Thread by @iamobiemeka

SIT AT HOME: IPOB AND THE FADING STAR OF DAVID

The Biafran struggle and ideology live in the minds of a great number, if not most Igbos. Most Igbos believe we are marginalized in Nigeria; suppressed and maltreated. Many face this reality in our everyday lives and this

reality has been exacerbated by this current Buhari’s ethnocentric administration. More than ever, we Igbos feel attacked in every way imaginable. Good example would be the unchecked activities of Fulani herdsmen in our forests & villages and the almost countless Igbo victims.

IPOB, ESN & Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, in the face of inexplicable & disdainful catatonia that has gripped our elected, appointed & general political class, rose to the occasion to provide a sense of mental & real bastion for the Igbos & our hopes for survival. They quickly gained

popularity and acceptance in the South East so much so that one could say that IPOB is the most potent political force in the South East now.

However, it seems IPOB has lost sense of direction and is quickly spending its goodwill. How? I will explain in numbered suggestions

and hope we all shall understand.
I will point out the problems and proffer alternative course(s) of action.

1. IPOB is a revolutionary concept. The quest for the Biafran state is a revolution. Even the ideological pursuit of Biafra is a revolution and as such, must abide by

the established rules which revolutions must observe to succeed. The rules include - a. It must be funded. b. Must have precise objectives. c. Must have charismatic leaders. d. Must be painstakingly organized. e. MUST SECURE LEGITIMATE AND POPULAR SUPPORT.

2. Now, I don’t know

about IPOB’s finance. Its objective is quite clear. MNK is indubitably charismatic. I am not certain about IPOB being organized to the last detail but I know that they possess legitimate and popular support but they are QUICKLY wasting it for absolutely nothing!

3. The tactics of Sit At Home is only welcome if done on occasions like important Biafran dates eg, 30 May and to send specific political message like when Buhari visited Imo State. We were able to pass the message across that he was not welcome to a land where he has decided to

treat as an enemy, insults at will & permitted by tacit language, the wanton violation of human rights of its people by security agents answerable to him. Worst, Imo State is governed by a person for whom the people have shown apparent disdain because he wasn’t their choice.

4. But ordering Umu Igbo to sit at home every Monday and destroying the businesses of those that flout the order (and rightly so) is sheer callousness and gravely ill-advised. IPOB is simply turning the people against it.
In a revolution, you need people! They are the ones

that will give you food, water, shelter, intelligence and even protect you when security agents prowl about to look for you!

5. Learn from history! It is simple. The Bolsheviks didn’t succeed until they rallied the Russian population to their cause. King David in the Bible

would have been caught by Saul but because he was a man of the people, he was always protected. Even priests broke rules of the Temple and gave him bread meant for the Temple. They even kept his weapons, prayed for him to defeat the King they served and ordained.

The people provided David with intelligence and always sent Saul on a wild goose chase. Once the people are behind you, you will succeed. Once they are disenchanted with you, you will fail.

6. IPOB is proposing change. Change is hard. You have to seduce the people. You have to

make change appealing. People don’t like change naturally. You have to gloss it but IPOB is showing people a glimpse into a sunless future rather than one with a rising sun. By making people sit at home, bored and angry - they are painting a picture of dreary, rainy days instead

of sunny & joyous times. They’re instilling fear instead of hope! Bringing nightmares instead of dreams! Not everyone enjoys horror stories but everyone enjoys laughter. IPOB is making people cringe & not crave for the prospect of Biafra.

What other strategies could IPOB adopt?

A. Immediately cease these weekly Sit At Home orders.

B. Refocus its energy into engaging in, with the available funds, social projects that would endear them to every Igbo man.

C. Utilize their political capital well by establishing itself as the political leader of the

SE whilst biding its time for the realization of its ultimate ambition. How so?

I. IPOB should encourage participation in elections but they could endorse candidates that represent the Igbo cause. This way, they can fill our national & state legislative positions & Government

Houses with more of Michael Okparas, Samuel Mbakwes, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwus, Akanu Ibiams, Mbonu Ojikes and the likes and not these disabled lots parading themselves as leaders of Igbo stock.

With full participation of Igbo youths in elections, it’s be hard for unwanted

powers to rig themselves into positions. Those elected ones will be beholden to the people & will act accordingly knowing that there’d be consequences to their legacies if they acted otherwise. Those leaders could start realizing, at least, the Biafran socio-economic objectives.

D. IPOB should shed all wishful thinking of attracting foreign sympathy simply by being mentioned by Stephanie Busari in some CNN report. Foreign powers like USA, UK, France and Israel are not threatened by Buhari’s regime or the current Nigerian State, so why would they

want a change to it? In fact, a country like Israel is looking for anyone that could buy its spyware. It is just interested in the money. If we can’t tell these countries how Biafra would be of benefit to them, they will still maintain their 1967-1970 stance where the British

leadership was more concerned about Prince Philip’s request for more funding for Royal Horses than the kwashiorkor stricken Biafran kids.

We must look inwards for our survival. It is only when we start showing prospects of success that we may attract the help we seek and need.

Believe me, Sit At Home & passive attitude to politics look defeatist! Let’s start showing power, life, hope, vivacity! Let our markets bustle, let our children study, let our chosen politicians win! We will make more noise with the din of fed men, happy women and jubilant kids.

Let us all show life so that the day we stay silent and stay at home, our silence shall be deafening! For now, we are turning Ala Igbo into a graveyard.