Before the first coup, the Igbos were the super tribe as they controlled almost everything – politics, economy, academia name it
The first indigenous Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan was an Igbo man and to cap it Eni Njoku held sway at the University of Lagos and they had Zik our first President, Ojukwu’s father who was super wealthy and joined the early promoters of what is today the multi-trillion Naira NGX then known as the Lagos Stock Exchange
The first coup came and an Igbo man, General Ironsi took over and then the civil war came with all of that madness and the Igbo lost their prime place in the country
Ever since, the Igbos who are a very powerful and industrious conclave of people have struggled to regain their pride of place all to no real avail
There have been some bright spots, with Ndubuisi Kanu and Ukiwe emerging as Governors of Nigeria’s most important state Lagos and Alex Ekwueme also becoming the first civilian Vice President
But in all, they have suffered significant pushback within the Nigerian federation giving them a feeling of not being wanted to the point that even at their best, during President Jonathan’s administration, they didn’t even notice the power, influence and strategic appointments they held
Their ‘suffering’ had blinded them to the fact that Jonathan had handed over the military, economy and other such strategic things to them
The invincible institutional barriers most likely put in place to debar any reoccurrence of the things that led to the civil war have left the Igbo man mostly very wary of his place in the Nigerian structure making the call for a separation ring through, thus leading to armed insurgency and a vocalisation of separatist tendencies by others
Today, the Igbo seem more than confused as they trudge along like headless chickens in the minefield that is Nigeria of today
The Igbos don’t have a conserted front line unity – but who has-and have been throwing their worst eleven on the pitch when their very best in Peter Obi standing up and shouting, put me on the field
Peter Obi is not only Nigeria’s best chance at true principled leadership, but he is also the best Igbo chance at the Presidency since Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe
He lacks the oratorial powers and colour of Azikiwe, the nationalistic fervour of Azikiwe but his puritanical approach to leadership has made him the darling of Nigerians who are tired of the raping and looting that has been going on since the second Republic
Did the Igbos stand with him? No. No Igbo Governor supported him in his first coming and it’s going to be worse this time leading activist Isaac Fayose to scream what is on everyone’s mind including the Igbo man himself – Igbos are there own worse enemies
It gets worse. As we run down to the 2027 polls, all major Igbo leaders plus all their Govenors except Otti plus including the Prof in Anambra are carrying brooms
All major Igbo leaders in all strata of National life are carrying brooms in a move that could have been beautiful nationally if it were not self-seeking and hypocritical.
My issue in this article is not even the caving in of the Igbo intelligentsia in National discourse but the throwing up of the ideological vacous ‘Igbo Billionaires’ into our national consciousness.
This new breed of Igbo leadership has forced itself on our socio – political milue in a loud and irritating manner that is now making the Igbo part of our brotherhood more than ever before a laughing stock
Leveraging digital platforms, this particular brood parade – here today gone tomorrow- wealth and use that to access elite strongrooms and now parade in very brash and loud costumes preening and showing off without any form of ideological hook
For them, it’s the live today mantra and with social media, they have gained notoriety which has in turn given them national facial recognition and the attendant celebrity they crave.
The more strategic sections of the ruling elite class of Nigeria have now looked at them and have seen how they can be used to further distract the true Igbo from its real and pressing irredentist movement by giving them brooms
These empty heads have all been giving empty jobs in the run up to 2027 and they in turn have started doing what they know best – splashing wealth with no real proven source, making noise and generally being the irritant that they truly are.
The Igbo race is today in a sorry state as they are being fronted by two sides of an elitist corporation that are decidedly selfish and have no focus and are available at the right price
We see their political. Leaders ‘fafing’ around and not making sense drowning such serious voices like Abaribe
From their representatives at the National Assembly to their Governors down to the state legislators and a cursory look at the political pool, all you see are people that would make Zik and Ekeweme and Achebe and Mbonu Achike and Akanu Ibiam squirm in frustration and regret
On the other side, the Igbo gifts us with the Cubana jokers and a motley crew of so called billionnaires who have nothing to offer their people but the gold toilets they sit on to pass out waste
Truly, the Igbos are their own worst enemies and the sad thing in all of these is that their mass decay is also contributing very very seriously to not allowing the rest of Nigeria fight this battle that we need to fight
Sad
Come and beat me
Duke of Shomolu
Last modified: February 13, 2026
