By Steve Egbo
A few days ago, news filtered in from the ubiquitous social media, that the Ebonyi state governor, Blder Francis Nwifuru, has made his father, Chief Ezekiel Nwifuru, the traditional ruler of his community, Ofurekpe Agbaja, in Izzi Local Government Area of the state. When I first saw it in the social media, I didn’t pay much attention, but when the event began to gain traction in the traditional media space, I felt the need to give it greater attention.
Like every other human endeavor, reactions were mixed. Some felt it wasn’t a big deal, others saw it as nepotism taken to new heights, and for others yet, it was simply a “what the heck?” event. But we live in very interesting times where the ability and desire to scrutinize each other, especially those in positions of authority, have become rather engrossing. But whether we do this to better the system or just for the fun often stands in between.
Otherwise, a Governor elevating his father or sibling to a position of royalty, in a remote community, somewhere in rural Izzi land, should not have attracted national attention. Neither does it, in my view, demand the opprobrium and scathing remarks it has attracted. It happens everywhere every time. Unless there was more to this. After all this is political osmosis and they often come in different garbs and contours.
Nigerian politicians are a very powerful lot. And the state governors are on top grades. Their influence and political tentacles are so deep and encompassing they could wring water out of the proverbial stone. They have the power to confer honors, give appointments, make recommendations and dispense other perks with limitless resources.
But in the case of Governor Nwifuru and his father’s throne, two simple, yet very important questions, would suffice. (1) Is the elder Nwifuru qualified to hold the position of traditional ruler in his community? (2) Is he acceptable to the members of that community? If the answers to these two questions are in the affirmative, then his relationship with the governor ought not be an encumberance.
In the comments and reactions I read, some of the complaints were that he has too many wives and children. And this is perhaps the major factor that prompted me to write this brief rejoinder. In the traditional Igbo society, three major factors qualify a man for leadership position in the community. These are :
A large family
A large yam barn
Prowess in local wars.
The Gen Z may not have known this fact but that was the way our ancestors structured and rated greatness. And we are nothing but the products of our ancestry. Today, inter-communal wars may no longer form part of the rules of engagement, but on the other two criteria, you can look at the senior Nwifuru and say “this was a man”.
All over the world, family members occupying high office contemporaniously is neither abhorrent nor particularly unknown. Two classic examples will suffice. President J F Kennedy was the president of the United States in 1962 while his younger brother, Robert was the Attorney General of the United States. Their last brother, Ted, was a senator of the United States.
The Bush family probably outdid the Kennedys. George H W Bush Snr, served as president of the United States while his two sons, George W Jnr and Jeb were governors of Texas and Florida respectively. George W Bush Jnr later served as president of the United States. Let me just cite these two examples, but let the reader note that similar political incests have happened in other parts of the world, including here in our country.
In as much as the governor would have moderated his speech during the event, so as not to appear coarse or patronizing, but then, Governor Nwifuru is a straight talker, who wants to say it the way he feels it. And for such straight talkers, political correctness could inexplicably become the victim. But on the whole I see nothing wrong in making his father the traditional ruler of the community as long as he meets the basic criteria for such position. It is time to allow the young man breathe.
Steve Egbo (NILDS Abuja)