Fire on the fountain

No one knows exactly how many people read what we write; no one knows how far the materials travel; no one knows where they end up; and no one knows everyone reading. I was sure of one person: Mr. Bright Linus Ebulue. The weekend Nigeria’s Ambassador to Germany died, he called. I did not know that Senator Emeka Echeruo had been sick. We talked about life and death, how man proposes and God disposes. Along the line, he observed that my Internet “Fountain pen” had dried up, causing a glitch in his reading enjoyment. He said the friends to whom he had faxed “Volley in the Valley” await more. I told him that my summer was tight and promised to knock together some stuff later. A month later, on Sunday, July 14, 2002, Bright Ebulue embarked on the Christian “Journey to Jerusalem” to submit his journal to the Maker through his ancestral Ihiala, Anambra State of Nigeria.

“Brother Bright,” as we called him, cherished good writings that educate and entertain, enlighten and enchant. To him, omissions of little details could mar or make an otherwise perfect piece. Writers, he believed, should write for everyone, not a targeted audience. He also proposed that good materials on cyberspace should reach people on the other side of digital divide. I appreciated his criticisms and his friendship. In his departure, I have learned quite a bit too: the beauty of life, the bestiality of death, the best of family and friends who earn the term, and, unfortunately, the baseness of that beast called man. Indeed, the cloak does not the monk make, as those in the know now know. So to the Nigerian-Germans who looked beyond the mundane and reached out to the family, may your sympathies and support multiply many folds and benefit you and yours in life; may we all learn and imbibe the lessons of his life. Brother Bright, this belated blast is for the road: “Ije oma.” [Safe journey.]

Requesting prayers for Enugu State of Nigeria is all good. Guess what: I am not praying; on the contrary, I am thanking God. To pray (beg) some more on Enugu State political jiggery pokery is to risk being called “oyo” (a beggar) by my Chi (godly guardian or personal providence). In my religion, Odinani, you don’t just ask and receive, you also act and give. Almost everyone had expected the blood of brothers and sisters to flow in Enugu. So, as the thick clouds gathered in August 2001, I prayed the Almighty Allah, Creator Chineke, Omnipotent Oluwa, and -- not to forget the fourth dimension -- Omnipotent Obasi, Ohene, Olisa, Osanobua, etc. that no soul should be lost to the monkeyshines of miserable mischief makers in Enugu State. Thereafter, I left it in the hands of God with the mantra of the madman of mango-tree market: Agha dawa…. [Let the war continue… or, simply put, Aluta continua.]

Unfortunately, it took the lives of 14 worshipers of the Almighty at the Adoration Ground Enugu, who, I hope, were praying for peace in the State. Regardless of the rhetoric of religion rinsed in political permutations, the death of these fellow citizens, no matter who provoked it, will form a foundation upon which decent democracy will be instituted in Enugu, the fountain of the East, and elsewhere in Nigeria our country. Like other victims of political pointlessness before them, these 14 martyrs must not die in vain. Their death spoke silent words of wisdom: Enough is enough is enough already. In a society where even the sayings of the mad are given a hearing, we must listen to the silent speech of these dear departed souls.

Every society has its big beings (“ijele”), and there is never a scarcity of lesser beings (“otimkpu”) ministering unto them. Every market has its mad persons, from amongst whom a prominent philosophical pundit sometimes emerges. Every society benefits from the utterances of its big masquerades. Some sayings uttered by certain crazy citizens have been credited to bigger beings to accelerate esteem or essence, popularity or prevalence. On this tributary of thought, I sincerely suspect that societies also ascribe some supposedly sane sayings to “mad” members, especially when the sayings make common sense but, at the same time, people cannot really defend the seeming senselessness of the sane sayings. Are you still with me? We do not assign such sayings to the ancestors. I know why: Ancestors are supposed to be sages, not foolish and never mad. Makes you wonder whether madmen have no ancestors.

