It is getting close to five decades now since the sustenance of key traditions of the Igbo extraction of Nigeria began to wallow in yokes of neglect and abandonment, which in its region is as disturbing as if no legacy was bequeathed to us in the first place.
If the truth must be said, three revered institutions namely; family system which womanhood is the key; the participatory governance with its inclusive attributes, and the language structure along with its bank of knowledge, were not surrendered to imperial administration nor compromised with any other force by our distinguished progenitors from 1857 to 1960.
Unfortunately, the tragedy of the current reality so visible from the mid-1970s is that the cherished institutions jealously protected and handed over to next generation and others are ceaselessly facing battery through unworthy actions by the people of the race which the tradition abhors.
Of course the portrait presented is informing and therefore in order since the incumbent Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State appears to have taken the bull by the horn and leading the vanguard to recapture the lost values of the Igbo nation for the first time in the history of post Nigeria-Biafra war.
His dream is vivid in the mantra “promotion of core Igbo values” which is revealingly has gained practical effect in the past few months of his leadership. In Nigeria, it seemed incredible that a leader of government would go all out for simultaneous actions as they took over power but Governor Soludo proved himself exceptional. His dress pattern is typical of returning Igbo core value which is consistent from his first day in office.
The importation of six million each of special breed palm and coconut seedlings now being distributed free to the people is perhaps with a view to reclaiming the lead in palm oil produce export as it were before 1970 and for cheap local consumption. Related to this is the emergence of a special court which has swung into action after its opening by the Chief Judge of Anambra State, Justice Onochie Anyachebelu. This will tackle debasement of womanhood, incest, rape, child labour and abuse, widow and orphan issues, etc.
There is need to mention the reintroduction of handicraft and skill acquisition scheduled to take off at resumption of schools this September, hitherto abandoned in 1970 after missionary groups left running of schools. This wisdom corresponds with over six thousand persons earmarked for teaching jobs having successfully passed through series of rigorous tests with unprecedented transparency. Also, fighting anti-Igbo values has led to registration of traditional medicine practitioners after government intelligence burst open a link between a ring of vicious criminals and dreaded traditional medicine professionals.
In as much as these landmark moves are already helping to reconcile the present with the past reality and to make the contemporary agenda a good thrust into the future, it makes commentators on national issues to see the difference between a leader with vision for action and the one that keeps his vision waxed on the drawing board and forgotten. This is the character of most Nigeria government.
No doubt, the promotion of core Igbo values is a difficult assignment given the enormity of work to be done, in view of the colossal damage already inflicted on the terrace of the Igbo traditional institutions, but since Governor Soludo has started to show the ability, our prayer is for him and his team to go ahead unhindered.
To fight the litany of socio-cultural problems facing today’s traditional Igbo society, all hands must be on deck including more of religious leaders who must evoke serious preaching and preaching with actions.
written by IKE OKONKWO
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