Archbishop of the Aba Ecclesiastical Province of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion and Leader of Igwebuike Alaigbo Development Association, Archbishop Isaac Nwaobia, speaks on national issues, among others, in this interview with SEYI SOKOYA.
WHAT message do you have for leaders as hardship in the country continues to rise?
Without sugarcoating it, the hardship we are facing is alarming and very evident. There is widespread anger; the poor are under immense stress, and even the wealthy are now cautious in their everyday actions to avoid provoking others. It is crucial for all of us to recognize that we are agents of change and to approach our ambitions with care. I often remind those around me that I can only sleep in one bed and drive one car. If we accumulate all this wealth, what purpose does it serve when our neighbours suffer? As Job said, “We came into this world empty, and we will leave it empty.” I have witnessed cases where people gather wealth for their children, only for those same children to squander it after they are gone.
We must be mindful of the ostentatious displays of wealth around us, help our fellow citizens, and reconsider our choices. Whatever we—individually, as a government, or as leaders—can do to alleviate the hardships faced by our people, whether in the short term, long term, or permanently, should be prioritized. Those blessed by God should express their gratitude by supporting their suffering neighbors. Leaders in positions to shape policies must develop strategies that alleviate hardship and help individuals escape traumatic circumstances. Our people are stretched to a breaking point where some may collapse without assistance.
Everyone must embrace their role as agents of change to create a better society. Let us show compassion and strive to make life easier for people struggling.
The Igbo recently held a Prayer and Fasting Day to commemorate the end of the Civil War. Are you impressed with the outcome?
This event is significant for several reasons. Prayer and fasting are essential as we thank God for bringing the civil war to an official end on January 15, 1970, and to remember the souls of all who lost their lives during that tragic three-year period. The victims, heroes, and heroines who died during the war all came from families that sacrificed their lives for the Igbo race.
In the future, we plan to organize gatherings where family members of the deceased can participate. We have prayed to God and expressed gratitude for preserving those who witnessed the war and allowing the Igbo race to continue. In addition to prayers, we also held memorial services in several churches today (Wednesday) to honor the victims. We intend to make this observance an annual event.
It is essential to remember the past, as it helps guide us into the future. If we do not acknowledge our history, we cannot effectively move forward in the present. This is why the government has mandated that history be taught in schools—so we can learn from the past and plan for a better future. January 15 holds special significance for the Igbo people.
As we enter a new year, what can the Igbos expect from the Igwebuike Alaigbo Development Association? Beyond prayers, I believe this year will bring good fortune for Ndigbo. Igwebuike is focused on highlighting the positive aspects of the Igbo Nation. Our land needs development, and we aim to mobilize Igbo leaders from all over the world to take the needs of the Igbo race seriously and implement positive changes.
Igbos are scattered around the globe and often lack coordination. With proper organization, our homeland can thrive. The talents of the Igbo people remain largely untapped and need to be harnessed effectively. We must utilize the resources that God has blessed us with.
The Igwebuike will mobilize efforts to ensure that Igboland is not left behind in the pursuit of growth and development, as we have no other home but here. Therefore, Ndigbo should expect Igwebuike to work for them, promote peace and unity, and help create an environment where people’s professions, businesses, and skills can flourish.
What are your expectations from the new Ohanaeze President-General?
I have a lot of expectations. Ohanaeze serves as the apex organization for Igbo leadership, and they must embrace this role effectively now more than ever, as Ndigbo needs strong leadership. In reviewing the activities of Ohanaeze in the past, it has become clear that the organization has often been influenced by the politics of the governors, which should not be the case. When a governor plays a significant role in the selection of a chairman or president-general, it can lead to unnecessary control over the organisation.
We are not suggesting that Ohanaeze should be in conflict with the governors; rather, they need to work together to better serve the interests of Ndigbo. Furthermore, the structure of Ohanaeze leadership operates through various levels, starting from the local government to the state level, and finally to the national level.
So, there’s no way the Ohanaeze can’t internally get funds to run its affairs, to avoid the perceived controls from political officeholders. So, I want to see a financially independent Ohanaeze that is closer to Ndigbo and acts like the voice of the voiceless Igbos. I always advocate their financial independence because ‘he who pays the piper calls the tune. If the Ohanaeze could detach itself from the financial control of the governors and raise its funds independently, it would surely lead to a paradigm shift in the way they do things.
