The Igbo Question and Fidelis Anosike
So I walk into the exquisite lobby of the Eko Signature suites to meet my new friend Fidelis Anosike who is the Publisher of Daily Times. A fine young man with a clear head. I met him through my Chairman, Chike Ogeah who himself is a fine-not-too young man. By the way Oga Chike ‘’where you see that perfume you wear come my office the other day? Na wa o’’.. Well you know I can digress while telling a story. Kai. So I sat with Mr. Anosike over drinks, he drinking Tea and me drinking my favourite drink - won’t mention it. Don tire to dey give coca cola people free endorsement dem never one day call me to ask if I need anything. The discussion as usual with me when I meet any serious Igbo person went straight towards the Igbo question. Let me just say this that I have never met a young Igbo man so clear in his thoughts as to the position of the Igbo Nation in a united Nigeria. He spoke so passionately on his belief in one Nigeria, latching on to the economic angle and stating very clearly that the issue of IPOB or the so-called Igbo agitation was an economic issue and that if we could get robust and concise socio-economic development into Igbo land, it will mute all these agitations. From the discussions, we both agreed to leverage on the iconic pedigree of Daily Times which he publishes today to organise a National conference on the issue where key Ndigbo leaders of thought and other right-thinking prominent Nigerians will discuss not only this issue but also the Nigerian situation within the context of the interplay of national ethnic agitations as we move towards better cohesion in the country. Well, as I stood up to leave, I looked back at that conversation and felt for a long time at ease with the fact that even in this madness we can still get some level of sanity.