Why Igbos in Hausa/Fulani Northern Nigeria are doomed
Extracts of interview between Ohaneze Ndigbo Kano leader Chief Idika and group of American journalists before the latest multiple Kano bombings that claimed over 81 lives including that of Ikechukwu Anosike from Ndagbo Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku Umuahia Abia State.
QUESTION: Sir, last year, there was a coordinated series of attacks in Kano that left many people dead. Knowing that Kano is a hotbed of terrorism, why do you people stay?”
ANSWER: That is the question we ask ourselves. The truth is that many Igbos (NdeIgbo) in Kano are born and raised in Kano. My kids all grew up here, schooled here, went to University here, speak fluent Hausa, have occasionally visited the South East but otherwise have Hausa friends and see themselves as Nigerians first. In fact, they do not think of themselves as Igbos. Many Igbos have lived here all their lives – 30, 40, 50, 60 years. We are Northern Nigerian Igbos not Southern Nigeria Igbos. There are more Igbos in Abuja than in Ebonyi State. Outside Abuja, in the rest of Northern Nigeria, there are more Igbos than in any State in the South East and we intend to live indefinitely outside the South East as Nigerians. Sir, funny enough, people want to blame us for living out the true meaning of one Nation and funny enough, the policy makers and Hausa and Yoruba journalists speak of NdeIgbo as the people who do not want a United Nigeria. I have lived in Kano for a long time, but I can tell you that there are very very few people from the Southwest and South South here. We, NdeIgbo of Northern Nigeria should be the pride of Nigeria but instead, they treat us like Hausa goats.”
“What I am saying is that we are Northerners even though we are Igbo by state of origin of our parents. You people in America should make that clear. WE ARE NORTHERN NIGERIANS who happen to be Igbos and we are not running away from our country. The Hausas live peacefully in Igboland and nobody is killing them. Nobody is killing them in the SouthWest. Why are they killing us in the North? Are we not Nigerians? Do we have two countries? Did I come to Kano with my family on a Visa? I came here with nothing and worked very hard for everything I have. I have many Hausa people that I am responsible for feeding their families through my business. I am proud of everything we have done to make Kano look like Nigeria.”
“Sir, I am saying that it is a shame that we Northern Nigerian Igbos are treated like a people without a country. Governor Kwankwaso does not treat us like fellow Nigerians who should be protected by his Government. The South Eastern Governments do not treat us like we deserve protection. The Federal Government pays lip service to terrorism. It is only when it comes time to vote that Jonathan will remember that there are Ndigbo in large numbers in the North who can help give him the 25% margin of victory.”
The response of Radio Biafra to such mindset prevalent amongst the Igbo mercantile community outside Biafraland is to borrow the quote attributed to Euripides (484-406 BC) “Those whom God wishes to destroy, he first makes mad”.