Checks on the activities of the Igbo governors will be important to them because they are their children as well. All they need is to call them to order when necessary, to remember their oath of office. If a governor is paying their bills, tell me, from where will they summon that courage to question his activities, style of governance, and other administrative lapses? This lack of checks from strong voices like Ohanaeze makes some of these leaders feel that they’ve done well while obviously, they’ve not done well. So, we’re expecting that Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide should try within its powers to be independent. I’m sure if they’re independent today, they’ll get funds from where they’ve never expected. The Igbo sons and daughters scattered all over the world have what it takes to fund Ohanaeze if only they’ll see the genuine desire to represent the people the way it should be and be the mouthpiece of the people.
What do you make of the leadership of the Ohanaeze emerging from outside the South-East?
That is one benefit of the just concluded Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s election. Senator John Azuta-Mbata, a well-known leader from the Ikwerre Clan in Rivers State becoming the Ohanaeze President General is good for the unity of Ndigbo. It gives the right message out there that the Igbo race has its Indigenous homes beyond the well-known South-East states that have over the years been misinterpreted to be Igboland. For children born some years back who are confused, I guess it’s time to learn. The message is clear and every Igbo man should be delighted with the development. It equally shows that all over Igboland, we have credible people to take up leadership at all times and when required.
What is the hope of Nigerians as it seems the government cannot do it all?
That is where the Civil Society Organisations need to wake up. We have the process of recalling legislators and/or paying back both those in the executive and legislators back in their own coins with our massive votes. That is the beauty of democracy. It helps the people to change a bad leader without violence. You simply call the leader to order through all peaceful and legal channels. However, when he or she refuses to change, you wait till the next election and then vote that person out.
Of course, the church is at the centre of the demand for better governance and has been doing its best. Don’t get it twisted, I’m not claiming that the church has been very perfect in that area, but we’ll keep educating our members on how to remind leaders who they are, what they promised the people, and what they’re supposed to do for the people. Take note, the majority of these senators and other political office holders here are Christians and they attend churches as well. Some church leaders have gotten an appointment in Abia State under the administration of Governor Alex Otti.
There may be similar appointments in different states; I may not be aware. However, the thing is that if they bring their faiths into work, there’ll be serious changes all around. We’ll continue to say the right things. In the South-East here, some states are marching forward while some aren’. However, it’s our duty as church leaders to keep saying the right things that our Lord Jesus Christ would have said if he were to be here with us in this situation. I want to advise that every political office holder in Igboland should perform. Let them do what they are empowered constitutionally and do more out of their magnanimity.
Is the South-East Development Commission capable of rebuilding the region from its ruins or does the FG need to do more?
My response is yes, the obvious complaints about marginalization are there and true most times. However, I don’t see and I don’t believe that the Federal Government is cheating totally. Our leaders need to adopt the principle of serving without greed and deceit. I urge the federal government to do more, but we have elected officers all over our states handling our resources. We need to ask them questions. I studied at the University of Ibadan (UI). The first thing I saw at UI was the Cultural Centre, Ibadan. That Cultural Centre as I learned was built with one million naira that was given to each state then by the Federal Government. Here then, it was Imo, Abia, and some parts of Ebonyi State together, while on the other parts, we had Enugu, Anambra, and some parts of Ebonyi together as well. I got curious and was asking for the Cultural Centre built for the South-East University and I didn’t see any. It became obvious that the one million naira from the Federal Government disappeared.
I equally visited some states in the Northern part of Nigeria, and I saw Constituency Projects of their legislators, and good road networks in the schools, but here, it’s not happening. I want to say that every person needs to contribute to the development of Alaigbo. We should not just throw everything on the shoulders of the Federal Government. We need to know what the State Governments are doing. What about the Local Governments? What are they doing? These resources for governance in Nigeria are divided into three. If the Local Government is handling rural developments properly and adequately, and the states handling their parts very well, then the Federal Government should add a strong complement to what those two are doing internally. A situation where everyone looks at Abuja while we ignore what’s happening or coming to the States is very embarrassing. So, if they complement each other, we see more development here.
So, the South-East Development Commission is good for FG, but they can’t do it alone. For the South-East Development Commission, I’m happy that the people in charge are our people as well. They are no strangers to the needs of the South-East. God has allowed the leadership of the Commission to change the lives of their people and equally write their names in gold.
I urge them to serve with sincerity. This is a privilege God has given to them to put smiles on the faces of people. History shall be kind to all of them if they can touch lives positively. Professor Jombo Jasper, an Elder Statesman and one of the founding fathers of the defunct OMPADEC and NDDC sometime ago complained that the NDDC is not following the guidelines and plans for its establishment. We advise those in the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) to be honest with their people so that posterity will not judge them terribly. Let them work for the South-East people and help to heal their land with the opportunity that God has already given to them through the Federal Government.
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