Opinion
By Dan Anaesi
AN Igbo woman from Afikpo in present day administrative space called Ebonyi, defended the votes of citizens in the administrative space called Abia, and drums were rolled out for her in the administrative space called Imo State where she is the head of the most prestigious University there.
I am not bothered that mockers who cease all and any excuse to mock Ndigbo of being divided have not highlighted this remarkable part of the story. No, I am not bothered. What is important is that the Igbo citizens of this generation should see this and learn, for that was how we were and how we should be.
She is a human being, she did something noble, she is being celebrated by all. That was how we were. That is how we would be.
The cowardly returning officer from Enugu is probably from Enugu State, and I have not ascertained that. One of the best Vice Chancellors of Anambra State University in recent times is an Imo State man. He worked very hard to upgrade the school and did a fairly good recruitment, focusing on the best.
How we should be. If the person is excellent, we should not be asking where she or he is from. If the person is excellent and is an Igbo person from anywhere in the Igbo nation, the person should be given that assignment anywhere in the Igbo nation, with open arms and every support necessary.
We are Ndigbo, we have our value system, we should do away with any ugly culture that has crept in, and we should do away with most of the Nigeria retrogressive mindsets that has crept into us. Some Nigerians would rather sacrifice merit to favour their tribe and it does not matter if the job is poorly done, so long as it is done by their kinsman, they are fine. Nigeria even sank to further, that if the best person for the job is an Igbo person, they will rather have the thing poorly done or not even done at all, let the country lose if it comes to that.
Hate her or love her, Prof. Nnenna has demonstrated the very spirit of Igboness, that at all time and in the face of anything, that which is just and fair is what we will defend, irrespective of who gets the benefit.
Professor Nnenna has earned the Nze na Ozor title, she may not be bestowed that, but she has demonstrated the actual function of Ndi Nze na Ozor, because the Nze na Ozor society in Igboland is not just for prestige, there is a role it bestows, the role to be just, do justice, defend the truth and take no part in anything that is nso ana.
She is from Ebonyi, serving our people and students in Imo State, going to Abia and defending their mandate, coming back to Imo, and Ndi Imo rolled out the drums.
God bless Prof. Nnenna, a legacy statement has been made, and it is loud. If Nigeria were to be a functional space, she would finish her tenure as VC and be given a higher role. But if Nigeria refuses to give her a higher role, she is already in a higher place in history.
This is us, this is who we are, this is how we were, this is how we should be, this is the way to go.
A.
Tags: Dan Anaesi Prof. Nnenna Oti
