By Chidi Ezeoke (C-Bright)
Any news of Chief Nnamdi Iyiegbu, Obi Cubana’s release after some brief encounter with the EFCC yesterday was indeed a cheery one. Of course, whoever advised the anti-graft agency to release him without much delay advised them properly, as his further detention could’ve exacerbated the already tensed situation in Anambra State.
Whether anyone likes it or not, truth is, Obi Cubana and many others like him, currently command so much following amongst the youths who perceive them as positive role models, mainly owing to his numerous philanthropic works in the society.
It’s therefore very imperative that the law enforcement agencies exercises utmost caution and discretion while handling cases involving such high profile individuals.
Similarly, our people must resist any attempt by anyone to give his invitation by the EFCC any ethnic or political coloration. Truth is, his invitation by the agency may have a direct link with his mother’s recent lavish burial at Oba.Of course, it’s well known that ostentatious displays of wealth anywhere serves as magnets for all sorts of travails, including robbery, envy, jealousy and the prying eyes of law enforcement agencies. Of course, the same thing could’ve happened even if such lavishness was displayed in America, Europe or any other developed country.
I believe Obi Cubana alone shares the blame for his invitation by the agency, needless attaching unnecessary sentiments to it. As the legendary Chinua Achebe would say: whoever gathers ant infested firewood shouldn’t complain of having lizards in his compound.
He was doing his business quietly and making his money coolly without any kind of disturbance from any government agency, until he decided to announce to the whole world of his arrival so loudly with his mother’s burial. Now that the whole world has heard his message loud & clearly and have celebrated his arrival, I don’t think it’s totally out of order for government agencies to try & ascertain the exact extent and means of his arrival.
Of course, it’s part of normal routine for the agencies to probe deeper with a view to ensuring that he pays actual commensurate taxes to the government. It’s needless therefore, reading any ethnic meanings to it, except where it’s clearly established that he’s been haunted or persecuted on account of his religion or ethnicity.
Unless such is clearly established, I think that any attempt by anyone to drag the entire Igbo race into what’s strictly his private affair is totally unnecessary. Some of us tried to speak out against the extraordinarily loud burial, but our voices were drowned by the louder cheers from those who saw nothing wrong with such lavishness.With the current development however, I believe we all have important lessons to learn from it.
Ndi igbo si na, onye ndi iro gbara gburu gburu naeche ndu ya nche mgbenile. There is absolutely nothing wrong with enjoying the fruitcake of one’s labor in whichever form the person deems fit. As the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:13: “Every man should eat and indeed drink and see good for all his hard work. It is the gift of God.”
Nevertheless, I think moderation is key. Surely, “wisdom is with the modest ones,” as Proverbs 11:2 says.
We must all learn to be a little circumspect in our lifestyle choices, if not for anything, in the interest of the younger generation of youths who look unto us as their heroes and role models. Let’s learn to do things in moderation.
~~Chidi Ezeoke (C-Bright) writes from Lagos