How do you reward someone who consistently uses and then betrays you?
If Jonathan’s chances are not bright, is it wise to still give him your support?
If you want to be president in 2019, what’s the most intelligent thing to do, go with the APC or the PDP?
Dear Ndigbo, I described you as geniuses in 2011. Many claimed I was selling Gen Buhari by massaging your ego. Well, many were wrong. I still believe you’re geniuses. One can’t say anything less of a people who have produced Chinua Achebe, Dora Akunyili, Emeka Anyaoku, and many others.
Like most geniuses, however, you’ve not used the genius to your advantage. First of all, you’re far from being united, and this is saying a lot in a country where most ethnic leaders are selfish and would rather pursue their own interests than those of their people. Among these disconnected people in Nigeria, you’re most divided.
We hear one Eze saying Ndigbo have adopted all the APC candidates today; tomorrow, another Eze would say the same thing, the difference is that it’s all the PDP candidates that they’re adopting. The next day, the second Eze is countered, and the next day… do you get my point?
Secondly, like all geniuses, you have too many choices, and, therefore, are spoilt for choice. In 2011, I wrote: “Ndigbo are confronted with so many choices (leaving the country, moving to another part of Nigeria, focusing on business and ignoring the charade, joining the charade, organising their own charade, and so forth), including the option of secession!
“That’s the genius dilemma. He’s interested in everything because he can excel in anything. And because of these endless choices, he ends up choosing nothing and consequently not becoming the greatest artist or an inventor.”
Since the Ndigbo are literary people, I offered them the example of the Brontes, so that they could easily relate:
“In the world of literature,” I wrote, “Ndigbo would be reminded that in what’s called “the literary family of the Brontës”, it was the brother, Branwell, who was thought to be the gifted one. But the world knows nothing about him because he couldn’t make up his mind soon enough. But we know enough of his sisters (Charlotte, Emily and Anne) – at least many of us have read Jane Eyre written by Charlotte.”
Since the Ndigbo are also notable social scientists, I gave them an example of a study in psychology, again, so that they could easily relate:
“In psychology also, we’ve learnt that – although offering people options gives them perceived power – having too many choices is a bad thing. It’s called choice overload. In her book, ‘The Art of Choosing,’ Columbia Business School social psychologist Sheena Iyengar argues that when confronted with a plethora of choices, many people prefer to make no choice at all. Even businesses have started utilizing this startling discovery in their marketing endeavours.”
Since Ndigbo are champions of unbundling the country into different independent regions, I told them that they are not alone in favouring this. If not for anything, the crimes committed by our southern brethren in the Diaspora, in our name, grate our sensibilities. I advised that even the secession, they had to plan for:
“But south-easterners are not alone in desiring to break away from Nigeria. Every part of Nigeria wants it, including the North, although they may be less vocal about it. Those who may be against that notion in the North are those “on the top”. By “top” here I mean the topmost level because even those regarded as elites want it. The only reason (southerners believe) the North will not want to break is because of oil money. However, the people are not enjoying the money, so why would they want to remain because of it?” I asked. “Although breaking into different parts is a mutual desire, the fulfilment of it is not probable any time soon, so let’s focus on the present politics.”
Finally, I said, it was in Ndigbo’s interests to support Buhari to position themselves for presidency in
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