Political Odyssey of Chief Madu Ndigba- (a belief in totems by an african leader)

CHAPTER II

CHIEF MADU NDIGBA POLITICAL ODYSSEYS AND PREPARATION FOR VISIT

After the age grade ceremony of Ukenyi, Chief Madu Ndigba slept soundly like a baby, having had a good meal of his favourite dishes – pounded yam, vegetable and egusi source with bush meat. When he woke, he reported that he saw Nigerian Leaders, Sardauna of Sokoto, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Michael Opara, Alhaji Tafawa Belewa, General Ironsi, General Murtala Muhammad, General Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Ibrahim Babangida, General Mohammadu Buhari, General Abacha, General Abdul salami Abubakar, Chief Ernest Shonekan, standing in a straight line. In another scene, all were seated around a round table. Then Chief Ndigba stood after General Abubakar had received a dove which vanished as soon as received. When he woke, he was greatly disturbed as to the meaning of his dream meant that he will become a Head of State or President one day!

He sat on his bed, yawned and shook his head as his inner wear exposed the totem mark on his body. A mysterious voice reassured him that his totem would continue to inspire him into political heights. The voice warned him not to doubt the efficacy of the totem in acquiring political power. It was strongly suggested that he would visit South Africa, and also invite veteran politicians to inquire about the totem of General Ironsi, Houphet Biogny and Mobutu. Confidently, he felt, he should make his proposed trip to South Africa, where he had planned to see the great Madiba, visit Robin Island, have fun in Sun City, discuss, with ANC politicians, as well as many of his countrymen who fled to South Africa during the ‘Abacha days’. On the other hand, there have been enormous speculations about the source of power which the chief possessed. Many members of his clan had attributed his powers to “one who incarnated from his grandfather who was a hunter and great farmer”. The belief held was that in his lifetime, he was to rise in the society in accordance with the vogue of modern economy.

The Chief was no longer a Cabinet Minister but still occupied a high position in terms of his new status in Obodo Nija State. His entourage had greatly been reduced to one person, who strictly speaking was not a protocol officer, but was to double as such, in view of the exigency of the service. Having left the much improved Murtala Mohammed International Airport, he landed in Johannesburg Airport, which offered a better ambiance than the latter. He therefore, felt a jolt of excitement on arrival but did not lose a sense of wonder, which comes with being in a new place. In actual fact, he had been to Johannesburg Airport a couple of years before this visit. Even then, he went though the airport VIP Protocol, which offered little opportunity to experience grass root action. In this visit, he was more relaxed, and in a proper disposition to learn from the ruling party as well as draw inspiration from Madiba himself, his prison abode, Robin Island, or anything about Madiba that would serve as a source of inspiration in his political career, in addition to the totem tattoo which he had religiously clung to.