Essay
by Ken Lewis Allagoa (Esq)
I
have been reflecting on the imminent Ijaw National Congress general elections
-- the need, timing and urgency; the issues, challenges and ways forward; the
process, candidates and people – Ijaw people.
As I reflect, I increasingly engage the solemnity of the process and the
overriding desire of every Ijawman and woman to deliver a new INC.
With
thoughts of the INC election, it’s easy to forget that we are in uncertain and
challenging times with the health and financial consequences of Covid. In this, our country appears to be on the
brink, compounded by ethnic and religious dichotomies. Our political leaders seem to be bereft of
solutions to challenges of insecurity, which are now constant with violence a
robust communication tool across the country.
In the result, women and children are carted away at will by kidnappers
and bandits alike - from homes, schools and on the road. Ignorant folks – North, East, West and South
romanticise about the 1967 to 1970 civil war – completely oblivious of its dire
consequences and the country is now enveloped in confusion. No effective government response, none. This is the state of our nation.
How
do we as Ijaw people, historically marginalised, fit within these
uncertainties, challenges and apparent absence of effective government and
response that define our current reality as Nigerians? This is the question
that draws the imminent INC elections closer to the hearts and minds of every Ijaw
man and woman.
As
the delegates prepare to vote for a new INC, they
need to understand the uncertainties and challenges of the moment and this
unique opportunity for a new INC. They
need to understand the huge responsibility on their shoulders to do what is
right – as they vote - for Ijaw people.
They also need to understand the lofty trust bestowed on them by their
clans, zones and chapters.
Delegates
must try to remember their own personal struggles and those of their relatives,
friends and associates. Delegates need
to understand that we all need a new effective INC to facilitate answers to
existential questions. They have the opportunity
to cast a vote that contributes to the design for answers to existential questions. For example, how do we as Ijaw people, historically
marginalised, fit within the uncertainties, challenges and apparent absence of
effective government and response in Nigeria?
So
this election is not just about rebuilding INC.
It’s also about an effective INC to facilitate answers to existential questions
including - What is our shared vision for the future? How do we fit in the
current uncertainties? How do we respond to the current challenges? Where and
how do we see Ijaw people in 3 to 5 years time?
What steps do we need to take to get there? How? When?
Delegates
must understand that these are not academic questions, so this not the time to
desire only intellectuals, academic giants, eloquence and charisma. Doubtless, they are all fine leadership
characteristics, but more than all that - at this time - we need courage,
confidence, tenacity and reliability. We
need a new INC that will be doggedly committed to longer term defined goals. This is our opportunity to self-determine our
leaders, who would motivate and inspire Ijaw folks to answer existential
questions.
As
life isn’t fair, many argue that our country hasn’t been fair to the average Ijawman. He has all the resources, yet he is
politically and economically excluded and irrelevant. This must be addressed and the role of the
INC is to realise it is crucial.
From
my personal point of view, INC needed a fresh approach – away from mediocrity;
a naked restart and new vision for self actualisation. This required new textiles, bespoke designs
and sheer grit. I wanted us to be
ambitious. This meant retiring, not just
populist ideals, and narratives, but also our current class of Ijaw
leadership. There is anecdotal evidence
that they have always been risk averse.
I felt an all-encompassing, systemic, strategic and out-come focused
programme anchored on audacious leadership was a minimum standard going
forward.
But
this isn’t about me or what I think.
It’s about existential questions that we must begin to answer with a
sense of urgency. We must work with what
we have. Thus, in the confused and
seemingly violent agenda that underlines the myth of 2023, our people across
communities, must now stand up like men and women with character – in families,
groups, platforms, town halls etc to select and influence their delegates, being
mindful that this election is also about answers to existential questions.
Our
people must understand that this exercise is ultimately about them, each of
them. INC and the incoming NEC are
vehicles with which they can drive forward our desires, respond to national
conversations and ensure we have a recognised seat and position at the national
table. Our people have to understand the
uncertainties and challenges of the moment – the existential questions that
need answers.
