How times change!
At some point, it was as if President Muhammadu Buhari was going to
end his first term in office without visiting the south east. But here
we are: within 48 hours, the man, who some naysayers insisted was on
life support, would have waltzed through two-fifths of the south east
zone, in a historic visit that holds as much prospect for the zone as
it could end up as a defining moment in the history of Nigeria.
Here is a man who not a few Igbo believe, hates them with a passion.
Here is a president who, a few weeks ago, some people claimed would
never return to Nigeria let alone undertake a tour. To watch PMB
traverse the zone with incredible zest and excitement is not only
disarming but doubly reassuring. It is indeed remarkable that Ebonyi
stood up for the President; at least, this convinces him that the
country as a whole is his constituency and that the Igbo don’t really
hate him.
How will Anambra receive him? If he was at home in Ebonyi, he can as
well go to sleep in Anambra. Here is a state from where he picked his
running mate on two occasions: former speaker of the House of
Representatives, the Rt. Hon. Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, in 2007, and former
Senate President Rt. Hon. Chuba Okadigbo,in 2007. For sure, in doing
that, he must have reckoned with the often rocky yet politically
expedient wedlock between the north and the east. What went wrong?
Whatever the case, here is a new dawn. Anambra epitomizes the Igbo
dream. To see Anambra is to behold the Igbo entrepreneurial spirit,
the can do it mentality, the never say die disposition. Whether in
Ekwulobia or Nnewi, whether in Onitsha or Nkpor or Oraifite or Ihiala,
no matter where you stand in Anambra, you can’t miss that ingenuity
that has conferred on the zone the spectacular business reputation
that it wears as an insignia, no matter the odds.
Will the President see Nnewi, that symbol of enterprise, a UNIDO
cluster almost like no other in Nigeria because nearly 100 percent of
the manufacturing wonder is promoted by indigenes that generate their
own power, provide their own water and before Ngige came on the scene
as governor, also constructed their own roads. The President will hear
tales of woes in the hands of various security and enforcement agents
and the trauma the companies experience because no port in the east is
serving them just because political considerations have befuddled the
country’s economic plans and implementation of strategic maritime and
other projects.
But it is not all a tale of woes. Depending on his itinerary, at
Nnewi, he will behold the effort of his administration at encouraging
indigenous engineering enterprise; where Innoson Industries Limited is
collaborating effectively with the revamped Nigerian Air Force to
produce spares for some of the aircraft that have contributed
immensely in degrading the capability of Boko Haram insurgents. At
every point, whether it is Ibeto, Cutix, Chikason, Coscharis etc, the
President will find reassurance in a people who have defied humongous
odds to stay afloat.
For instance, the entrepreneurs, who are likely to commend the
President for the ongoing work on the Port Harcourt Enugu-Onitsha
expressway will tell him that the pace is far too slow, that the
Enugu-Okigwe stretch at Lokpanta has become a nightmare hallmarked by
punishing traffic snarls, actual lockdowns and accidents. Those who
travel through Port Harcourt and the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo
Airports in Imo State will have the same tale of woes to narrate.
There are at least three reasons why Mr. President should not be
discouraged by these revelations. First, all the problems have been
with us for decades, with the highly orchestrated efforts of previous
administrations falling flat on deliverables. We should never forget
that, on one occasion, former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu had
reminded a minister that reconstruction work on the road had witnessed
more flagging off than any other project in the country and actual
deliverables. It is a sad commentary on successive administrations and
the country’s political elite, indeed a betrayal of the electorate
that, eighteen years after the restoration of democratic rule, that
strategic road, linking all of five states: Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Imo
and Rivers is still in a state of disrepair. If the road was not done
in eighteen years, it will amount to sheer hypocrisy to expect the
Buhari Administration to complete it in two years.
At any rate, that is the second point, a commuter, on the
Enugu-Okigwe-Umuahia stretch, will confirm that there has been some
significant reconstruction effort at some sections of the road. What
is worrisome is that the pace is not consistent with the Buhari style,
the blitzkrieg remedial assault, as witnessed during the
rehabilitation of the Abuja-Kaduna Road. Third, with budgetary
provision already made for certain stretches of the road all that is
left is for legislators, from the south east and south-south zones,
rigorously benchmark implementation, including co-opting their
constituents to avoid a situation where bureaucratic inertia or
outright sabotage could derail the high-minded goals of the President.
Yet, the President has a duty, to his integrity and the nation, to
take additional steps towards achieving his goals. Already, feelers
from the Presidency indicate that sooner than later, the imbroglio
over the Calabar Port project will be resolved so that the firms
handling the project complete dredging activities that were stopped.
Such proactive presidential action is required to resolve the impasse
that is frustrating the Aba power project. In this regard, it is
important to stress that strategic projects with huge economic
potentials should never be subjected to disruptive political and
administrative manipulations that, in the end, could erode the
Presidents goodwill.
Besides, I do not see anything wrong in creating a task force from the
engineering ordinance of the Nigerian Army, and charge with
rehabilitating badly damaged south east roads, within a time frame of
twelve months. Imagine the spectacle of soldiers, not in battle
fatigue but engineering overall constructing bridges, covering deep
pot holes and mending dangerous road pavements; think about the
scenario where unemployed youth are productively engaged as artisans,
craftsmen and casual workers in a collaborative effort with our
soldiers, to rebuild the south east; think about the situation where
civilians engage soldiers in healthy after-work pastime, of whatever
nature, instead of children fleeing on seeing our soldiers.
Finally, allow me to fantasize a bit: Suddenly, President Buhari
remembers all the details of their discussion the last time Ikemba
Nnewi, Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu visited him in Daura; he
recalls how Ojukwu said he would fight for one Nigeria, then he
directs his motorcade to Ojukwu’s resting place. Imagine what will
happen if, on getting there, the President Buhari announces:
“Fellow Nigerians, I am here to pay my respects;
To a good friend, a patriotic Nigerian;
A fellow combatant and comrade in arms;
He spent his last days fighting for Nigeria’s unity;
Which he told me, was not negotiable;
That was in my house in Daura;
I cannot pay him any greater respect;
Than to support, the proposed,
South East Development Commission;
Your Excellences Saraki and Dogara, take note;
In the spirit of one Nigeria,
Please send me the bill for assent before November 18.
God bless ONE Nigeria!”
Remember I was only fantasizing; yet, in real life, some of the most
enduring legacies have emerged from people who could fantasize. Can
our President dream? Can he seize the moment, to redirect the national
discourse, change the narrative of his relationship with the Igbo
ethnic group and make history as the President who practically
implemented the three Rs of reconciliation, rehabilitation and
reconstruction? Let me add that it is not mandatory for him to do so
now, not even any time; but he can choose the side of history on which
he wants to be remembered.
Anambra, tell our President, Daalu!