I have forgotten which market madman made popular the saying: Agha dawa ma mmadu anwuna. [“Let the war continue, as long as no one dies.”] He could be the one that held court at the mango-tree market in USA (Udi Siding Area) of Enugu, opposite the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. It could have been the one at mango-tree market at the Public Works Department area opposite Colliery Hospital, where the old Enugu-Onitsha Road forks off to Iva Valley. Then again, it could be any of the many madmen that thrive in Igbo traditional weekly markets. It could even be Ekeemezie, about whom I wrote in “Onyeara Ogbete” -- the big dude that plied Enugu roads butt-naked… oh, he BIG! Whichever, it must be a madman. You see, when we war, people perish. You cannot wish for war without the determination to deploy deadly daggers. You cannot wish for a fight and be unmindful of all sorts of evil eventualities. No one outlaws biting in a fight. Yet, as our ancestors put it: You do not stay out of a fight for fear of dying. Oh yes, there is always the possibility. But, what if there is a war without wounds in a world without walls, what would we call it? You got that right: POLITICS.

I love politics, real politics. I have studied Nigeria’s and made predictions that almost always panned out, such as the grave mistake of some “tarsace” intentions. It is war all right; politics accepts the deployment of lethal weapons: tongue-lashing, character-assassination, intrigues, fraud, rigging, theft, constant conspiracies, lies, mudslinging… you name it, politics has it. Politics has everything but senseless slaughter of citizens; we leave that to the armed forces, though they are a principal part of perennial political processes. The reason is simple: Senseless shedding blood is bad; it is an abominable crime. Once you shed blood, you most certainly pay for it. If blood must be shed, it should be done for the general good as a sacrifice for the well being of our future generations. I have on record that Nigeria is troubled by rivers of blood that flow in the land because no one is doing enough to appease the spirits released, and not many Nigerians really appreciate the supreme sacrifices.

Politics has been called so many things. The most commonly used term is “dirty.” It is not dirty; it simply harbors all sorts of dirt. By its nature, it attracts all sorts. Politics is a contest of conspiracies, and I need no big being to validate this truth I tell. Those who defend its ways go out of their way sometimes. Read President Thomas Jefferson: “I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man”… and of woman? No pun is intended, please. I therefore submit that politics is war; and, as in all wars, the rule is simple: You fight to win.

In Volley in the Valley, I submitted that all the present actors in Enugu State are mere dots on a large radar screen. They shall pass. Last August, just before the annual Enugu-USA convention in Houston, Texas, there was a baby-christening party in Queens, New York. On arrival, I was informed by a fellow that Deputy Speaker of Enugu State House of Assembly was in town; in fact, he was across the street in the house of the President of Enugu tri-state cultural association Dr. Chudi Egwu. So? Mr. Chairman, you must be informed! I took my time. First, I showed my face at the party and received the usual hugs and handshakes and shoulder-bumping. Then I made a somewhat reluctant entry to see the honorable guest.

I had been to the Egwus several times, so I needed no ceremonial red-carpet or on-the-door reception. I was in the living room full of people before anyone noticed. The red-capped, honorable guest of honor stood up immediately and enthusiastically approached me for a fraternal embrace. It took me a moment to pull back and look at the face again. It was unmistakable. Over twelve years had passed, but you never fail to recall some smiling college classroom faces. Charles Ogbonnaya Asogwa has one of such forever-familiar faces. “Come, Charlie Asogwa, you are THE Deputy Speaker?” I asked needlessly.

When we had some time to talk before he left, I was brutally honest: The problems in Enugu rest squarely on the shoulders of the legislators. I gave examples. He was not too defensive. He listened. Governance is not easy; we know. He offered that they (legislators) were still learning as a result of years of military rule; that governments make mistakes, even in America; and that they would shape up soon. Good answer, but I won’t let go:

For any government to survive and be effective, it needs an effective legislature. Without effective legislators, states stagnate and dictators emerge. It is therefore incumbent upon the legislature to encourage opposition, even if as in Enugu State it is a token challenge offered by my buddy Honorable Uche Anya of Oji River (APP). And this is why the recent attempt to dismantle his office of minority leader smacks of political immaturity. Oh, I know, you are still learning! Now, does it take learning to know that you cannot return the approval of commissioners within the hour it was sent to the House… without meeting any of the nominees and without knowing their portfolios? Was that part of the rumor-mill fetish oath-taking? Did it really happen? Were you involved? Did you hear? What about Honorable Nwabueze Ugwu; no matter his mistakes, couldn’t you guys take into account that he lost a brother and lift the suspension? Where is the bond of brotherhood? Didn’t I teach you guys better?”