Questions
that can’t be answered by self-aggrandisement nor by the usual placard carrying
violent demonstrations; questions that can’t be answered by the usual newspaper
statements and articles signed by a million and one self- seeking folks or the
usual unnecessary and counter-productive violence; questions that can’t be
answered by being subservient to self-seeking politicians in our ranks and in
government or by the usual divisive operating models of some self-seeking Ijaw
leaders; questions that can’t be answered by WhatsApp group sycophants and Facebook
tigers.
Quite
simply, questions that can’t be answered by adopting the same old approaches
that have thus far kept Ijaw folks in a vicious circle and contributed to
sustain underdevelopment in Ijawland. So we must elect leaders that can reform
and reposition the congress in a digital age, respond strategically and
digitally (from a socio-cultural position) to the many challenges facing Ijawnation
and enable the range of talents and potentials in Ijawland to be unlocked.
The
incoming NEC must align the constitution with modern realities; build in
authentic Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms that would keep our
litigious folks out of courtrooms. It’s
sheer nonsense for example, that, the 34 year old Leader and Chancellor of
Austria; 35 year old Prime Minister of Finland; and 40 year old Prime Minister
of New Zealand would be too young and so don’t qualify to be in INC, if they
were Ijaw people. Equally, if it were
today, Timipre Sylva as 43 year old governor of Bayelsa State and probably many
members of his cabinet would be too young and will not qualify to be in
INC.
INC
also needs to collate useful data about our people, where they are and in what
sectors they are engaged in and how. We
need new leaders that can pull together and unify the divergent, complex and
entrenched views and interests across Ijawland.
Our
environment is as much our asset as is what is buried beneath our land. Yet these and lack of access to oil wealth have
been a cause of so much distress. From
Arogbo to Akassa, a toxic combination of environmental and resource control crises
has claimed so many lives.
Soot
is embedding longer terms health challenges for our people, so is the unending
gas flaring. I don’t want to sound like
a broken record by illuminating the well-known and documented details. But I can say this: the incoming NEC must understand
the significance of these issues and prioritise responses. They are issues that
go to the heart of the existential questions that we must begin to answer.
I
watched the recent debate for the position of President and was impressed by
the presentations. Each of the candidates
seems to understand the key challenges facing us as a people, with some ideas
on how to respond. They mentioned the
need for Ijaw unity, to build national and international strategic partnerships
and work through existing networks. These
are the building blocks we so desperately desire and urgently need. A permanent
Ijaw Intellectual Policy Think-tank and International Security Alliance would
complement those suggestions.
But
I would like to hear more about compensation for the pollution and destruction
of our environment for over half a century.
I would like to hear more about the restoration of the principle of
derivation based on indigenous people having full control and ownership of the natural
resources in their communities and I would like to hear more about positive
action measures for our youths. Indeed,
I would like to hear more about actualising the Federal Character principle.
But
I understand that the INC isn’t government and our expectations must be proportionate
because funding has always been a major challenge, but this can easily be a
lazy excuse. This is because funding is
equally a challenge for us all – even governments (local, national and
international). With planning, novel and
innovative strategies the options for raising funds can become clearer. Crowd funding, individual donations, grants form
businesses owned by wealthy Ijaw folks, foreign grants, tasking Ijaw people in Diaspora
to put their money where their people are.
There are many other options.
Even the well-established, most reliable and authentic Ijaw platform
across continents - The Ijaw Nation Forum (INF) ably led by Eng. Ben Okoro has
already created a funding vehicle which has close to N1 million (and growing
daily), contributed by well-meaning Ijaw sons and daughters across the globe.
So
delegates must vote with eagle eyes, keeping their hearts and minds focused on
the need for answers to existential questions that we must all begin to answer
together. But let us also realise that we
all have a role, each of us. We can’t continue
to watch developments like pedestrians or sit back in despair. We are all stakeholders. We must all unite behind the new NEC to
contribute useful citizen-options and non-violent economics, with motivations
of moral obligation and new notions of public accountability. This will produce viable outcomes that will
make all the difference to the lot of Ijaw folks across the globe. May God continue to help us all.
Ken
Lewis-Allagoa (Esq)
April 2021