By ROBERT OBIOHA :
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and wife of former Biafran leader, Bianca Ojukwu, on Tuesday in Owerri, Imo State, delivered a powerful and resonating speech at the 13th edition of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu memorial. The minister used the occasion to speak on issues and themes that resonate well with Ndigbo, especially insecurity, the violence, bloodbath, kidnapping, destruction and criminality in the South-East region. She spoke about the desertion of the region, the migration of the citizens to state capitals in the region and other cities in the country, including Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt.
Bianca also bemoaned the seeming lack of synergy among Igbo leaders and governors of the region. She also used the platform to renew her call for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. The wife of ex-Biafran warlord believes that the release of Kanu from detention will fasten the return of peace, harmony to the troubled region. She is definitely not alone in this line of reasoning. Prominent Ndigbo leaders share in this belief. Ordinary Igbo people think in that line too.
We recall the concerted efforts of Igbo leaders such as the late Chief Mbazulike Amaechi and others to ensure that ex-President Muhammadu Buhari release Nnamdi Kanu to them. Unfortunately, Mbazuluike Amaechi pursued it till his death. After that the late Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu followed suit with great vigour and tenacity. In fact, Iwuanynwu’s last outing was his visit to Nnamdi Kanu in Abuja. He also pursued the cause till his death.
It is equally reassuring that the Ijelle Nwanyi has renewed her call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, which Ndigbo believe will hasten the return of peace and normalcy to the region and stop the weekly sit-at-home, which has killed investments and businesses in the South-East region. It is sad that the South-East attracted the least inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the country as shown by data released recently. The situation is not going to change without the restoration of peace and normalcy in the region. It will take the region about 20 or more years to recover from the effects of the prevailing insecurity and lawlessness.
Therefore, Bianca Ojukwu’s resolve to continue to press for the release of Nnamdi Kanu to the highest level of government is commendable and should be given the necessary push by the Igbo political elite, leaders of thought and captains of industry. It should be seen and taken as an Igbo project. In fact, the project needs the collective push of Igbo governors and Igbo caucus in the National Assembly. In the same vein, the Ojukwu memorial should be a South-East affair.
What is happening in Igbo land has further shown the absence of leadership in the South-East since the demise of Emeka Ojukwu. When the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was alive, he was a rallying point for Ndigbo. Zik was literally listened to and even worshipped and obeyed when he was alive. After the exit of Zik, the mantle of leadership naturally fell on Ojukwu. And Ojukwu lived up to the expectations of the people because of his sterling leadership qualities, especially his selflessness. But since the death of Ojukwu, no Igbo person has been able to fill that gap. The nearer to filling that gap can be said to be the leadership of Ohanaeze. However, the citizens did not give the Ohanaeze leadership the kind of support they gave Zik and Ojukwu. Why is it so? Some South-East leaders of Ohanaeze did not measure up to Zik and Ojukwu standards. The absence of central leader in Igbo polity is partly responsible for the general insecurity and lawlessness in the region.
When Sam Mbakwe and Jim Nwobodo emerged on the political scene in the region then, they did their best and their best has remained our best till date. They governed Imo and Anambra states in the 70s and 80s effectively. The region was later divided into the present five states. Their successes may be because they were ardent followers of Zik. They rose to power on the back of Zik and they duo did not disappoint the people. Imo people are still eulogizing the reign of Mbakwe in Imo and his giant development strides. It may also be because they were prepared to ensure development and good governance in their domains.
On the contrary, since the return of democracy in 1999, the South-East has not fared too well. There may be one or two good examples of good governance in the zone, the general performance shows that the zone always trail behind other zones in all indices of human development.
Our zone do not attract federal government presence in terms of location of industries, rail and road infrastructure necessary to jump-start the zone to industrial giant. Our governors despite their promises to transform their state or the zone to Dubai and Japan failed to catch up with nearby Asaba and far-away Lagos.
The development paradigm in the region should not only be restricted to state capitals like Enugu, Abakaliki, Umuahia, Owerri and Awka. There must be deliberate efforts to develop these states beyond their capitals. We need to expand development beyond the state capitals as Lagos, Delta and Rivers states are doing. What is wrong in creating ‘Lekki’ or highbrow neigbhourhoods in Enugu, Owerri and other state capitals in the South-East? Let the governors open up Enugu, Awka, Owerri and other state capitals without denying development to other towns and rural areas in the region.
The return of peace and normalcy in the region should be a collective responsibility of South-East governors, leaders of thought, self-determination groups and political elite from the zone. It is not for one person or one group alone. Similarly, the development of the region to make it attractive for businesses and investments is a collective duty of the South-East governors and Igbo captains of industry. Rushing to other regions to build businesses and immovable assets based solely on profit motivation will not develop Igbo land. And waiting for others to do it for us is never an alternative.
The region can only develop if the governors can work as a group and work for the good of the citizens. If the resources that accrue to the region are well managed, it will augur well for the people and the region. Good governance and provision of jobs can quickly revamp the South-East economy and reduce the insecurity and restiveness in the region. However, the government must agree to work together and run people-centred administration.