Still smiling and with unmistakable teacher-student respect, he responded: “You didn’t teach us politics, sir.” He was right. The Faculty of Engineering at ASUTECH (now ESUT) didn’t offer courses in political science. The House of Assembly is a shouting distance away, but it was under locks and keys: Robert Nnaemeka Akonobi, the colonel from Nneni who wanted me in jail for fronting the ASUU elongated-salary struggle in Enugu, was dictating like all uniformed tyrants from the Lion’s Building across Dr. Michael Okpara Square, which separates the Legislature and the Executive. And so, no thanks to the Buhari, Babangida (IBB), Abacha, and Abdulsalami, we have a generation of godfatherless political neophytes teaching themselves how to cope with basic political processes. They were primed to strike a sour note soon.

The main point remains that there cannot be effective governance without an effective legislature; and, in Nigeria, it will take two strong national parties to accomplish the feat. This is a legacy IBB wanted to leave with SDP and NRC, one party a little to the left and the other a little to the right. Unfortunately, as with everything in any dictated democracy, it ended with what I called “Babangida’s boondongle,” an own goal by the Maradona Himself on June 12, 1993. I suspect that, mindful of this good but difficult plan, IBB will remerge to reengineer it without military fiat. And it is possible: If AD is somehow herded into the emerging void in PDP for an alliance of strange bedfellows -- if only to buffer Obasanjo’s rerun, the other parties could come together in an anti-status quo (PDP) alliance. Hence, Nigeria will de-ethnicize southwest politics. Alas, like a nemesis from the not-too-distant past, the emergence of retired General Muhammadu Buhari compounded Project ANPP (APP + UNPP + NDP + AGPA). But I digress.

I briefly brought up the matter of encouraging opposition when we met with Governor Chimaroke Nnamani in Houston; I discussed it with his then political adviser and ex-State PDP Chairman Chief C. O. C. Egumgbe. [He has since thrown his hat into the ring of gubernatorial wannabes.] He flashed the trademark Charlie Egumgbe smirk. He must have thought: “That’s true in America; in Nigeria, you beat your opponents to the pulp and senseless, else they rise and attack with mortal vengeance.” Well, nature abhors vacuum; opposition makes the world of politics go round on a steady axis. Without opposition, abnormal things happen. So without outside enemies to ward off, enemies grew on the inside. As we see in Enugu State and elsewhere, these internal enemies are weakening PDP’s political successes. The party simply grew too big for its legs or, rather, weird political animals climbed onto its bed of odd couples.

Fire on the mountain… Run, run, run! There is political fire on the mountain quite all right, literally and metaphorically. Enugu [from “enu ugwu”] means “mountaintop” or “hilltop.” But my native Coal City is actually nestled on a valley of many mild streams on rocks and fertile farmlands. It is a fountain of love, a fountain of friendship cemented over the years, a fountain of modern Igbo nationalism, and a fountain of old and reemerging East. In particular, the fire burns inside the house Dr. Okpara built, a lasting legacy of his unparalleled foresight and enduring edifice to the East. So it is understandable that the fire on this fountain troubles many people. Not a few people wondered why I kept quiet. Give me a few minutes.

Fire on the mountain… Run no more! The fire will consume some political careers. The fire will close some paths. The fire may even burn those who lit it. The fire, like all fires, will burn out the old and breeze in new political order. So, no matter whose political houses go up in the present flames and the inferno to come in 2003, we must run no more. We are learning good life’s lessons. And let no one think that we could have done any better if we were in the fray. The executive and the legislature have made some wrong turns somewhere, scuttling and stumbling as they shuffle and shuttle, but it is all good. They are learning; we are learning. Agha dawa... Aluta continua….

