Point Blank

By Chukwudi George Ozalla

I have begun to wonder deeply about this disturbing side of the way some Igbo people treat one another. No doubt, we are known for hard work, enterprise, courage and the ability to rise from nothing. We travel to strange environments, establish businesses, build homes, develop those places, educate our children and create opportunities where none existed before. Yet, when it comes to dealing with one another, some of us behave in ways that make one wonder whether we genuinely want our people to succeed and work together for a common good.

Why do we sometimes find it difficult to support one another, share useful information or celebrate another person’s success without suspicion? Why do ordinary disagreements degenerate into personal attacks, hostility and divisions that last for years?

These are questions we must ask ourselves honestly. It is not enough to speak proudly about Igbo unity whenever we feel threatened, excluded or disadvantaged. We must also look inwards and examine our own conduct. If we truly desire unity and progress, we must begin by treating one another fairly.

Some people are comfortable with you only when they believe you have something to offer them or when you do not challenge their position. The moment you express a different opinion, question a decision or refuse to follow their preferred line, the relationship changes. Some simply feel threatened by your mere presence, poise, civility or exposure, regardless of whether you have offended them or not. Others are hell-bent on inventing excuses to quarrel with you and find opportunities to insult, exclude or discredit you.

This behaviour is not peculiar to Ndigbo. Every community has its own share of jealousy, intolerance and personal rivalry. But that does not mean we should ignore the problem among our own people.

I have also observed that some people measure assistance only by the amount of money involved. They forget that help comes in different forms. Useful information, an introduction to the right person, a recommendation, a word of encouragement or an opportunity to be heard can make a real difference in someone’s life.

Not everybody who helps you will put money in your hand. Sometimes, the person who connects you to an opportunity does more for you than someone who gives you a little money and walks away. We must learn to appreciate different forms of support instead of dismissing people simply because they have not given us cash.

And let us be honest with ourselves. A person can be generous with money and still be vicious in dealing with others. Generosity alone does not automatically make someone kind-hearted. Of course, we have sincere philanthropists whose generosity comes from genuine concern. Giving money and treating people well are two different things, and both matter.

My experience in an association of Anambra State indigenes in Abuja has made me think more deeply about these issues, particularly the way some of our people conduct themselves in associations far away from home.

I often share my articles and news reports on the association’s WhatsApp platform. I do not expect every member to open or read every link I post. Nobody is compelled to read every message on a group platform. If a post does not interest a member, the person can simply ignore it and move on.

However, this WhatsApp administrator, who also serves as the association’s Public Relations Officer, has on about two or three occasions sent me private messages warning me in an uncivil manner and threatening to remove me from the platform. On the last occasion, I blocked him rather than engage in an unnecessary exchange.

What concerns me is not merely the disagreement over posts but the manner in which someone entrusted with an administrative responsibility chooses to exercise that authority. An administrator should be able to communicate rules and correct members without resorting to threats, anger or personal hostility.

I have deliberately chosen not to mention the association or the individual involved by name because my intention is not to embarrass anyone. I want us to reflect on how our associations handle disagreements, exercise authority and treat their members.

Every association has the right to establish rules for its communication platforms. Administrators may reasonably decide that only messages relevant to the group’s purpose should be shared, and members should respect properly established guidelines. If a member repeatedly disregards clear rules, appropriate action may become necessary. But such rules should be clearly communicated and applied fairly to everyone.

An administrator should not behave as though the platform belongs to him personally or that every decision he makes is beyond question. Where a disagreement arises, there should be room for explanation and reasonable discussion. This is even more important when the administrator also serves as the association’s Public Relations Officer, a position that requires tact, sound judgment and the ability to manage disagreements.

But there is a bigger question that deserves attention: what exactly should an association of Anambra indigenes in Abuja be doing with the collective experience, wealth, professional knowledge, connections and influence of its members?

An association of our people in the nation’s capital should be more than a WhatsApp platform where members argue over what should or should not be posted. It should bring Ndi Anambra together to discuss important issues, find solutions and work for the good of Anambra State and its people.

Anambra has important interests to protect both in Abuja and at home. The state’s property in the capital and the challenges surrounding it deserve constructive attention. Rather than merely discussing the legal disputes affecting the property, members should be asking what they can do to help resolve the problems, engage the relevant authorities and protect the state’s interests.

Many state governments maintain properties in Abuja for commercial purposes and liaison affairs. Anambra should also be able to pursue its interests in the capital effectively and work towards having a befitting state house that serves its people and government. If there are legal or administrative obstacles, an association with experienced professionals and influential members should be able to explore ways to assist in finding a peaceful resolution.

There is also the question of Anambra State’s inclusion in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The state has pursued inclusion, but a legislative bill seeking to add Anambra to the states covered by the commission was rejected by the Senate in February 2024. That rejection should not end the discussion about what inclusion could mean for Anambra or what options remain available to its representatives and people.

Our association could contribute by examining the issues surrounding the state’s exclusion, engaging relevant authorities and supporting lawful efforts to advance Anambra’s interests. Members with experience in law, public administration, politics and other relevant fields could offer useful advice and help identify a way forward.

