Transforming Nigeria can come from different perspectives such as this book has tried to illuminate in the field of foreign mission in the Philippines and elsewhere. I read with interest a copy of John Igbokwe’s fascinating book sent to me by a friend captioned A Broken Mission: Nigeria’s Failed Diplomatic Mission in the Philippines and the Fight for Justice and Embassy Reform. Unshakably set in the Philippines in the 1990s, John Igbokwe was then a student and resident in that country. By sharing his experiences and threats, and indeed, why he had to relocate to North America after the odds of the time, a book of ground breaking fight against corruption and neglect of Nigerians in its approach had been realized. To read how John Igbokwe captured those experiences of the untouchable power of the embassy staff in the Philippines should not be undermined for policy and action in transforming Nigeria.
According to John Igbokwe, with a specific spotlight on Nigeria in the Philippines, the writing of this book was undertaken to tell the story of the bad representation overseas that Nigeria and Nigerian citizens suffer at the hands of well-paid envoys to protect their national interests abroad. It has also been written to remind Nigerian citizens overseas that they do have responsibility to take their country's envoys to task when they misbehave or lose sight of their oath of office.
A Broken Missionshould be seen as “Occupy Nigerian Mission Abroad”. He argues that “what happened in the Philippines should be an object, and indeed, a critical lesson to all Nigerian citizens on how they should not play-dead-end while their official representatives abuse their office and destroy not only their patrimonial interests but also the meaning of civilization, opportunity, inclusion and security in its own right.” As a reader, I will not hesitate recommending this unique literature as a straight piece of ethnography for potential reforms in this mission field. John Igbokwe, thank you for sharing your critical story with us in Edmonton of Alberta at a time when the hurt was visible and unclouded in your heart of emissary in every community gathering we had.
To get our voices and experences heard and shared in the business and politics of transforming Nigeria for the better, here is a loaded and exploded foreign mission case study book to be read for courage, insight and inspiration. There might be some contentions from the other side of the story, but this book has opened a knowledge track to heal the insanity of a broken mission and undiplomatic governance and will be relevant for many years to come. It will, because, a fight for justice and embassy reform is a fight for transforming Nigeria with a purpose.
Author: John M. O. Igbokwe
Pages - 296
ISBN: 978-1-4670-7026-3 (sc); 978-1-4670-7025-6 (hc)
Year of Publication: December 12, 2011
Published by AuthorHouse,REGINA,SASKATCHEWAN,CANADA
Retail price: $19.95; £12.95 (sc) $28.99; £20.99 (hc)
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Dr. Patrick Iroegbu (Edmonton, AB).
Author of Healing Insanity: A Study of Igbo Medicine in Contemporary Nigeria (2010).
See also article: "Migration and Diaspora: Craze, Significance and Challenges"
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