Is it only me or are you too wondering why and how the 16 of 24 legislators bared their fangs after years of alleged lapdog roles? Suddenly on July 18, the majority faction suspended Speaker Abel Chukwu. Violence erupted with the invasion of thugs. The embattled Speaker closed shop until August 20, 2002: You don’t suspend speakers, you impeach--if you must! Deputy Asogwa cried foul from Abuja and announced that the show must go on. Thugs struck again. Shots were fired. They retreat again to Abuja for reinforcement, as Abia State counterparts had done after Bakassi Boys allegedly chased them out for attempting to arm-wrestling with Governor Orji Uzor Kalu. But, unlike in Kalu’s case, Nnamani is in President Obasanjo’s list of favorite sons. The roving lawmen had only Senators Florence Ita-Giwa and Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo to needle Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim for help. Like the ocean that is his name, Anyim sat unmoved, stating that the “turn-by-turn-head-of-house system” that threw him up was no longer sane: Ba chanji in Enugu House, Anyim declared! The Asogwa team pressed on: Assembly business must resume on August 6, 2002, even if in Abuja. Huh?! You know the rest of the story.

Meanwhile, Enugu State House of Assembly was sealed off by 500 anti-riot mobile police. Talking heads emerged. Some said the Enugu State government hired the thugs for Chukwu and his minority boys. State Commissioner for Information Ment Nnomeh said that Nwobodo was fueling the show with six million naira to each of the Asogwa majority boys and free lodging in Abuja. Speaker Chukwu said his colleagues are a disgrace to legislators. Deputy Speaker Asogwa said Chukwu is Nnamani’s puppet. Governor Nnamani said the Asogwa team is a disgrace to Ndiigbo. Nwabueze Ugwu alleged that Nnamani spends over 50 million naira on media propaganda monthly …. Blah blah blah…and more blah; but, believe it or not, it is all good politics. “Ghana Must Go” is not new in politics, and pummeling political opponents is old story. As for squandering of riches, apology to Onyeka Onwenu, it is 1982 all over again.

FACT OF THE MATTER

It is not hard to figure out what is happening in Enugu: It is Nwobodo vs. Nnamani before the people. Period. The macro issue at stake is common knowledge. It really does not matter who prevails at the end of the day; it does not matter if they make up suddenly. The fact of the matter is that one person MUST win, and that’s the pest in our politics: It is a winner-take-all politics. Otherwise, there is no reason why Nwobodo should not convert his 16 legislators into a credible opposition (say in UNPP or APP) while the others remain in PDP. After 2003, even if the status quo remains -- complete with Nnamani and Itanyi, Enugu State would function better. It takes a first-rate legislature to bring out the best in an executive, any executive.

Senator Nwobodo, the groovy godfather, is bent on teaching Governor Nnamani, the problematic protégée, a lesson in political obedience. No one wants to back off, and many are taking sides sometimes based on old rapports and or on ishiewu politics, the peripatetic politics of what-is-in-it-for-me. So we ask: have Chief the Honorable Charles Ogbonnaya Asogwa (Enugu North) and his honorable friends mastered the trade of legislating? We wonder. If they succeed in impeaching Right Honorable Speaker Abel Chukwu -- like the others before him, he becomes the speaker. Then he (Asogwa) turns around and impeaches his namesake, His Excellency Governor Chimaroke Ogbonnaya Nnamani, MD (Enugu East); and His Honor Deputy Governor Okechukwu Itanyi (Enugu North) becomes His Excellency the governor. Wouldn’t that foul the “zoning” formula? Let me guess: The zoning thing wasn’t going to fly again? Oh, good! As long as every part and every person is treated fairly, sign me on! Seriously, the political problem in Enugu is a PDP internal matter. The party that allowed no opposition has enjoyed too much ‘political peace’ in an otherwise rugged republican polity, and it has reached the point of implosion.

