Lest we forget to count the cost: Ebira at critical crossroads

By now, it should be abundantly clear to all moderate observers, Anebira and non-Anebira alike, that Ebira is yet at another critical crossroads in her socio-political journey. Some prevailing happenings bordering Kogi State polity/governance cum Anebira in-house tussles should and must leave all genuine minds meticulously and soberly reflecting. While many are still basking in the euphoria of our nascent political freedom as symbolized in our ascension to the helm of affairs of our dear Kogi State, and of course, gathering the baskets to collect the goodies that come with it; the boat is being rocked by both internal and external forces. Qwaqwaa! Where and how did we get it so wrong? Are we truly an impossible and unmanageable people? Why our quick regression into this sorry state of yesterday? Or could these be doses from our touted and warped republicanism, where self-wrecking endeavours find and enjoy ample excuses? These and many more are agitating concerned minds.
Our refusal or inability, either by some acts of commission or omission, to tighten the loosed ends and patch the leaking roof of our house has made us unduly vulnerable to external ‘onivi’ from whom we thought our freedom has been irreversibly secured, settled and sealed. Otherwise, what could have given a cheap attention seeker, by name Adaji from the Igala enclave, the impudence to address a cross section of Journalists in Lokoja yesterday, asking our amiable Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahay Bello to resign on the account of his (Adaji’s) criminally concocted misappropriation by the Governor and the ignominious, repugnant and futile act of passage of “vote of no confidence” by some party EXCO members.
Can somebody help ask this deluded Adaji where he was when Idris Wada, alongside his kinsmen looted the State of everything loot-able? Where was he when Wada carted away four months federal allocations, leaving the State in an unprecedented debt and the civil servant in an untold hardship because he (Wada) stole their four months' salaries? Or should we remind Adaji that Kogites are still anxiously expecting and awaiting the refund of their 11 billion naira stolen by Governor Audu of blessed memory, the prince of the Niger?  Look, do not ask me of the source of this bombshell, it was a promise by the APC State Party Chairman in Ogbonicha during a campaign rally. Go ask him. Well, while the Adajis are free to continue to live in the figment of their dastardly imaginations as it is a free world, they must take it that the years of Igala misrule aided by systematic tribal hegemony which has inevitably retarded the growth and development of the State. Every past administration in the State seemed to have made deliberate efforts towards the enthronement of mediocrity and the ascension of the obscene which inescapably led to institutional failure where maladies such as thuggery, embezzlement, shenanigans and other despicable things defined State governance in the period under review.
However! We need tell ourselves the home truth; do we blame the Adajis for this insult? No, I do sincerely think. You and I know it better that a house divided against itself will surely…………, complete it please. Are Anebira not at it again? Since when did self-contentions become our permanent identity?
Not two this time around, but many proverbial elephants are fighting and you know what is bound to happen to the grasses- I mean the masses of our people and Ebiraland. Our political leaders should over stretch their by taking the people for granted. The men and women, the young and old, the poor and middle class and probably the rich whose joy new no bound the day an Ebira man emerged Governor of Kogi State are not smiling at all. We are at the receiving end and bound to bear the brunt, disproportionately, of the unthinkable and ridiculous tendencies of our Ebira ruling class.
Can we be that forgetful that the generality of Anebira had, since the creation of Kogi State, painstakingly longed and pinned for the opportunity to manage the affairs of the State for obvious reasons? Have we forgotten so soon, the acute and crass marginalization, denial, humiliation and discrimination Anebira were subjected for over two decades? No, just too soon to forget that our distorted republican status, under the Igala rule, was disgracefully rubbished as we all were forced to swallow the second/ and third class citizenship mentality in a State our fathers sacrificed all to bring to fruition. Our political leaders were turned into boot lickers and the “yes sir, Oga is right boys”; our yovung men and women forced into criminality, prostitution and all forms of vices because they were denied employment.
Ebiraland was snowballed into a theatre of war as our youths who were denied employment were armed to the teeth to perpetrate the unimaginable- self annihilation. About 99% of the total of 6.5% Anebira in the about “38,000” State work force who luckily secured employment under the Igala-led State government were confined to the positions of cleaners, massangers, drivers and clerical designations. They were never deemed fit to lead their various units but made to remain perpetual subordinates, no matter their qualifications, efficiency and effectiveness. Do you doubt it? Then ask, among others, the Halimat Salihus (the Big Mama), in her days at the Kogi State Radio Corporation.
Political appointments and citing of capital projects, both in terms of quality and quantity, were made in the exclusive interest of the Igalas. The Igala language was almost made the “official” language in government Ministries and other public places in the State. In fact, speaking or disguising as an Igala is the first conditionality for aspiring for any plum position. Yes, that was the level humilation we were forced to endure for decades. It was indeed the height of servitude and savagery. These episodes explain why lt beats one's imagination to see our leaders acting as if they would prefer a reverse to that horrible and unspeakable state of affairs.

