Now this is not even satire, this is the way I see it and what I believe
Since my last treatise on the Igbo man’s place in Nigeria with their latest gambit of mainstreaming loud and empty-headed billionaires to front their aspirations and throwing up their worst eleven in almost every political equation, I have received so many comments that have, amongst others forced an undeserving headache on me
I got a call from a mainstream Igbo elder who liked the position I convassed in the article and sought my permission to send it across major elitist Igbo platforms.
A lot more came with abuse as expected
But one of the most virulent one came from my Yoruba friend – Lanre
Edgar, you just insulted the whole Igbo tribe by calling them headless chickens, he averred.
I called him and we went into a very deep and incisive conversation on the place of the Igbo man in Nigeria
We both agreed that the Igbo as a people form some of the most vibrant people in this country. They control whole sectors – pharmaceutical, spare parts, Hospitality at the mid-market level and a significant part of Real Estate in this country
Infact I dare say that if the Igbo man shuts down today, Nigeria will economically stutter.
But what they in my estimation miss is their lack of understanding of the principle of power
What power abhors is emotions. You can’t be chasing power on an emotional platform
Ohhh they gave us only £20 after the war, ohh the Igbo man is suffering in this Country, Ohhh they are seizing our property in Lagos, ohhh they have not returned our property in Port Harcourt and when it matters, you throw Obi Cubana and his ilk into the room
The last very serious Igbo political leaders were the generation of Chuba Okadigbo and a few others, it’s been this type of funny characters that they have been throwing at us ever since.
There have however been a smattering of intellectuals like Peter Obi, Abaribe, Osita, Kalu Idika Kalu, Utomi if you can call him Igbo but what we mostly get from the East are people like Ned, all the Abia Kalus and Umahi to name a few who are nothing but elder Cubanas
What the Igbo have missed in their quest for National Politics is Ideology
Ideology is the foundation of Political goals and vision
Sardauna saw power in the military and worked very early to get his boys into the army. That is a vision backed by ideology
Zik saw power in intellect and he sent the Argonauts to America
Awo saw that in socialism and education and he brought free education and sent a lot to England to study law
Today, the Yorubas are still running with Awolowo’s ideology of education as a tool for power. Tinubu with all his shenanigans is ideology driven and that is why he has been wearing the same cap since 1978
The North are running with one north wielded together by Islam
Despite the insecurity and the aspirations of minority tribes in the North, when push comes to shove a united front will emerge
Oya. The Igbos who can tell me their ideology except the emotional platitude that is getting them nowhere and crass worship of wealth no matter its origin
When i ask my friends, Which tribe is not suffering in this country they will look at me and be screaming civil war and I will ask, have Benue people not lost more people in the last twenty years?
Have the North East not lost more people with all due respect to all those who lost their lives during that sad and fratricidal civil war
Every tribe lost people during that war. Every tribe. Offcourse the Igbos lost more than all combined and as such, they are the ground zero but do we now hand over power to them as compensation without them showing a strong resolve to use it for the betterment of this country?
They must show a seriousness of purpose and a focus that will give the rest of us the confidence that they need poeer not as a consolation price but as a unique opportunity to show us what they can achieve with it
This now brings me down to this very controversial position
I like the Igbo. I have an Igbo daughter so this talk can not be by any stretch of the imagination be labelled anti – Igbo
It is instead a plea for them to start taking themselves more seriously
I have looked very closely and distinctly at the new crop of Igbo leadership and have found only Nnamdi Kanu worthy of true leadership
Peter Obi although my preferred candidate is continually preparing as if he were contesting to be a senior prefect in a secondary school or in a seminary
Nigeria is a rough terrain with no respect for a gentleman.
Utomi is too squimish and the older generation of Nwabueze, Anyaoku, Ike Nwachukwu and the rest didn’t groom successors
This leaves me with Nnamdi Kanu.
Now listen before you stone me to death, let me explain
I have not seen any Nigerian with this level of passion, focus and determination to a cause
The man has stuck through thick and thin to his beliefs. His mission with a focus like an eagle and despite all personal risks and deprivations he stands tall
Now do I agree with his perceived end goal? No and God forbid he succeeds
But what I see in his personality, I have not seen in any Nigerian leader in the last twenty years
What we have been producing have been leaders who remain self seeking, corrupt and pointless and this is why we are in the cesspit that we have today
Kanu in his vitrupulations have called for Judicial reforms very loudly, called for a revisit of the Nigerian structure, stated his very strong disbelief in Nigeria and has stood by it despite it all
Now tell me, you who is reading, do you honestly believe that they have not tried to induce him with lofty appointments and other such things including material benefits?
You think if he were amenable he would be in Sokoto Prison today?
Depsite is misguided destination and a wicked violent approach, his consistency and passion can be said to be admirable to say the least.
Our leaders do not have that kind of resolve and like in almost everything, the Igbos are not seeing these positives such that they can move towards him to convince him to bring all of those attributes and attendant power within the context of one Nigeria to better their lot.
Imagine if Kanu could by a stroke of a miracle turns all of these his personal traits into a push for the Senate and became a Senator just what kind of Senator he would be
Get me right. His drive and mission can never be supported but the ethos he has shown in driving the very aforementioned misguided mission is what is lacking not only within the Igbo leadership enclave but in the totality of the Nigerian leadership enclave
So in conclusion let me say to my Igbo friends who have been abusing me since my last article came out, let me ask very succinctly which of your present crop of leaders have the qualities and charismatic verve of Nnamdi Kanu despite his innocous mission.
To be taken more seriously, throw up leaders with verve, passion, focus and most importantly selflessness and imbued with a strong love for the people and see if we wont have an Igbo President in no time
If you continue pushing this crop of selfish and disorganised mutants, you will continue to be the laughing stock of the Country.
You can now come and beat me, I won’t even resist.
Thanks
Kai
Duke of Shomolu
Last modified: February 15, 2026
