By Eluwa Chidiebere | Biafra Writers
Leadership in a broader view does not necessarily imply the use of force on the people as contrarily understood by most African leaders (or rather, rulers) to achieve a goal. Leadership is about tapping from the potentials of both human and natural resources for the benefit of the led; in which case, the leader operates more like a public servant while the masses are kings.
However, in Africa, and most notoriously in Nigeria, the masses are ruled with much use of force, repression, and oppression; the interest of the greedy and usurious elites is most times opposed to that of the masses. This is because most African leaders are not well tutored (and sometimes, not tutored at all) on the ethics of good leadership before they assume power. As a result, Africa has become a hub of beastly leaders with which the power they are wielding carries. Indeed, it is very destructive to have that (power) which you cannot control. Given to these views, it is justifiable to say that Willie Obiano, the executive governor of Anambra State should be nowhere near leadership.
Willie Obiano, who graduated from the University of Lagos in 1979 before venturing into the banking sector in 1981 and later left for Chevron Oil Nigeria PLC, erroneously assumed office on 17th March 2014 as the executive governor of Anambra State with little or no experience in leadership.
This is more of the reason why the life of Anambra indigenes meant nothing to Willie Obiano; he does not feel he owes them that protection owing to the route he took to assume power. Excluding other unprovoked killings by the Nigerian forces in Anambra State, Obiano remained silent in the killing of Biafran youths who were on a peaceful rally on August 30, 2015 and May 30, 2016 at Onitsha and Nkpor respectively, as also reported by Amnesty International. It was on this ground that Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) ordered Anambra indigenes to boycott Anambra election till referendum date is given to Biafrans, as a sign of our readiness to exit the unfortunate amalgamation and contraption called Nigeria.
In reaction to this, Willie Obiano, on July 8, 2017, conducted what he tagged “Election Must Hold in Anambra” protest in Anambra State in his desperate bid to secure a second tenure. From the reports gathered, the seating governor was willing to blow the people’s money on any available person ready to join in the protest.
Regrettably, for the piss-artist Obiano, the move which was designed to show off power, relevance and love of the people towards him, backfired to be a show of stupidity, illiteracy, and ridicule on his side. The governor, as usual, was expecting people en masse but was hit by surprise when a handful not up to hundred showed up. The poor governor who was highly disappointed at the figure, left in a fit of pique. It was indeed a scanty protest that held no water, deserted by the people despite the money being shared. He really cut himself into sizes with that.
Really, the Nazi has resurrected in Biafra land in the form of Willie Obiano. Right now, he has resorted to palling around with the hunger-stricken and gullible leftovers in Biafra land, pulling the wool over their eyes. But surely, he is riding for a fall because even the few that protested knew at some deep level of their psyche, that what they were doing was wrong. Obiano’s move to counter the order given by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the people’s choice, is a hope against hope, an effort in futility. The order stands and any other move to counter it will also hit a dead end just like this one.
When we will finally vote (after a date for the referendum is announced), we will vote for the future, we will vote for our identity, for our security, we will vote for what is right for humanity and not for beasts like Willie Obiano and his colleagues. For as long as we have resolved to restore Biafra, we must reject Nigeria and her elections.
Edited By Somuadila Ugwummadu
Contact us: biafrawriters@ipob.org
Publisher: Charles Opanwa
