THIS GENERATION OF IGBO GOVERNORS MUST DO MORE
Great Imo Jonathan
The current state of infrastructure and industrial development of the south east calls for concern. Especially, our educational system is failing, meaning that our human capacity development does not reflect what it used to be. More worrisome is the fact that you governors of the south east can no longer pay salaries and the quality of roads and other small infrastructures you have reluctantly tried to put in place are not only abysmal but substandard. You are not even looking at the possibility of supporting young businesses to grow. Neither do you pay attention on the need to improve indigenous technologies and innovations. It is really a sad situation.
Your generation of Igbo governors appear to be unprepared for governance. Except for Dave Umahi, many of you are without vision and a master plan that defines the future of our people and our shared aspirations. Currently, you are focused on becoming wealthy on the account of your states. Driven by your lack of vision and egocentric sense of entitlement you have become lost in the mix and aloof of the ensuing national competition that will in the near future define the national framework. Looking at what is going on in states like Lagos, Ekiti, Oyo, Kaduna Ogun, Akwa Ibom and others we have had better comparative advantage over, based on the resilience of our people and their personal determination to make something out of life, you will realize how much you have failed. You have failed to recognize the peculiar nature of our region in the Nigerian state. You have failed to understand the potentials of our region and how to maximize them for the economic prosperity of our people and you resigned yourselves to comparing our region with other regions we have had better potentials than. And that have led you purposelessness.
Unfortunately, all we get from some low self esteemed characters around you are praises that are inspired by the god of their belly. Obviously, driven by their ignorance, they tend to sing praises of you governors even when it is clear to all that you don’t represent the stuff that Igbos are made of.
You Igbo governors tend to forget that in the First Republic, the Igbo nation made enviable progress in Nigeria, we had fiscal and industrial development, superb educational system, good governance, integrity in political office, and so forth. And that this solid foundation was laid before the First Republic, courtesy of the Igbo State Union and Leaders of Thought. Notably, government initiatives adequately encouraged farming and other allied produce for food and export. Thus, items such as rice, yam, cassava, cocoyam, vegetables, palm produce and cashew nuts were readily and ordinarily the mainstay of our economy then. It was essentially on these that Eastern Nigerian economy thrived and expanded to become the largest growing economy in Africa then.
The Eastern Nigerian government had a clear vision which was progressive. As a result, the Eastern Nigerian Development Corporation (ENDC) was established, which became a tool through which series of development projects emerged , including: University of Nigeria Nsukka, Aba Textile Mills, Shoe Industry Owerri, Nigercem Nkalagu, Enamel Plate Industry Umuahia, golden Guinea Brewery Umuahia, Obudu Cattle Ranch, Glass Company Port Harcourt, Ulonna Farm Settlement, Niger Steel Company Emene, African Continental Bank (ACB), Hotel Presidential Enugu and Port Harcourt, Co-operative Bank of Eastern Nigeria Ltd (Co-operative and Commerce Bank). These and many other developmental strides were achieved within a ten year period 1957-1967.
And even after the war in 1970, the likes of Sam Mbakwe picked up our pieces and turned our story around in no time.
It is noteworthy that all these were achieved due to the assemblage of qualified leaders who rose up to the challenge of the time. There was qualitative and coherent leadership and organizational cohesion. We had Igbo leaders with vision, they loved our people and they worked patiently as a team and made a visible difference.
Ndi Igbo have a rich history and for which we are proud. When we pause to think how many times we got up when we stumbled, how many times we confounded those who wrote us off, we see something in it – an ability that lies within us to make things work if we decide to do so. That is the character that we are originally known for. An attitude that does not consider failure as a choice, an attitude that resolves to create everything even when there is nothing; that is the attitude that made Ogbunaigwe possible, that made the economic achievement of eastern Nigeria between 1957 to 1967 a reality and so many innovations that now defines the quality for which Igbos are known.
There is no challenge for which the Igbo man cannot find a solution if he puts his mind to it. In this circumstance, our current boundaries of achievement largely depend on your personal industry as Igbo governors and your leadership outlook. If you have any challenge, that is your own potentials as governors. And your failures as it stands, is your failure to live up to your own possibilities.
The innate abilities of Igbo people to make a difference irrespective circumstance is not in doubt, but your poverty of leadership at the moment is a major challenge.
Hence, I advice you to rise up to the leadership challenge of the moment. You need to be selfless and visionary leaders who can nurture future forbearers and present a clear roadmap that will ensure the development of our people in the shortest possible time. You need to become reform-minded with scant respect for easy money. And there is the urgent need for you to come up with clear cut Development Plan for the South East.
You reserve the right to get angry at me on this advice but don’t forget that you are seating on our collective destiny and we reserve the right to call you to order.
Please wake up
God Bless Ala Igbo
Great Imo Jonathan