Anambra indigenes in Abuja possess professional expertise, business connections and knowledge that could benefit the state. Our association should bring these people together to identify problems, develop proposals, approach the appropriate institutions and support initiatives that could improve the lives of our people. This is where our energy should go, rather than spending so much time creating divisions and shutting people out.

This is why I find it difficult to understand why so much attention can be devoted to policing WhatsApp messages while issues requiring our collective effort receive less attention. The platform exists to serve the association, and the association should serve its members and contribute to the development of Anambra State.

A WhatsApp group is not a private kingdom belonging to an overzealous or jealous administrator. At the same time, membership does not give anyone the licence to post anything without regard for the group’s purpose. There must be a balance between responsible administration and the freedom of members to share useful information.

To my knowledge, I have not seen pornography posted on the platform. News reports from other parts of the country can still be useful to our people, particularly when they concern national policies, public appointments, the economy, security or other matters that may affect people generally. A news report should not be rejected simply because it concerns another part of the country.

There is another aspect of my experience that makes the issue of fairness even more disturbing. A member whom I had introduced to the association repeatedly threatened to kill me in recorded audio messages shared on the same WhatsApp platform. The administrator deleted the audio messages, and nothing further happened.

A threat to someone’s life is not an ordinary disagreement that should be brushed aside by merely deleting the audio messages. If an administrator can act against members over the kind of information they share, one would expect the same seriousness when a member threatens another person’s life. The response should not depend on who is involved or whose interests are affected.

No association should allow threats and intimidation to be treated as ordinary disagreements. Members should be able to participate without fear of being threatened, insulted or intimidated. Threats should never be accepted as a way of settling personal differences.

These concerns are not limited to one association. The factional disputes and leadership disagreements that have affected Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the Federal Capital Territory also show how internal quarrels can weaken an organisation established to represent Ndigbo.

When people who should be working together become preoccupied with personal grievances, rival camps and struggles over leadership, the people they represent lose out. Time and energy that could be devoted to addressing the concerns of Ndigbo are instead spent on disputes among those expected to speak with a common purpose.

An organisation established to represent Ndigbo must be bigger than the ambitions and disagreements of its members. Leaders should bring people together, while members should be prepared to put the common good before personal differences. Fighting over who controls an organisation should never become more important than the work it was established to do.

In a healthy association, members should be able to raise concerns without fear of being pushed aside. Criticism should not automatically be interpreted as an attack on authority, just as members should learn to express their views responsibly.

Being Igbo does not mean we must support every action taken by another Igbo person. Rather, it means that even when we disagree, we should treat one another fairly and refuse to let personal differences destroy the bonds that ought to unite us as a people.

Our younger people are watching how we behave in associations, professional bodies, town unions, political groups and family gatherings. If all they see is quarrelling, suspicion, exclusion and endless battles for control, what example are we setting for them? We cannot preach unity to them while behaving in ways that divide us.

We do not have to be close friends with everybody. We will not agree on every issue, and not every association will suit every person. But none of these realities gives us a reason to treat one another with unnecessary hostility.

Why should some of our people deliberately relocate to another city in search of greener pastures, only to begin creating enemies through petty jealousy, needless quarrels and sheer wickedness? We should be building useful relationships, sharing information and helping one another to succeed, not looking for excuses to make life difficult for people around us. There is no justification for turning an association that should bring people together into a place of hostility and personal battles.

I write this because I believe we can do better. It is easy to blame outsiders for our difficulties, but we must also acknowledge the harm we sometimes inflict on ourselves. We cannot keep asking why others do not take us seriously if we are unwilling to put our own house in order.

And let me make one thing clear. My concerns are not borne out of a lack of associations or an inability to find places where I am welcome. I belong to several groups and associations where I share my views, articles and news reports without these needless difficulties. I therefore have no shortage of platforms through which to interact with people or contribute to public discourse.

My preference is to be an asset wherever I belong, not a liability or a nuisance. Every association should recognise the value of its members and create an atmosphere in which people can contribute meaningfully without being subjected to unnecessary hostility.

Ndigbo have achieved much through hard work, enterprise, resilience and mutual assistance. We have built businesses, professional networks and communities in different parts of Nigeria and around the world. We have shown that we can succeed even in difficult circumstances, establish ourselves in unfamiliar places and create opportunities for ourselves and our families.

Imagine what more we could achieve if we brought greater unity to our efforts, shared knowledge more freely, opened doors for one another and used our collective experience, connections and resources to address the challenges facing our people. We could build stronger associations, support more businesses, create opportunities for our younger people and make a greater contribution to the development of our communities and Anambra State.

We have enough challenges to confront without becoming obstacles to one another. We must learn to disagree without becoming enemies, exercise authority without intimidation and place the common good above personal grudges.

If we cannot practise the brotherhood we so readily proclaim in our daily relationships and associations, our calls for unity will amount to little more than words.

Nti Adi Kwa?