Boko Haram and IPOB: Comparable political tool?

By Baba Grumpy

I am not a security expert so don’t expect any in – depth security analysis from me. I am an opinionated observer and I love to express that opinion when I have the opportunity and a platform. 

Today’s message is strongly directed at those with IPOB sympathies who equate IPOB and the Boko Haram  ‘war’. They believe Boko Haram was / is the vehicle for the North’s success in returning to power and IPOB can serve the same purpose for the South East. YOU ARE WRONG.

The number one person noted as the promoter of Boko Haram today is in opposition. At the moment, that same opposition party tacitly supports the IPOB as a vehicle for the ‘South East return to power’ strategy. Evidently deploying their significant experience in destabilizing the Nigerian state there.

Another senior politician who is alleged to be a supporter / promoter / backer of Boko Haram is in the Senate battling for political relevance. It would appear that the people who supposedly used Boko Haram as a vehicle to power are not currently benefitting from that power. Maybe there is a lesson here for IPOB supporters.

Twice in the last 10 years, power has returned to the North West while the Boko Haram issue is ravaging the North East. It would appear the North East politicians are not playing their ‘Boko Haram as a political tool’ hand very well, if power keeps going to the North West.

I suppose if you are thick enough to equate Boko Haram to IPOB you will believe in the one indivisible North thing too. If you do, don’t forget that if you let anybody break coconut on your head, you are unlikely to taste or eat out of the coconut.

Don’t forget that Boko Haram acquired weapons.

Don’t forget that Boko Haram sponsors had alliances with neighboring countries that were envious of Nigeria and interested in causing Nigeria some grief.

Don’t forget that Boko Haram wasn’t built on ethnicity or tribalism.

Don’t forget that despite the challenges of Boko Haram, elections largely held in the North East.

To all IPOB sympathizers, where are your guns? Why are you so hell bent on wasting the lives of your defenseless people by calling on them to obstruct constitutionally mandated elections? Why do you hate your own people this much?

To IPOB sympathizers who are educated and supposedly learned and cultured, why do you have such an uninspiring leader? A man whose vocabulary is limited to a few words, the most prominent of which is Zoo?

To the mass of sensible people of the South East living in the 4 or plenty corners of Nigeria and globally, this is the time to speak out that the so called IPOB leader does not speak for you and if he does speak for you, please be proud to say it with your chest.

Let us know that your intention is for the South East to experience the massive physical destruction and huge displacement of people that the North East experienced. Please let us know that you want over 2.5 million of your people to be internally displaced across the whole of Nigeria, their livelihood gone and their future bleak.

Please let us know that your intention is to turn the proud people of the South East into beggars. Let us know that you want these people who have a stellar reputation for industriousness to now become the beneficiaries of food and material aid convoy from the United Nations and other Relief Agencies.

The above is not my wish for the wonderful people of the South East. The above is the scenario I am painting for the brainless people who believe that Boko Haram was a political tool for return of power to the North and that IPOB can serve the same purpose.  What a horrible price for any body to pay for power. Why should you want your people to pay the same?

Beware what you buy into! Beware what you lend your support to! Beware what you turn a blind eye to!

Individually you might be ok because your family is overseas. Just in case you forget, you have cousins, you have your ex teachers, friends etc., remember children who might get cut up in any terrible tragedy. Remember innocent people. Stop the disguised support and sympathy.

For those who are genuinely seeking to gain political power. The model the North used is out in the open. It is called ‘NUMBERS’ & an understanding of the constitution in terms of the spread of votes. Buhari courted Tinubu for at least 6 years. They failed at first and barely got it right the second time.

Alternatively don’t forget that the NCNC made sure it secured its base in the First Republic and the NPP made sure of the same in the 2^nd Republic. Both parties were strong vehicles for the participation of the people of the South East in Central Government and both had allies across the Nigerian divide. Remember that the South West that has now been blindfolded by North wasn’t threatening thunder and brimstone in 1960 and 1979.

If the good people of the South East want to use APGA or any other as a sane political vehicle devoid of the hatred and mindlessness spewed by IPOB. Do so with conviction. Build bridges using that vehicle, lock down all your electoral assets in the Region – LGA Chairmen, National Assembly seats, governorship etc. and watch if any of the other region dare ignore your legitimate demands.

Articulate what you want to your South South neighbors and see if they buy into the ‘project’. I don’t think they would ever do but make overtures anyway. When push comes to shove and there is a constitutional amendment on the table or there is a decision to be made by the ‘people who rule Nigeria’, the South South representatives might join their voice with yours in helping you get what you want.

Finally look at the election results from the last time again. Please realize that the 7.5 million plus registered voters of the South East are only 11% of the total registered voters. If you add the South South’s 9.4 million registered voters, it is still less than a quarter of the total registered voters. That is assuming 100% of the registered voters chose whatever candidate you decide to coalesce around if a national election were to hold in Nigeria in the future. Even Kim Wrong Un of North Korea will not win 100% of the votes in his commune. Maybe 99.9%.

If the South East is to win any future election in Nigeria, you need the votes of the people IPOB is helping you lampoon. The Churches led by the Yoruba men that IPOB alleged that only bastard South East people attend; the Hausa Fulani paint brush that is used on everybody North of the Niger River despite the fact that there are many minorities in the 3 regions of the North who might be sympathetic to your cause.

Smart and wily political leaders in the East, should ditch the poor advertisement of a leader that is the IPOB man. You need your strategic politicians who have a long-term view; those who prioritize group interest, not those ready to take crumbs off the table of any president or those ready to throw a strop or threaten to bring the whole house down if their horse loses the race. Tinubu took his L like a man a few times. It doesn’t kill, it only makes you stronger plus he has his base on lockdown and wasn’t abusive to any group.

Reclaim your voice from the IPOB rabble. Letting Nnamdi Kanu pretends he speaks for the Igbo lies the path to failure.

Baba Grumpy works in financial services in the United Kingdom. He blogs mostly about football at http://babagrumpy.blogspot.co.uk. His Twitter handle is @BabaGrumpy