"ET TU BRUTE"?. THE DISENCHANTING STATEMENT OF OHANEZE ND'IGBO TO MAZI NNAMDI KANU

"ET TU BRUTE"?. THE DISENCHANTING STATEMENT OF OHANEZE ND'IGBO TO MAZI NNAMDI KANU

By Obulose Chidiebere
For Family Writers Press

"Et tu, Brute?".  This is a Latin phrase extracted from a betraying statement credited to Brutus which means: "and you Brutus?" or "you too, Brutus?". This is purportedly the last spoken words of the then Roman dictator, Julius Caesar to his trusted friend, Marcus Brutus at the time of his assassination. Julius Caesar's statement as carried above, portrays the disappointment, disillusionment, cynicism and regrets to the man he so much loved and cherished.

There is this saying that goes thus: "the worst corruption is the corruption of the best", and "the worst disappointment is the disappointment of a friend".This is really heartbreaking! What a great disenchantment!

It was exceptionally disappointing when I personally heard of and read about the unpatriotic statement credited to the Ohaneze Ndigbo President, John Nnia Nwodo about Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the commissioned servant of Chukwuokike Abiama, the ebullient and highly enlightened director of Radio Biafra/Biafra Television and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) worldwide, concerning the boycott order given to Biafrans against the forthcoming November 18, 2017 Anambra state Governorship elections. I immediately remembered the above disappointing comment Julius Caesar made about his betrayal by a very trusted friend called Marcus Brutus when he said "Et tu, Brute?". But This time around, it is "Et tu Johannes", meaning "you too John" or "even you, John".

Up till now, I can't really figure out any sane reason why the Nigeria brown envelop media personnel unrelentlessly, with their jaundiced and false reportage of issues are bent on sowing seeds of discord between Ohaneze Ndi Igbo group and the family of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). What really could be the motive behind this? Could it be tension or mistake? Was the President of Ohaneze Ndigbo - John Nnia Nwodo, prompted to act the way he did under duress or is it his love for crass inordinate interests?

Few weeks ago, the Arewa Consultative Forum of the North, gave three months ultimatum to all the Biafrans resident in any part of Northern Nigeria to vacate and that order expires on the 1st of October, 2017. Everybody can attest to the fact that the elders of the North who backed their youths in making such statements of vacation, do not mince words when it comes to pursuing their general interests despite their deceitful denials presented afterwards for people to believe otherwise. The President of the Arewa Youths Forum, Shettima Kashim is going around till date, boasting about the threat order and the Nigeria government is looking the other way instead of arresting him for questioning, even when the civilised world knows that such quit notice given to a section of the society amounts to treasonable offence. One could therefore imagine what would have happened since if such threat statements emanated from the Biafran Youths, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) or the Ohaneze youths. It could have caused high level of catastrophe because the so-called Biafran elders under the auspices of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo lack the clouts to stand firm and defend their people. They would have been the Thomases that would betray their people whose interests they claim to be fighting for.

Shannon Thomas said and I quote: "Narcissists make terrible parents. They lack the basic empathy & selfless nature that loving parenting requires. They have no problem meeting their own needs first before their children's needs & feel completely justified in their actions. Narcissists create valid resentment in their children and later on in life, wonder then why they have no authentic relationship with their adult children? Chronic selfishness and parenting do not go together", end of quote.

I personally think that if the election boycott order given by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not good, the best way to have gone about addressing would have been by constructive and patriotic engagement in fruitful discussions than immorally and publicly ridiculing yourself. The Ohaneze elders rubbished their reputation if at all they had any, by taking the path of dishonor. "Parents are not supposed to be irresponsible because it is their children that bear the pains. Irresponsibility comes when parents renege on their primary duties of teaching their children the lessons inherently found in the pains". You elders in Biafraland, have really failed us up till date with your diverse acts of irresponsibility towards us even before our enemies.

Brutus said: "Grant that, and then is death a benefit: So are we Caesar's friends that have abridged. His time of fearing death. Stoop Romans, stoop,
And let us bathe our hands in Caesar's blood.
Up to the elbows, and besmear our swords:
Then walk we forth, even to the marketplace,
And waving our red weapons over our heads,
Let's all cry, "Peace, freedom and liberty!".

Ohaneze  Ndi Igbo elders have decided to bathe their hands in the blood of slain Biafrans and besmear their swords with our blood. It is most callous an act expected from those who call themselves parents and tribal representatives of their people. But be that as it may, our amiable director and leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has unequivocally given us an order and that is sacrosanct. It is said that majority carries the vote. Therefore it is  important here to sound it very clear that these crop of selfish and destructive elders have shamelessly lost their relevance to the family of the Indigenous People of Biafra. We are very ready as never before to take our destiny as a people into our hands and fight for our survival and that of upcoming generations.

And if really you (Chief Nnia Nwodo) the current President of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo made that unfortunate and most disappointing statement, I think as a son, I will rather counsel you to retrace your footsteps before it becomes too late.

November 18, 2017, is the Decision Day in Anambra State and until then, it is:
ALL HAIL BIAFRA!

Edited by Peter Oshagwu
For Family Writers Press