HARVEST OF HAVOC

Now the impending implosion of PDP is yielding some new fruits. The breeze after the fire blows a new dawn. The legislators know it. They are acting tough when the market is already in recession. They want to start an after-market revolution by changing the rules of the game. Speaker Chukwu -- another one that has passed or is still passing through ESUT -- allegedly fights back with thugs. He said it wasn’t him. Well, it wasn’t me! It’s all good though. There is a cure for thugs: more thugs. After all, the thugs of Ikemba Nnewi and Jim Nwobodo reenacted the Battle of Mkpor Junction in 1982. We are still here. As long as they kill only themselves for wads of dirty naira notes, it is still all good.

Of course, the electorate must remember to remind these legislators of their colossal failures, if 2003 ever comes. There must be more Enugu people gunning for the House seats; everyone cannot be governor at the same time. Enugu State needs men and women who will make laws and protect popular interests, who can stand up for the people and curb any and all eventual executive excesses. So it is all good that this show of shame is running. It will convince Enuguites to buckle up and discover that power does not only flow from the Lion Building; it also flows from the new House of Assembly.

IT’S ALL GOOD!

It is all good in the sense that the much needed opposition is beginning to emerge. The forces that will knock some senses into PDP are congregating. The homegrown APP was left headless with the unforced defection of its powerhouse Reverend Hyde Onuaguluchi. I use “unforced” because I never expected him to join forces immediately with those that openly forced him out of his senate seat. Before then, its gubernatorial candidate Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazuagu had gone AWOL. His primaries opponent Obi Ene was back in New York before Ita-Giwa (who has now defected to PDP) declared Gbazuagu winner. Enugu State APP left Uche Anya to carry the can of oil for the party of Sharia. Now the likes of gubernatorial candidates and former MILADS Captain Joe Orji and Air Commodore Ogugua (both retired but not tired) are rediscovering a use for APP as an avenue to the limelight. Unfortunately, little is seen in terms of an emerging new band of legislator wannabes, which Enugu badly needs.

Enter the United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP) with Chief Paul Ene and Chief (Ms.) Lauretta Aniagolu girding their loincloth and wrapper respectively to contest the gubernatorial race in Enugu State. Paul wants to sanitize the system. Sure, we have heard that before; let’s go. Lauretta has promised double HEAT. If she shows up at the upcoming Enugu-USA Convention 2002 in Dallas, Texas on August 23-24, 2002, I will urge her to fire on and to HEAT up the fountain from the mountain. As we would say around here, “You go girl!” Did I hear you say Enugu State is not going to break the glass ceiling and elect a female governor? Sure, with your vote you can say that, as long as others exercise the same right. That’s the dividend of decent democracy. It is not all about “winning”; it is all about stepping out to “serve.” Win or lose, UNPP has stepped out with a winning acronym, HEAT: "Health and Housing, Education and Employment, Agriculture and Arts, and Transport and Tourism." Someone please steal it before I do!

FINALLY

The foundation of good governance in Enugu State lies in the emergence of a strong House of opposing members. The coming dawn in Enugu must reveal the foundation for a strong and progressive democracy. The foundation of Nigeria’s independence was built on the sweat and blood of eleven coal miners massacred by the colonial agents on November 18, 1949 in Iva Valley, Enugu, which stamped “fallacy” on the textbook belief that Nigeria gained independence peacefully. Having thanked God for the fire, we may now pray that the blood of 14 worshippers at the Adoration Ground in Enugu bring decent democracy in the East and everywhere in Nigeria, so that the “Mantra of the Madman of Mangotree Market” will continue to make a lot of sense: Agha dawa… Aluta continua! As long as the gladiators shed no innocent blood, we will win the war. And, to those who wanted my comments on the show of shame, here it is: It’s all good.

Everything else is embellishment.

****

Dr. M. O. Ené is the outgoing Chairman of Board of Directors, Enugu-USA. Opinions expressed here are personal, and they do not necessarily represent those of Enugu Association, USA, Inc.