Isokoism Column: The Name Of The Game Is Self-Assertion BY JOHN UYEH

I have heard it from fellow Isoko, over and over again, that we are a minority tribe; we have no people; we are marginalized and underdeveloped in comparism with other Nigerian tribes. This defaced picture of ourselves is often passed from the adults to the youths, thus engendering inferiority complex. Worse still, the complex tends to drive us to melancholy rather than our appreciating what we have and making huge capital from it.

Can the solution be self-pity and self-annihilation? Must we continue to fold our hands and sing songs of lamentation like the biblical Jews in captivity in Babylon? My assignment in this piece is to affirm that with what we have on ground, Isoko can be a lovely bride in Nigeria’s socio-economic and political engagements if, and only if, we assert ourselves.

For a start, let us peep at a representative sample of our robust human capital and be illumined. In Nigeria’s top military ranking we have the Omus, Ogomudias, Kpokpogris, Ogbaudus, Olakpes etc. Academically there are many professors in the mold of the Ikimes, Ekokos, Akporobaros, Asalors, etc. We have a rich harvest of Media gurus such as John Araka, former Managing Editor of Daily Times; Onome Osifo-Whiskey, co-founder of The Tell Magazine and in my opinion, one of the best writers in Nigerian journalism. Then, Victor Omuabor also an articulate journalist, and a host of others. Isoko also has prominent broadcasters like Opute a.k.a. OPJ of the WAZOBIA radio and Emamode of A.I.T.

In priesthood we have many. Bear in mind that priests are becoming very visible and assertive in Nigerian political space. They draw the Nigerian President to places of worship and even to Jerusalem for pilgrimage where they place their hands on his head, bowed in prayer. So to have vociferous and assertive priests in today’s Nigeria is an asset. The Edewors, Aruakpos and other Bishops are there for us.

In football, the Akpobories, Ikpebas, and Ogudes are international brands; so also are the Eleyaes and Ogbas in games administration. The Ejiros and Amatas are well-known brands in the entertainment industry. We can go on and on – in  Medicine, Banking, Law, Architecture, Engineering, Business and in all human endeavours. Add our oil endowment to the human capital and you would appreciate what we can flaunt and assert like a beautiful bride. We say in Isoko: “Ono wo itiona no ore se obo be re?” (who has these types that would not feel dignified?).

In terms of ethnic CVs Isoko is arguably among the best 50 of the over 250 ethnic groups in Nigeria. So what is the lamentation or self-pity about? Shakespeare in his book, Julius Caesar, said it all: “Men at some time are masters of their fates. The fault…is not in our stars but in ourselves that we are underlings.” In other words we must show some mastery of our lives. The solution is to shake off the “littleness” complex, the “Oruori” (orphan) complex, the minority complex and assert ourselves. We must be like the Calabash that thrusts itself up even under turbulent, billowing waves.

The world is developing so fast that there is hardly any dividing line between “Minors” and “Majors” in human affairs. Think of football for an instance. Some years back, Brazil was the world soccer warehouse. But with time other nations have asserted themselves and challenged that (Brazil’s) supremacy. Today, Brazil is behind Spain and some other countries in FIFA’s ranking. Also today, the general notion is that there are no more Minors in football. That is why small (minor?) countries such as Cape Verde can give Nigeria headache in soccer tournament.

We (Isoko) can similarly thrust ourselves up and challenge the establishment. We have the people and natural endowment. A concerted effort at self-assertion is all we need. Let us take a deep breath and sketch the scenario: our top men/women in Military, Priesthood, Media, Academic and other professions (as listed earlier) act as the First Eleven of the Isoko team. They work together and use their enormous national clout and connections to give Isoko the needed visibility at the state and national levels; the rest of us act as bulwark behind them by literally becoming supporters club cheering, adoring and encouraging them to put up their best for Isoko.

If the ethnic will is there, what can prevent Isoko from reaching the top rungs of the state and federal political/economic ladders when we have the human and natural resources already? Through our unity, teamwork and self-assertion, Isoko can get her fair share of the national cake.