Truth hurts, but it must be told. Any society that wants to make a headway
\nmust at some point turn to truth for the compass. Here are the questions I
\nwant you to ponder this morning.<\/p>\n
The South-East easily shout of being marginalized, but they refuse to do
\nthat which will give them upper hand in any political situation. I have
\nbeen an adult since the Second Republic. I witnessed all the regimes since
\nShagari, and at one time or the other people from the South East occupied
\ninfluential positions in government. What did they do for their people?<\/p>\n
When Jakande\\Tinubu\\Fashola were planning and executing the transformation
\nof Lagos what did the governors of the South East do? When Donald Duke and
\nAkpabio were transforming Cross River and Akwa Ibom what did the governors
\nof the South East states do? When Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chukwuemeka
\nOdimegwu Ojukwu contested for the Presidency of Nigeria respectively, what
\ndid the South East people do?<\/p>\n
Fashola started the Eko Atlantic Estate – a project that would see to the
\ntransformation of Bar Beach into Africa’s Hong Kong. Regardless of their
\ndifferences, Governor Ambode would continue that project from where
\nFashola left off, no matter what. My question is, what are the South East
\ngovernors doing today to reposition their states in say, 15, 20 years
\ntime? The other day I was at Aba. I was shocked at what I saw. Aba is an
\neye-sore. Yet Aba can be Africa\u2019s Italy or France in terms of fashion.<\/p>\n
I know many South East personalities who were influential Ministers,
\nSenators, House of Reps members, party chieftains etc., can we point to
\none specific government policy they influenced in favour of the South
\nEast? The roads in the South East are among the worst in the country. Who
\nare you expecting to repair them for you? Why can’t South East political
\nleaders influence the Federal Government to repair Federal roads in the
\nSouth East?<\/p>\n
Onitsha and Aba markets arguably have the biggest markets in West Africa.
\nWhat have the South East leaders done to make them the hub of African
\ncommerce? Nnewi is arguably Africa’s Taiwan, what have South East Leaders
\ndone to make it the hub of African technology?<\/p>\n
Why can’t South East governors come together to turn Onitsha, Aba and
\nNnewi into Dubai, Shanghai and Japan of Africa? It is possible, the means
\nare there, intelligent Igbo men and women are there and shrewd investors
\nare there.\u00a0 Ndi Igbo are the most hard-working people I know. Why can’t
\nthe leaders of the South East create the enabling environment for them to
\nrealize their full potential? Why do you wait for someone else to make
\nthat happen for you, and when it is not happening, you cry
\nmarginalization?<\/p>\n
I make bold to say that of all the South East governors I knew in the
\npast, and those I know now, only Chief Sam Mbakwe worked for his people.
\nWhat did the others do? Please let’s tell the truth. The South East are
\ntheir own worst enemy.<\/p>\n
And ah! before anyone accuses me, let me own up that we in the South-south
\nare as guilty as the South-east. I reserve comment on my people for
\nanother day. Good morning.<\/p>\n
Frank Ofili<\/p>\n
24 Fatai Atere Way<\/p>\n
Matori – Lagos<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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