IGBOS, ARCHITECT OF THEIR PROBLEM -NNAMANI

By NBF News

Former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, has accused the people of the South-east zone of being the cause of whatever misfortune they are currently suffering in Nigeria.

'Igbos are the architect of their political and economic misfortunes in the country,' he said.

Nnamani, who was speaking at the opening of the South-east Economic Summit in Enugu, said until the people of the area come together and re-prioritize their needs, their problems would continue.

He observed that the summit had provided a veritable platform for soul searching and introspection, stressing that for the people of the zone to have agreed to come together and review their status in the corporate entity called Nigeria, was an indication that they were ready to take their destiny in their own hands.

He said it was regrettable that Igbos had made themselves laughing stock in the country over their inability to come together and speak with one voice.

'It's really unfortunate that we have continued to cry wolf when we have, in our activities and conducts, made ourselves the laughing stock of other people. We hardly speak with one voice. It has continued to be difficult for us to have consensus on any opinion and this has indirectly affected us adversely in our national acceptance.'

Nnamani, however, noted that there was still an opportunity for the people to remedy the situation and reclaim their pre and post- independence position, adding that naturally the people of the South-east were blessed to the level that once the right things were done, they could effectively compete with any developed economy of the world. He urged them to entrench new values, team spirit as well as what he called delayed gratification which, he said, was lacking in the young ones from the area who were ready 'to do anything to make money and enjoy live within a shortest possible time.'

In his speech, the Summit Chairman, Kalu U. Kalu, lamented the economic situation of the South-east zone, which he said was presently at the lowest ebb and as such needs to be revived by its leaders both in politics and business.

'Our infrastructure is the worst in the country; qualitative education can only be imagined; no meaningful federal presence in the zone, while insecurity has become the order of the day.'

He noted that the summit was an opportunity for the people of the zone to do a soul searching with a view to finding the best way of addressing the myriads of challenges facing them as a people.

Declaring the summit open on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, Enugu State Governor, Sullivan Chime, said the essence of the Summit was not necessarily to pass the buck or apportion blames, but to highlight the pitfalls and chart a new roadmap for the rejuvenation of the economy of the zone.

He expressed dismay over what he described as the fatal collapse of 'our proud heritages – from Enugu coal to Nkalagu cement, from Aba textile to the dwindling fortunes in agriculture and food production. From the menace of erosion to sundry security concerns, the zone has endured some ugly times,' he said.