I did not set out to stoke the fires of controversy when I penned the article titled “Is Onitsha the Extravagance Capital of Nigeria?” It was, for me, a deep moral question about my hometown (and by extension my country) for which I sought honest answers. Well, it turned out to be the opening shot of a huge debate for which, in retrospect, I am grateful.
My highly educated brothers responded with an avalanche of rejoinders. There were treatises on all sides of the debate – for, against and in-between. I had inadvertently touched the tail of a tiger. I have been richly enlightened ever since. I owe every one of those who took time and effort to reflect on the subject a big hug. Today, the saying, “Ife eji abu Onitsha erika” really hits home for me like never before. I am proud to be an Onitsha man.
Hopefully, a positive outcome will follow these highly civilized discussions. My hope is that, going forward, Onitsha will soon be blessed with:
- A modern library to nourish the curiously of the youth
- Modern community hospitals to relieve both Iyienu and General Hospitals
- Public boreholes and water reservoirs to serve the sanitation needs of indigent households
- Small to medium-sized factories to give jobs and decent livelihoods to indigenes
- Solar-powered street lights to keep our neighborhoods safe and illuminated during the nights
- Modern convention centers to host social events and keep guests safe from the elements
- Modern funeral and burial practices to give honor to the departed without putting the living in anguish or debt
- Among other sensible changes to our social practices and etiquettes
These are just a few of my own ideas. The list can be vastly improved with inputs from other well-meaning Onitsha indigenes, especially experts in diverse fields.
The core idea, lest we forget, is for persons seeking title, honor and prestige to join hands in providing some of these useful amenities that uplift society. In exchange, they get their titles and their names honored in perpetuity on those projects. Agbalanze, Otu Odu, the Age grades and other institutions thus become progressive, cherished vehicles for social transformation. Not simply purveyors if vainglory. It’s a win-win for all. It’s not either or.
This does not in any way condemn merrimaking or the celebration of life. No! I recognize that celebrations lubricate human lives and motivate further accomplishments. I agree that “Belongingness” sits high on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Human Needs. However, mine is a call for balance and moderation to accommodate other pressing needs as society evolves. For a life of endless merriment is debauchery and poisons the soul.
We do not have to rely on government to do everything for us, otherwise we might be waiting for Godot. We have an almost infinite capacity to help ourselves – thanks to the army of highly successful Onitsha professionals living outside Onitsha, across Nigeria, Africa and the globe.
A community so blessed with enlightened people has no business waiting for government to take the lead in uplifting its own people. Government should rather look to Onitsha for inspiration and clues on how to move our states and country forward. That is how best to honor the memories of our great and illustrious forebears who held the torch for the rest of Igboland, Nigeria and Africa.
Let us create a society that better serves the needs of today and tomorrow, not one that dwells exclusively on past glory and the memories of our great ancestors. Those men and women did the best they could in their own times. Now it is our turn to take the baton, run swiftly and hand it over to the next generation ahead of the racing pack.
Let us refocus our energies away from wasteful vainglory, towards creating a new Onitsha with an inbuilt capacity to flourish, grow and compete with the best cities around the world. Yes,we can.
I am glad to observe that on these fundamentals, a vast majority of published rejoinders are in alignment with my views. So, if nothing else, we have an informal referendum to work with. What remains is to roll up our sleeves, get down to work, pocket our egos and do what is evidently right. We must resist the temptation to jaw-jaw indefinitely or seek to win the debate. Everyone is a winner when society works better.
Dom Ikeogu writes from Minnesota, USA
