His Grace, Archbishop Isaac Nwaobia, PhD, is Archbishop of the Aba Ecclesiastical Province of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion and Leader of Igwebuike Alaigbo Development Association. In this interview with DAILY NEWS NIGERIA Correspondent, CHUKWUEBUKA OHIZU, he speaks on issues of development in the South-East, What Igwebuike Development Association can offer, leadership in Igboland and the synergy needed among various levels of governance to reshape the South-East.
The Prayer/Fasting Scheduled To Thank God For Rescuing Igbos From War Has Come &Gone, How Was Its Sir?
The prayer and fasting are necessary for us to thank God for bringing the civil war to an official end on that date in 1970 and to equally remember the souls of all those that died in that unfortunate three years tragedy. The victims, the heros and heroines who died. They all came from families and sacrificed their lives for the Igbo race.
In future, we shall organize, gathering where members of their families will participate. So, we’ve prayed and remembered them in several churches today. We want it to be repeated every year. If we don’t recall the past, we’ll not match forward for the present. You recall that even the Government had directed that history to be taught in classes. This is because if we don’t recall the past, we can’t plan for the future. So, 15th January is very important to Ndigbo.
This Is 2025, What should Ndigbo Expect From The Igwebuike?
Aside the prayers, I see this year as one that will bring good fortune for Ndigbo. Igwebuike is geared towards projecting the Igbo Nation in good light. We shall mobilize the Igbo leaders from all corners of the world to take the cussed of Igbo Race effectively. Igbos are scattered all over the place, uncoordinated. The talents of the Igbos are unharnessed. The amenities God has given to us are tapped without recourse. So, the Igwebuike will mobilize forces to ensure that Igboland is not in anyway left behind in the push for growth and development.
What Do We Expect From the New Ohanaeze PG?
Ohanaeze is the apex umbrella of Igbo leadership no doubt about that. However, I’ll call on them to play that fatherly role properly now because Ndigbo need fathers right now. We’ve x-rayed the activities of the Ohanaeze in the past and discovered that it has been dominated by politics of the Governors which should not have happened. When a Governor is instrumental to the emergence of a Chairman or a President General, there is that unnecessary control. Honestly, we’re not saying the Ohanaeze should be on log ahead with the Governors, never. They need that synergy to serve Ndigbo better. However, the structure of the Ohanaeze Leadership is one that operated with strata and levels. It starts from Local Government, States to National. So, there’s no way they can’t internally get funds to run the Ohanaeze to avoid these perceived control from political office holders. He who pays the piper detects the tune. If the Ohanaeze could be able to detach themselves from the financial control of the Governors and raise their own funds independently, it must surely lead to paradigm shift in the way they do things. Checks and Balances of the activities of the Igbo Governors Will be very important to them because they’re their children as well who they need to call to other when necessary to remember their oath of office. If a Governor is paying their bills, tell me, from where will they summon that ghuts and courage to question his activities, style of governance and other administrative lapses? This lack of checks from strong voices like Ohanaeze makes some of these leaders to feel that they’ve done well while obviously, they’ve not done well. So, we’re expecting that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide should try within their powers to be independent. I’m sure if they’re independent today, they’ll see funds coming from where they’ve never expected. The Igbo sons and daughters scattered all over the world have what it takes to fund Ohanaeze if only they’ll see that genuine desire to represent the people the way it should be and be the mouthpiece of the people.
What’s Your Take On Having An Ohanaeze PG From Igbos Outside The South-East?
That’s one of the benefits of the just concluded Ohanaeze’s election. Sen. John Azuta-Mbata, a well known leader from the Ikwerre Clan in Rivers State becoming the Ohanaeze President General is good for the unity of Ndigbo. It gives the right message out there that the Igbo race have its indigenous home beyond the well known South-East states that have over the years misinterpreted to be Igboland. The message is very clear and every Igbo man should be delighted with the development. It equally shows that all over Igboland, we have credible people to take up leadership at all times and when required.
Do You See South-East Development Commission As Capable of Rebuilding This Region From Ruins Or Does FG Need To Do More?
I must answer by saying that yes, the obvious complaints about marginalization are there and true in most cases. However, I don’t see and I don’t believe the Federal Government is cheating is totally. We have elected officers all over the place who are handling our resources. We need to ask them questions. I studied at the University of Ibadan (UI). The first thing I saw at UI was the cultural centre. Now, that Cultural Centre as I learnt was built as a result of one million naira that was given to each states then by the Federal Government for it. Here then, it was Imo, Abia and some parts of Ebonyi State together then, while on the other parts, we had Enugu, Anambra and some parts of Ebonyi together as well. Do, I got curious and was asking for the Cultural Centre built for the South-East University and I didn’t see any. It became obvious that the one million naira from the Federal Government just disappeared.
