otherwise, let such person be judged by the sacred land of Ala Igbo.
Nnamdi Kanu does not deserve to be out. Where he is right now, is exactly where his kind needs to be. This is the truth and nothing but the truth.
If there is any other sane mind among the top echelon of Biafra agitation, such person can step out and lead the disenchanted mob rightly. As for Kanu, he is where he should be.
It’s high time we stopped sugarcoating a truth that is self evident. Si akpozina Afọ Nkwo.