Chinedum Treasure
An Industrialists and elderstateman, Dr Chike Obidigbo has blamed lack of formidable media team as responsible for the loss of victory of the people of Southeast in the 3-year old Nigeria-Biafra Civil War.
He argued that Ndigbo defeat was not essentially the unnequipped military but the media, insisting that the case would have been different if there was strong media presence as it is today.
Addressing newsmen in his Umunya country home, Obidigbo, former Anambra State governorship candidate, said Igbos did not receive needed assistance as most of the killings recorded in Igboland were underreported.
He also identified self-centeredness which he tagged, “I before others” (Ibo) as another major cog in the wheel of Ndigbo’s progress.
He stressed that growth and development would continue to elude the people of region if they refused to jettison selfishness, replacing the “I” factor with that of “We”.
He said, “This is the same reason we lost the Biafra war which was between us and Britain, not Nigeria. It’s not because of unnequipped army, but unnequipped media. The world didn’t hear about the Biafra war because media was not exposed as today.
“Britain which was our mouthpiece was not only directly involved in the war, but on Nigerian side. Infact, the war was not Nigerian/Biafra war, but Britain/Biafra war. The emergence of Igbo economy is anti-Britain interest. So they want it suppressed.
“Another challenge we have as a people is the slogan: I before others (Ibo). Our problem is the “I” factor; and as long as that problem persists, we’re going nowhere as a people.
“If you’re observant enough, every Igbo man wants to be number 1, heard and seen. But we must make deliberate efforts to change that narrative. We must suppress the “I” and replace with “we”.
“If there’s anything we need today, it’s one voice. If we don’t have one voice, the world can’t recognize us and all our efforts will be exercise in futility. Ndigbo has suffered enough and the hardship will keep multiplying.
While decrying scarcity of vocal and courageous elders in Igboland, Obidigbo challenged media practititioners in the zone to rise to the challenge, describing them as liberators.
“It’s only the media that can liberate us, especially our youths. It’s your responsibility, as foot soldiers to galvanize different interests and play down on emphasis on money above hardwork. That’s dangerous. Money follows work, work doesn’t follow money, genuine one for that matter.
“Why most of our elders are gone is because they hardly say the truth as ought to. That’s why I decided to talk not just as an elder, but as one knowledgeable about the happenings in the society. Whether they listen or not is not the issue,” he quipped.
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