This is why Igbo youths should listen to their elders

Editor's note: Recently Igbo people in the north were given three months to leave the region as the clamour for Biafra continues to gain momentum.

Prof Oyeniran Abioje, from the University of Ilorin in this piece praises the acting president for taking note of the security problems in Nigeria which are caused by the people. The author also expressed displeasure that Igbo youths are not listening to their elder concerning the recent issues.

I dedicate this letter-article to Nigeria’s Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, for acknowledging that “most of the security problems confronting the nation were self-inflicted, resulting from corrupt practices, injustices, among others”.

He blames also “failure to build trust around the rule of law and justice system of administration.” I hope he will follow-up by pursuing constitutional remedies and demonstration of personal examples.

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I am happy that Igbo elders are paying close attention to the pronouncements and activities of some of their youths. I am not happy that some of the youths ignore the elders. The wisdom of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik of Africa), an Igbo who didn't support the Biafra war was not appreciated until after the war and its consequences.

Yet, some Biafra fanatics will never forgive him even now that he died more than three decades ago. When the current agitation heightened, I said I could not see how Igbo people who are gainfully employed in different parts of Nigeria will go back to Igboland –go back to what?

Besides, I have been a friend to one Igbo or another from my primary school days through my entire student and working lives. My M.A. and PhD projects were supervised by some Igbo, respectively. While in Port Harcourt, some Igbo lecturers and fellow students were incredibly nice to me.

Igbo youths should not insist that an Igbo should be Nigeria's President in 2019. Let us unite in the quest for political order that will put a stop to arbitrariness. Rotation of key positions (including that of the President) among the federating zones should be constitutionalized for equity and sense of belonging. With specific reference to the position of the President, General Olusegun Obasanjo (OBJ) from the southwest had served two terms, 1999-2007. Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan from south-south has spent eight years also in Aso Rock, 2007-2015.

General Muhammadu Buhari is serving the second term of the northwest that death didn't allow Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to serve. To balance the equation, it is better to let north central serve two terms, 2019-2027. Then, southeast and northeast should follow, successively, before southwest again.

Nevertheless, nothing can guarantee the arrangement than constitutional backing. The constitution was the tool used against OBJ's third term agenda. Political order is the beginning of wisdom and rotation is in tandem with Nigeria's federal character policy to which lip service is paid.

The constitution is a legal master that can tame inordinate ambitions. With all his ambition what was the achievement of Jonathan beyond carnage, genocide, unbridled corruption and destruction of Nigeria's economy?

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Unfortunately GMB chose the same paths of carnage, genocide, non-accountability, and destruction of Nigeria's economy. Political seriousness however begins with order and obedience to rule of law. Against Nigeria's constitution that prohibits "state religion", Nigeria's rulers are politicizing Christianity and Islam. Political order requires political discipline and that should be our path to a new/better Nigeria.

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