I equally visited some states in the Northern part of Nigeria, and I see Constituency Projects of their legislators, good road networks in the schools, but here, it’s not happening. I want to say that every person needs to contribute to the development of Alaigbo. We should not just throw everything on the shoulders of the Federal Government. We need to know what the State Governments are doing. What about the local governments? What are they doing? These resources for governance in Nigeria are shared into three. If the Local Governments are handling rural developments properly and adequately, the states handling their own parts very well, then the Federal Government should add a strong complement to what those two are doing internally. A situation where everyone is looking at Abuja while we ignore what’s happening or coming to the states is very embarrassing. So, if they complement each other, we’ll see more development here. So, the South-East Development Commission is a good one by FG, but they can’t do it alone. For the South-East Development Commission, I’m happy that people that’ll be in charge are our people as well. They’re not strangers to the needs of the South-East. God has given the leadership of the commission an opportunity to make changes in the lives of their people and equally write their own names in gold.
I urge them to serve with sincerity. This is a privilege God has given to them to put smiles on the face of people. History shall be kind to all of them, if they can touch lives positively. Late Professor Jombo Jasper who wrote the memo for OMPADEC and NDDC has complained that they’re not following the guidelines and plans for the establishment. We advice those in the South-East Development Commission to be very honest with their people so that posterity will not judge them terribly. Let them work for the South-East people.
A Situation Where These Levels Of Govt Fail To Do The Needful, What’s Next?
That’s where the Civil Society needs to wake up. We have the process of recalling legislators and or paying back both those in the Executive and Legislators back in their own coins with our massive votes. That’s the beauty of democracy. It helps the people to change a bad leader without violence. You simply call the leader to order through all peaceful and legal channels. However, when he or she refuses to change, you ensure to the next election and then, vote that person out.
Is The Church Nọt Part Of Those To Do These Checks You’re Talking About?
Of course the church is at the centre of the demand for better governance and has been doing its best. Don’t get it twisted, I’m not claiming that the church has been very perfect in that area, but we’ll keep educating our members on how to remind leaders who they are, what they promised the people and what they’re supposed to do for the people. Take note, majority of these senators, and other political office holders here are Christians and they attend churches as well. Some church leaders have gotten appointment here in Abia State under the administration of of Governor Alex Otti. There may be similar appointments in different states I may not be aware of. However, the thing is that if they bring their faiths into work, there’ll be serious changes all-round. We’ll continue to say the right things. In the South-East here, some states are marching forward while some aren’t, however, it’s our duty as church leaders to keep saying the right things that our Lord Jesus Christ would have said if he were to be here with us in this situation. I want to state it clearly as a word of advice that every political office holder in Igboland should perform. Let them do what they are empowered constitutionally to do and even do more out of their own magnanimity.
The Christmas Has Come and Gone, This Is 2025 And Hardship Is Increasing, Talk To Our Leaders?
Without mincing words, the hardship is frightening and extremely pronounced. There’s anger, the poor are seriously stressed up and the rich cannot just drive their cars anyhow like before to avoid transfer of aggression. It’s important that all of us see it’s right now as agents of change and be careful with our quest for certain things. I’ve always told those around me that I can only sleep on one bed and drive one car.
If we keep acquiring all these wealths, what do we really need them for when our neighbours are suffering?
Like Job said, “we came into this world empty, and we’re going out empty.” I’ve seen people who gathered all the wealth for their children and when they’re gone, the same children scatter the wealth. We need to be very careful with the flamboyancy in our environment, help our brethren and have a rethink in whatever we do. Whatever we as individuals, government and leaders can do to reduce hardship on our people on short term, long term or permanently basis should be done. Those that God has blessed can appreciate God’s blessings in their lives by doing what God will appreciate to their suffering neigbours. Those in leadership positions and are able to form policies, should think of policies that’ll help reduce hardship and take people away from traumatic conditions. Our people are completely stretched to a level that some of them cannot expand further snd may break without a helping hand. Let me reiterate, everyone must be agents of change right now if we’re to habe a descent society. Let’s show love and make life easier for others who are not too strong.”
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