The place of the masses in the consolidation of our gains-

Now, our Ebira political gladiators seem ready and poised to go to the battle field. They are reaching out for their toga of war, breast plates and broadcasting the cacophony. The blares from the drums of imminent but avoidable in-house war are so much that even the deaf and dumb are being forced to dance to its ugly rhythm. They have drawn the battle line, fixed the ‘D days’ and already doing final arms polishing. It has been accusations and counter- accusations, mobilization and counter-mobilization, motions and counter-motions.
Of all these, where is the peoples’ fortress for safety? Or should we simplistically resort to the fault apportioning/blame game, alongside other considerations and queue variously behind our “war lords”? No, doing that may be more divisive and destructive. Our thinking caps must be wore properly so we can refuse denigration. Our varying political persuasions and other sentiments must be tamed to allow for dispassionate efforts at brokering peace by all. Necessarily, we should summon the courage to tell our beloved Governor, the Ohiares, Ohizes, the Momohjimoh Lawals, the Ametuos, Abdullahi Bellos, Ohikeres and others the truth, without fear or favour…that their actions or inactions may us down and take us back to Egypt, when we are already savouring the palatability of the cucumbers awaiting us in our dreamed Kogi State.
Without appealing to their emotions, the youths, on whose shoulders lies the responsibility of the making of greater Ebira, should assert ourselves by sinking it into their consciousness that the Ebira project is greater than any and all individual interest, including that of our cherished Governor who holds the power in trust for all. This is ultimately the time to tell them things they may not want to hear, but which remain the gospel truth. Let us be quick to remind them that our political fortune of today has consumed so much. In the course of this struggle, we lost great men like Senator A.T Ahmed, Hon. Onusaba, Engr. Onogo among others. The struggle led the Pastor Manjoes, the Comrade Japas and others into police detention for days. The Makojus, Omuyas, Moses Bellos, Mohammed Aliyus, Bajehsons, the Adabas to mention but few, have dissipated their hard-earned resources for the Ebira struggle. Our amiable Governor is not infallible,  being a human, and may need to adjust where possible and necessary. He needs the support of Anebira. Those aggrieved on the other side, (the Ametus, Ohiares and others) must learn some selflessness. However, on no account should anyone or group dare or dream to throw away the "bab y with the bath water". The consequences will be too colossal!
They must all sheath their swords, shift grounds and be ready to reconcile all differences to give peace a chance. Should they fail; the generality of Anebira will be in for another season of marginalization, this time, by their own who claim to be ‘serving’ their interest in government. God forbid.
As the most vulnerable group in this crisis, how do we keep on our guard? We need not mobilize for our GYB or those on the other side, but essentially for the Ebira project (the governorship seat). How do we do this? Many are quick to say “let us pray”. But, as much as I agree with them that prayer works, our prayers are always characterized with contradictions; Umar and Paul are consciously racing towards Sokoto, but religiously praying God to land them in Calabar. Who is fooling who? Political problems, most often than not, require political solutions.
We have been interfacing with some of the leaders concerned and efforts at meeting His Excellency, Governor, Yahaya Bello likely to pay off this week. Our appeal, sermon and charge are simple; they should all beat a retreat in the overall interest of Ebira. All cracked walls must be mended as it is normal for a people to disagree on issues of general interest but utterly wrong when they fail to agree after all. Our (the people's) urgent task is to mobilize all to pressure them to settlement, letting them know that we shall not forgive them should anything evil happen to our present political gains. With sustained pressure, an ultimatum of seven days within which all internal rancours should be settled may be issued.  
Again, the EYC beseeches all well-meaning Anebira, youths, women and men to genuinely balance our prayers with actions. We cannot afford any polarization along any line at this material time.N

*StandnotforGYB, *Standnotforanyone, #StandfortheEbira! 

Yours comradely,
Baba Razak.