Two separate but similar re-
ports that left me lost in the
maze of high voltage confu-
sion in the past few weeks or
thereabout are; the FBI’s release of the
names of eighty suspects involved in
internet fraud-related cases, with 77 of
them Nigerians. And from their names,
Nigerians have identified 74 out of 77
as Igbo. The second is the recent dec-
laration by the Economic and Finan-
cial Crimes Commission’s (EFFC), that
more suspects will be uncovered as an
investigation into the 80 Nigerians in-
dicted for internet-related crimes by
the US Federal Bureau of Investigations
(FBI) continues.
To digress somewhat, from the above
account, what Marshall McLuhan thinks
about the internet in his two books; The
Gutenberg Galaxy; the making of typo-
graphic man (1962), and Understanding
The Media(i1964), appears to have come
true. Essentially, ‘while describing the
internet as an ‘extension of conscious-
ness’, he noted that the globe has been
contracted into a village by electric tech-
nology and instantaneous movement
of information from every quarter to a
very point at the same time- bringing all
social, economic and political functions
together in a sudden implosion’.
However, like every a new invention
which comes with advantages and chal-
lenges, activities of criminal elements on
the internet if not checked may destroy
the attributes and virtues of such inven-
tion.
Specifically, I have taken note of the
commendable actions of the FBI and the
EFCC towards arresting the situation if
given time. Also, I have full confidence
in the steps so far taken I have also had
the opportunity of reading different
opinion articles expressing divergent
views about the occurrence. While
some writers viewed the event as a na-
tional tragedy, others have very regretta-
bly used ‘patterned observation’ to con-
clude that such is a hallmark of the Igbo.
Propagation of this asymmetrical posi-
tions is not only a misstatement of facts
but betrays the well-intentioned resolve
and sacrifices of security operatives to
arrest the menace and dilute our hope of
achieving a crime-free nation.
Ascribing such to the Igbo aside acting
as an indication that we are unmindful
of the fact that by virtue of our amalga-
mation of February 14, 1914, by Sir Lord
Luggard, whatever affects the Igbos or
any other tribes have an impact on our
national image. Also, from an objective
assessment of commentaries that char-
acterized the FBI report, it will not be a
wrong assertion to conclude that the ha-
tred for the Igbo is intense. Another and
possibly more important understand-
ing is that the events of the past weeks
further confirms the belief that despite
their (Igbo) tough and capacity to en-
dure great hardship, they still need to
work harder to positively redeem their
identity.
But most important than all of these
positions is the new awareness that the
impact of the ill-fated declaration of
Eastern Region independent country
with the name, “Biafra” on May 30, 1967
by the then Military Governor of the
Region, the late General Chukwuemeka
Odumegwu Ojukwu left a deep scar on
the soul and identity of Igbo. On the oth-
er hands, there is also no need denying
the fact that even with the defeat of the
Igbos in the Nigeria/Biafra civil war, the
majority of the people, especially those
born after the war harbour immense
sentiment for separate political and cul-
tural identity for the Igbo nation in the
mould of restoration of the short-lived
Republic of Biafra.
The above narrative provides answers
as to why inter-ethnic peace which was
enforced by the colonial masters have
presently become difficult to maintain
on our shores.
Certainly, the use of mundane factors
as against centripetal ethos in discussing
the FBI and other similar reports if not
arrested, will but make; objective anal-
ysis impossible; render discovery of the
real source of the problem and solution
difficult; cause the nation to lose sight of
the real and lasting meaning rapped in
the occurrence; allow the lesson go with
ethnic/tribal wind while leaving the na-
tional image continuously battered as
the Igbo presently accused of and re-
ferred to as the true face of fraud, are an
integral part of the nation.
Whatever affects their identity dents
our image as a nation. To make further
distinction, an image according to Ol-
ins is the totality of all the impressions
that an organization makes on all its au-
diences (good or bad), or how its lead-
ership is seen to behave publicly. While
identity is expressed, image is what is
perceived. While identity is physical,
image is mental.
The reason for making this distinction
is the fact that nation-building requires
a specific type of thinking. When a par-
ticular tribe/group strives to achieve a
position of superiority over the other,
their citizen’s function differently, but
when they are in harmony, and see all
like a development army with the same
ranks and tasks, they get committed in
the job of nation building. There are
deeper lessons to be drawn from this
conversation if we are to build a united
Nigeria.
We must as people become familiar
with the fact that in today’s globalized
world, any nation that is laced in mu-
tual suspicion, will find it very hard to
make radical development; that we are a
nation with ethnic/tribal, historical and
cultural differences is not a ticket for
our tribal loyalty to be stronger than our
common sense of nationhood; that in-
stead of attributing negative behaviours
to one another, we should be proud of
our heritage; sharing a common experi-
ence and developing a distinctive way of
life as Nigerians and ensuring that our
geography guarantees a future that will
be more closely interlinked.
As to the cause of the appalling situa-
tions (Internet Fraud and mutual suspi-
cion among tribes), I may not speak in
concrete terms but I know that close to
the entrenched absence of people-pur-
posed leadership which characterizes
our sphere and fuel distrust is the na-
tional vexation by the people who once
lived in comfort before life became a
burden.
Admittedly, indulging in criminal ac-
tivities cannot be the solution to current
economic challenges in the country, but
it is equally worthy of note that today,
life in peoples’ estimation has become
not only a burden but the shout of the
‘good old days’ now rends the nations’
wavelength with the cost of living com-
paratively high. With our value system,
which used to be sound gradually has
been eroded and people no longer have
values for hard work and honesty.
To correct the trend of internet fraud
and mutual suspicion among the amal-
gams, total success may be unattainable,
yet the problems can be brought under
control, obstacles can be overcome, and
the worst can be avoided.
As an incentive, while I submit that
no country can achieve success or sus-
tain its existence without trust between
and among its people, the government
should on their part recognize that it’s
the socioeconomic challenges in the
country that drives so many Nigerians
to destitution and those without self dis-
cipline to criminal acts.
The present administration must also
work to correct what is wrong by creat-
ing jobs for our youths to curb unem-
ployment which fuels acts such as cy-
bercrimes. Poverty needs to decrease at
a faster rate. The FG must take steps to
bridge excessive inequality in the coun-
try as well as reduce the cost of govern-
ance.
Nigerians on their part should brace
up to unify and achieve national harmo-
ny by seeking to understand and accom-
modate our differences.
