IGBOZURUOKE MEDIA

Before the news of a corpse’s water adjudication on a widow in Imo State would circulate, the governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, who is not known as a sympathizer of a myriad of problems confronting the people of the state, especially, the youths quickly intervened by condemning the act and ordering a probe.

A quick and good intervention by a state governor, one may say but for what reason and under what scale of priority and commitment. Agreed that some ancient customs in Igbo land need to be modified, discontinued or abrogated, the advocacy for this by Igbo cultural activists like me is receiving attention. Expectedly, platforms for consensus and best ways to handle the matter without abridging or injuring the Igbo traditions, culture and customs are being meticulously farmed and set up.

However, the prompt condemnation and further action on this matter would come to Imo people as a surprise. In the scale of priority of Imo State, intervening in a matter of this kind in which custodians and conscientious members of the community could handle doesn’t add up to be classified as a priority, when matters  more pressing and urgent that have since been begging the governor’s attention are not met. At best, what the state government should have done is to provide assistance to the adjudicators and protection for the accused, until the matter is amicably settled traditionally. Because, a case like this cannot be tackled without the backing of the community elders and other interested parties. If the matter must be resolved adequately, the existence of the male children of the widow must be a matter of concern to avoid a post-settlement schism between the boy/boys and the kinsmen. This is not a matter for playing to the gallery and or a matter for social media festering. 

For Uzodinma, to quickly intervene by rolling out the machinery of his government with a nationwide publicity blitz on a case like this is baffling. All the cries and evidence of dehumanization of Imo people by the police and his security outfits have gone unnoticed. As I speak, most young men in Imo State cannot travel from one point to another without the police frisking him thoroughly, their phones unlocked and systematically probed. If a substantial amount is found, that could mean trouble unless the young man agrees to transfer some percentage of his money to an account provided by the police or risked ending a cell as a fraudster, IPOB member or a kidnapper.

If you are travelling from Okpala to Owerri, a distance of less than 25 kilometers, you won’t encounter less than six police roadblocks and these exclude the army at the airport junction and the air force roadblock after Nnaze (No 1) junction. How Ndi Imo are treated at each of these holdups in a state they call their own is hard to imagine.

Out of these lots, there are two notorious police roadblocks before and after Umuneke Junction, where any young Igbo boy found travelling is branded a criminal and treated at such. In one of my journey, a young man who was taking herbal roots from his father to a patient in Owerri had to part with N10, 000.00, before he was allowed to continue the journey with us. Police personnel at these roadblocks possess POS machines with which they can transfer any amount on the spot.

Two months ago, a relation who drove a little outside his residence to buy snacks for his daughter around 9p.m. was declared missing after he was not seen for two days. He was later found at a police station around Ihiagba axis, accused of driving a car with two factory-fitted tinted screens. He was only released when N100,000.00 exchange hands despite the fact that tinted-glass cars are not prohibited in the state. 

At AMA Awusa, Douglass Road, the Northern Muslims who are foreign currency merchants have completely taken over that area. They have a standby army unit that guards them day and night to ensure whatever atrocities they commit can be rebuffed. So, if you want to exchange a genuine $100 and one mallam who collected the money returned a fake one and claimed that was what you gave him, you can’t complain let alone get justice. Imo State departments meant to ensure clean environments and the one for urban traffic control would not risk moving close to that place for fear of the unknown. Consequently, the arrest of a Hausa offender, no matter the case, does not occur.   

The last time some Igbo youths and Hausa/Fulani had altercations in Owerri, the police chased and arrested the Igbo youths while they allowed their opponents free movements back to their businesses. In most part of Imo State, cattle movements from one spot to another under the control of Fulani herdsmen are still a common site. The law that stipulates how aggrieved farmers whose farm may have been ravaged by these cattle could seek redress appears to be the most stringent. For this reason, a farmer who has such case can only look on and leave everything to God. On Fridays, that stretch of Douglas Road is usually condoned off for prayers while the nearby mosques are empty or partially occupied. So, if you are on Douglas Road, around a certain on Fridays, you must wait until the prayers ended before you continue. The irony of this display in Imo is that while most Muslim states in Nigeria do not allow this provocation, the Imo government allows it.

Like in Anambra State, driving a posh car in Imo State has become a harrowing venture as robbers, kidnappers the military or state agents, could confront the driver at any moment. Presently, most male and foreign-based indigenes who intend to move around in Imo State can only do so with security escorts. In Imo State, most local governments’ headquarters have been overtaken by weeds due to lack of proper funding and supports.Virtually, nothing is happening in these local governments while the services they ought to be rendering their citizens remains elusive.

Consequently, if the governor could quickly become concerned and rolls out state machinery to tackle a case of a widow whom the Umuada, or her fellow widows had decided to treat through the traditional way moments the news filters out says a lot about what is presently playing out in the state. Because, the governor cannot have special interest in a matter like this while myriads of problems I have mentioned earlier dogged the state and suffocates its citizens. Clearly, it shows that the governors’ priority scale is deplorable and lamentable.

The widow involve is a member a community that should have custodians who can handle such cases. If the governor must come in, it shouldn’t be dramatic backed by media blitz.

In recent times however, the governor appears to be creating a new mindset that looks endearing.  The increase in salaries and he ban on wasteful ceremonies of kindergarten are just two to mention. If the governor craves repentance because Imo people have suffered and still suffering under this regime, he must, find a way to reset the Imo mind. To achieve this, it is time for him to fold his sleeves and direct his energy towards giving Ndi Imo back their lives and confidence.

Boniface Alanwoko