Biafra comes when we learn to invest in Igbo land and ensure that leaders in Igbo land provide enabling environment and incentives for people to invest in Igbo land.
Are you aware that as I am writing this piece, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, has received close to 850 Billion Naira in the last six years, as state and local government allocation from federal government of Nigeria? Are you aware that despite the huge potential for Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the criminal gang called government of Abia State only declares less than 16 Billion Naira annually, even when Aba alone with over 500,000 shops could bring in over 60 Billion Naira? Are you aware that Okezie Ikpeazu’s shameless government despite these humongous amount accruing to Abia State has borrowed from World Bank and local institutions, leading the state into debt of over 100 Billion?
This same Okezie Ikpeazu got 14 Billion Naira cash from President Muhammadu Buhari as Bailout and another 34 Billion Naira as Paris Refund.
Are you aware that in the last six years Okezie Ikpeazu has not been able to construct as little as 150 kilometers of roads? And that the ones he constructed so far have almost all collapsed?
You are not aware! Continue!
Now let me give you a little insight. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State paid 6.7 billion for 4 kilometers of road in Aba and within one year after construction the road collapsed. Meaning that even the little that should have counted for him for good was nothing but a yahoo yahoo construction. He claimed to have paid 9.3 Billion for yet to be completed 7 kilometers of road and Abia people are still confused about what manner of road he is building.
Again, Nigerians are not aware that Port Harcourt road that is no longer a thoroughfare but a permanent dustbin site has been used to to steal close to 10 billion Naira of Abia State money even when the road has not been touched.
Now this is what will shock you as you go about shouting Biafra this Biafra that; a qualitative one kilometer of road is supposed to cost between 120 to 150 million naira per kilometer if you are in the South East. But Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State claims to have spent 1.3 billion per kilometer (on his badly constructed roads) that are not up to 150 kilometers in total, in six years.
The implication is that Okezie Ikpeazu and his cronies for every 1 kilometer of their useless and badly constructed roads steals 1. 1 billion Naira or more.
The most painful aspect of this terrible reality is that these primitive characters in Abia State government don’t pay pensions and salaries. The totality of the state is a huge dustbin and there are no roads connecting communities, talk more of Healthcare.
These are things Ndi Igbo can do for themselves in the now if they hold their leaders accountable without spending energy accusing other people.
If indeed we are serious about agitating for the south east, we should start by checking ourselves. Especially, we should start by rising up against the political class in the South East, because they are destroying our region because of their selfish interest. We fight those who are immediately responsible for our underdevelopment and also responsible for the violence in the South East.
We should start by telling those Igbos who envy their fellow Igbo citizens to stop. By resisting those who support wealthy Igbos who forcefully take political power and others who forcefully take land from their poor brothers and sisters.
Start by resolving land disputes truthfully amongst Igbos without killing each other and without going from one police division to the other and spending billions of Igbo hard earned monies in court.
Start by demanding quality parenting from this generation of Igbo parents who are now producing uncultured children who end up as kidnappers, armed robbers, drug addicts, yahoo plus, cultist, lazy youths, internet ashawos and baby factory operators.
Start by developing community visions and projects.
Start by stopping young generation of Igbos from too much show off of wealth on social media, that attracts envy for the entire race, even when in actual sense we have nothing compared to other tribes in the country.
Start by ensuring that young Igbos develop strong work ethics, acquire world class education that gives them edge in the employment market.
If you have these things situated, you already have your Biafra. One last thing, fix the disease called Corruption in States and Local governments in Igbo land
Start by ensuring that no child in Igbo land is left without education, formal or informal. Where artisanal skills and apprenticeship is emphasized as great alternative to western education.
Start by redefining education curriculum in Igbo land, building world class education facilities and engaging quality teachers that are well paid that can train our children to face the world.
That is the kind of Biafra agitation that will transform our lives; an honest self assessment of the way we have handled our region.
Biafra comes when we learn to invest in Igbo land and ensure that leaders in Igbo land provide enabling environment and incentives for people to invest in Igbo land.
Biafra is industrialization. Making our people productive and reaching such productive capacity that can enable Igbos export things from their communities and earn foreign currency from outside the country like the Chinese.
Biafra comes when we learn to condemn evil irrespective of who amongst Ndi Igbo is involved.
Start by solving communal clashes through dialogue and encouraging peaceful coexistence amongst Ndi Igbo.
Query why some Igbos will continue to support crooked politicians day in day out.
Biafra will come when you start telling Igbo leaders to build up the economy of the region, increase access to education, create Jobs for the youths, improve infrastructure (roads, electricity, water, bridges etc).
Biafra will come when Ndi Igbo by concerted effort improve their air quality, fight erosion, plan their cities and towns, promote cleanliness, plant trees, plant flowers, decorate their compounds with flowers and green grasses well landscaped, landscape their schools and INSIST ON EXCELLENCE IN ANYTHING ONYE IGBO DOES
Biafra will come when Ndi Igbo build direct international access to the region (shipping by Sea, AirCargo, Direct International Flight etc).
These are things Ndi Igbo can do for themselves in the now if they hold their leaders accountable without spending energy accusing other people. These are examples of how to have a Biafra.
If you have these things situated, you already have your Biafra.
One last thing, fix the disease called Corruption in States and Local governments in Igbo land.
If we cannot deal with this bitter truth we are fooling ourselves.
