Commentary: The Real Problem Of Ndigbo

^{WRITTEN BY EMEKA ARINZE}
A lot have been said and heard about the marginalization of Ndi Igbo under different administrations in Nigeria without respite. However,

the question is: who is actually marginalization Ndigbo? Without prejudice, the truth is that Ndi Igbo equally share the blame for the marginalization of Igbo land as the Federal Government. South-East has been abandoned by those who should build it. Both Ndi Igbo and the governments have played negative roles.
By marginalization is meant that several necessities of life which are supposed to be located or established in the South-East are, instead, taken to other parts of the country, while the zone is left forlorn. The result is that the South-East, which is supposed to be a most vibrant economic sector in the country, given the enterprising spirit of Ndi Igbo, is in pitiable state.
The federal roads in the South East are in bizarre condition. The roads include the Enugu-Onitsha expressway; Enugu-Makurdi expressway; Owerri-Port Harcourt road; Onitsha-Adani; Owerri-Umuahia road and Onitsha-Okigwe road, among others. The heart-dropping pictures of these important highways are depressing. Not even during the war did the roads degrade to this level.
Unfortunately, the tragic neglect of the roads has been there since the end of the civil war. After the war, it was imperative under internal best practice to rebuild the zone. It was on that principle that former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, who prosecuted the war, declared a post-war period of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Reconciliation (RRR) that was never implemented.
One of the key issues involved in post-war reconstruction was economic rehabilitation and development. Reconstruction, essentially, involves restoration of physical infrastructure and facilities such as roads, power, bridges, highways, water and others; re-establishment of social services, creation of appropriate conditions for the private sector development. None of these things was done for the war-ravaged South-East.
Against that backdrop, the Federal Government has a lot of blame for the abject condition of infrastructure in the South-East. However, some state and local government roads in the South-East are not anything better than the federal roads. Some non-federal roads are even in worse condition across the states. With the exception of Anambra State, which has outstanding record on roads development, no other state can boast of anything better.
The condition of most roads in the South-East has not changed much from what they were in 1960. Like in other zones, there are more state and local government roads in the South-East than federal roads. Why can the state governments not do their own roads while waiting for the Federal Government as Anambra is doing? Therefore, the blame on roads degradation goes to both the federal and some state governments.
While blaming the Federal Government for abandoning the South-East roads, among other things, the people of the South-East must also be blamed for abandoning their homeland in preference for other parts of the country. This curious Igbo mentality is not found anywhere in the world.
The Igbo say, Onye ajuruaju anaghi aju onwe ya. What Ndigbo have done against themselves since the war ended is incomparable anywhere in the World. Among the ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, Ndi Igbo are the most hateful of themselves and their homeland. They are their own enemies. They are what Ndi Igbo call Oka mma n’ama, one who feels better outside than at home.
The pre-independence era saw millions of Ndi Igbo who migrated to all parts of Nigeria and established there without looking back home. In the wake of the civil war in 1967, as the pogrom ensued in the North and West, they ran for their dear lives, abandoning all their buildings and investments. Many returned home without a roof over their head.
When the war ended in 1970 and with the Abandoned Property syndrome, it was thought that Ndi Igbo had learnt their lesson. But alas! They never did. Once again, they trooped out to different parts of Nigeria. Being highly enterprising people, they, once again, began to prosper. But instead of investing the wealth in Igbo land, they started to invest and build mansions all over the place. The homeland is abandoned.
Could anyone imagine how Igbo land would have been if all the Igbo investments that are outside Igbo land were in Igbo land? It is the Igbos that will develop the Igbo land. Lamenting federal neglect, when the people have abandoned their homeland, is senseless. Let us learn today by thinking-KA AKU ANYI LUO UNO. TAA BU GBOO!