Igbos, why you? —an Allegory -By Francis Jeremiah Sharon

On an average day, I open Facebook and I am greeted with a post speaking ill of Peter Obi’s presidential ambitions, let say a news report on Rev. Fr. Ejike Mbaka’s con​tro​vert surmise on Peter Obi character. I am intrigued by the post, I check the comments and I am startled by the amount of support Peter Obi gets from the comment section, although some secern, majority of the commenters are defending Peter Obi using logical fallacies like Ad Hominem and so on.

Skimming through the comments, I noticed that majority of the commenters supporting Peter Obi bear names like Arinzechukwu, Chiadikanma, Chibueze, Chidebem, Chukwudi, Ewelike, Ifeanyichukwu, Ikenna, Kelechi, Nduka, Nkenna, Obiora, Ogadinma, Sochima, Somtochukwu, Uzoma and the likes, well it is not hard to guess that these people are from the southeastern region of Nigeria. They are Igbos, one of the lost tribe of Israel, the great descendant of Dan, son of Jacob—or so they claim.

I find these set of people very riveting, first they argue that they do not want to be a part of Nigeria anymore, calling her a “zoo country” and masquerading under the banner of Biafra. Then when Peter Obi declared his presidential ambition, they all suddenly became patriotic Nigerians, actively involved in politics and persuading other citizens to vote (for Peter Obi of course!). Beneath this charade they abuse other Nigerians (Like Reno Omokri) on social media who support a different candidate, in their attempt to market their Messiah—Peter Obi. Their political pugnaciousness is brewing alienation with other regions of the country.

What does Eze (a mythological person) mean when he commented that Peter Obi is the people’s choice? Who are the people? The southeast or IPOB? How delusional.

Is Nigeria not made up of five other geopolitical regions? Why Eze? Why Ikenna? Why Obiora? Why Ifeanyichukwu? Why Ogadinma supporting Peter Obi? Why not Adeshola? Why not Sarki? Why not Gerau? Why not Ebiotu? Why not Enobong? Why not Umaru? Why not Dandawu? Ever thought of that?

When will Igbos learn that their votes alone can not make Peter Obi president of this country. When will they stop living a fool’s dream that will end on social media.

An allegory

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