The complex Igbo political system and its kingship structure were the subject of the recent book presentation entitled, Igbo: the People, Power and Politics written by Chukwumezie V. Nnamdi.

The book, which documents people’s way of life, provides the entire nation food for thought particularly at the level of intellectual discourse.

Held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, the ceremony created a forum whereby some indigenes deliberated on the best way to achieve Igbo unification.
Ndi Igbo, a group of people that are exceptionally creative and straightforward in their dealings are said to be ironically politically unconscious. It was generally acknowledged that failure by Ndi Igbo to unite was why political power continues to elude them.

It was noted that this unnecessary disunity among the people in the Eastern region of Nigeria is not in the interest of the people in the region. For example, the exclusion of Igbos from political power accounts for the neglect of River Niger from being dredged and failure by government to make Enugu airport an international air route. It is also the sole reason why iron and steel industry which Russian experts said is most suited in the South East was moved to Ajaokuta and in its place, a haphazard metallurgical training institute was established in Onitsha.

Contrary to the assumption that Ndi Igbo had no kings because some communities did not have kings during their early contacts with the Portuguese traders, the people said they had, and still have kings, called Ezes. The people’s value system and several other issues were equally addressed.
Mr. Kalu Onuma, Admin Sec. Of Ndi Igbo, Lagos, who represented Chief Christopher Eze, Chairman of Ndi Igbo and Chairman of the occasion, stated that the problem of disunity especially amongst the Igbo elite has been the bane of political progress in the region.

“We have realized that when it comes to politics, our people find it very hard to come together, it is very difficult to find someone who can say ‘I am leading Ndigbo’ or ‘I am the centre of things which revolve round Ndigbo, this is something that we are trying to correct,” he pointed out.
He lamented further, “I do not see practically why Olusegun Obasanjo should have emerged as PDP candidate in 1999 way ahead of Ekwueme who was better prepared and well equipped and who only needed a little support from his people to be able to clinch it.”

Onuma noted that the idea of writing a book about the Igbos was a difficult task. “You have to unravel our past because we are difficult people. We are a very tough people in terms of what we know, our background and our intelligent quotient.”

He commended the author, stating that the book was an intellectual input to the society.
Barr. Chuks Nsobundu, former Commissioner for Works, noted that the Igbos were self marginalized and that it all borders on complex.

According to him, the complex has manifested in many ways. “It is a shame that our children cannot write or speak our language.”

He therefore urged every parent to make conscious effort to see that their children learn, write and speak the language lest the language faces extinction.

He also warned parents to desist from sending their children abroad at early ages. “Language is very powerful so our elite should desist from sending their children to overseas when they are very young. They can do their primary and secondary here but after that they can study abroad. Otherwise, they would become strangers when they return because they won’t be able to communicate with the people at home.”

In his review, Mr. C. Don Adinuba said the Igbo agenda is not a secret and that it is far from being in conflict with national aspirations. Rather, it deepens the national aspiration and gives it a practical meaning.

He explained that the agenda was articulated in the early 1990s by various Igbo groups such as the Aka Ikenga, Ohaneze and Mpoko Igbo and presented at the 1994-1995 Constitutional conference by the former Vice President of Nigeria, Dr. Alex Ekwueme.
“What is called the Igbo agenda is in truth a national desideratum. That is, something which the nation desperately needs but is not yet available. What the Igbo wants is informed by far-sightedness and an acute concern for national development, powered by the values of justice and fairness,” he noted.