“From the ruins of war, the
rubble of adversity, dejection of defeat etched in despondent faces,
Such signposts of wasted existence propelled the desire for a
redefinition of life, enter an idea the year 1970, A dream is
born,…Rangers International” –Sam Mbah’s, Preface on a book on Rangers
“These Igbo self, why are they making noise about this Rangers
victory as if its the World Cup or a feat no other club in Nigeria has
achieved. What is the big deal in something Kano Pillars and Enyimba
have won severally” Most Nigerians of the later generation or even
history challenged older generation persons are understandably likely to
reason the same way as this my friend who posted the above statement in
reaction to the jubilation across the country that greeted the
decoration of Enugu Rangers International, otherwise called the Flying
Antelope, as the Champion of the 2015/2016 Professional football season.
This club is not just a commonplace football outfit; it’s a child of
necessity.
What you see being celebrated is the history behind this great club
and this victory coming at this time of the sociopolitical and economic
history of Ndigbo has an enormous significance that you would appreciate
if you follow the narration below.
Shortly after the civil war, a dream came through to Chief Jerry
Enyeazu who was in the midst of a people grossly weighed down by the
outcome of the 30 months brutal civil war. A people from the trauma of
defeat and who were clearly knocked down largely due to the preceding
economic hardship occasioned by the unjust conversion of all Biafran
monies into 20 pounds to each person irrespective of how much you had.
The people were searching desperately for what to do to burn out the
stress and lift their fatally wounded morale.
Then came the thought of raising a football club to be called “Enugu
Rangers”, a name that helped to tie back to the people the “Rangers”,
the unique spy group with a lot of Igbo ingenuity that helped the
Biafran intelligence persecute the war for 30 months.
On 25th February, 1970 Chief Enyeazu’s dream came through as he
combined with some philanthropic Igbo to form the club. In his
introduction to a book “Rangers International-the story of Nigeria’s all
conquering Clubside’ authored by the trio of very close friends of
mine, Sam Mbah of blessed memory, Ikechuckwu Okoye and Okey Ezea (APC
gubernatorial flag bearer in Enugu state in 2015), one of the
philanthropists, who became life President of the Club, Chief A. W. Ibe
wrote “In agreeing to be a part of the idea of the formation of Rangers,
I was impelled by a desire to see our people overcome the prevalent
feeling of dejection in the aftermath of the war,” That indeed was the
spirit that informed the formation of the clubside that did not allow
the trauma of war to affect it but instead was propelled to dominate the
nation’s football stage for fourteen years at Club and National level.
That was the period Ndigbo needed to come out of the shackles of the
brutal war and Rangers provided it. For the past 32 years, even though
it remains the only club in the premier league that has not gone on
relegation, Rangers never won any trophy.
Reason perhaps being that Enugu State, its current sponsors, had not
been too supportive. But on May 29, 2015, a new Governor Hon.
Ifeanyichukwu Ugwuanyi mounted the throne and made the difference on
Rangers.
The result of his dogged effort is what the club and its numerous
supporters are reaping now. Even though following the creation of
states, some other clubs were established like Spartans which later
turned to Iwuanyanwu Nationale and now Heartland and Enyimba including
the Pentecostal clubs like Abia Warriors and Ifeanyi Uba FC all took
their inspiration from Rangers who became the Catholics of the game from
whom they drew their history.
The symbolic significance of this victory which must not be
overlooked is the renaissance of Rangers at this time in the life of
Ndigbo. Since the end of the civil war in 1970, Ndigbo have never been
as estranged from the Nigeria project as they are under the new
dispensation.
Less than ten years after the civil war, Nigeria found it necessary
to make an Igboman the number two citizen with Dr Alex Ekwueme emerging
as the Vice President in the Second Republic in 1979. In addition, even
when Ndigbo did not vote for the then ruling National Party of Nigeria
NPN, the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives was still
given to an Igbo, late Hon.Edwin Umezuoke. Since then every regime, even
the military who fought the war respected the tripod upon which the
political foundation of Nigeria was laid.
But today Ndigbo are in the receding tide of national politics, a
development not unconnected with the way they voted in 2015 general
election, a similar position they took in 1979 yet they got Vice
President and Speaker of the National House. But today they are cut up
in the 95/5 per cent voting compensation theory. In the executive arm,
the situation is even more precarious. They are nowhere near the top
positions in the hierarchy.
On security, if the over ten military and para military chiefs, army,
Airforce, Navy, Police, Civil Defence, Road Safety, Prisons,
Immigration, Customs, Fire service, and DSS meet to discuss national
security issues, an Igbo, one of the largest ethnic groups would be
conspicuously missing.
The Ministers who had to find a place because it is statutory that
every state must be in the cabinet are just nominal in their roles. For
instance the real reason that would make a Professor, a former Vice
Chancellor of a University serve under an Accountant in Ministry of
Education as a Minister is because one is from “95 per cent area” the
other from “5 per cent region” and such is obviously not based on
competence, qualification or suitability to the function.
As the appointments roll out, whenever you hear an Igbo name, be sure
his portfolio is going to be the least in viability. My brother, Osita
Okechukwu, all he could get for all the years of shouting Muhammadu
Buhari to Ndigbo is Director General of VON, a near moribund
Organisation whose budget is not up to a department in NTA.
You may wish to google to find out who got the others. NTA, FRCN,
NAN, NBC, NOA. Against this backdrop therefore and added to the economic
recession in the land with the level of graduate unemployment in the
region, the highest so far, the mood and level of despondency of the
people in the region at the time Rangers victory came can be likened to
what it was in 1970 soon after the war when this Club was formed.
So for such a moral lifting outfit coming after 32 years to remind
the people of their survivalist spirit, the Rangers championship this
year should be seen from its allegory. No wonder Senator Ekweremadu said
“For us, this is more than just a league title. This is a huge revival,
morale booster, and comfort.
It is one great achievement that refreshes memories and our survival
instincts as a people. It is a reminder to all our people that though
sorrow may endure for a night; joy surely comes in the morning”.
As an Enugu lad who grew up alongside this Club during its ups and
downs, I can appreciate the mood within the “Cathedral” and beyond. My
felicitations go to the coach and his players who now are on the same
honours roll as other Rangers greats, Godwin Achebe pioneer captain 1970
to 1971, Dominic Nwobodo, Kennth Abana, Ernest Ufele, Chairman
Christian Chukwu, the longest serving captain from 1974 to 1982,
Emmanuel Okala, Jay Jay Okocha, Aloysuis Atuegbu, Christian Madu,
Slyvanus Okpara etc. Governor Ugwuanyi who has become the jinx breaker
also deserves a special mention for showing extra ordinary interest that
produced this extra ordinary result at an extra ordinary time. Up
Rangers
