A time was, when there was a semblance of an organized body of Governors from the Southeast Geographical Zone under the aegis of Southeast Governors’ Forum. Then, the Governors often spoke in one accord on issues concerning the zone.
That had the effect of those from other zones treating the Southeast with what seemed a little bit of respect, knowing there would be reactions from the leadership of the zone. Although there exists an umbrella body of Igbo groups known as the Ohaneze Ndigbo, its authority and relevance has been hampered by its lack of financial independence.
Today, happenings in the country have seen the people of the zone being buffeted all around by some ethnic nationalities who believe the Igbo have no place in Nigeria. What we have seen from the Governors of the Southeast has been either zero reaction or muted reactions.
It is unfortunate that the governors of the zone who should lead the charge in defence of their zone are keeping quiet while their people are being traumatized and harassed all over the country.
While we understand that political differences may have been responsible for their meekness, it is nevertheless clear that they should have risen beyond their partisan beliefs.
From what is playing out in Nigeria today, it is clear that the people of the Southeast should start seriously thinking about relocating their resources home. But there is very little on the ground in the Southeast to encourage those Igbos outside to relocate.
First of all, serious insecurity is threatening social and economic life in the Southeast Zone, with the governors making no concerted effort to stem the tide, aside glibly talking about their people thinking home. It is well known that no one will want to invest in a hostile environment.
Also, the activities of youths known as area boys are hampering development in the zone. These youths go round extorting money from developers before allowing them to build anything.
Sometimes developers have to pay or settle many of these youth groups many times before going ahead with whatever they want to site in the east. While such a thing goes on, the Southeast Governors keep mum.
This is not the way to go about attracting people home or in making those already home not to look for safer environments. The Southeast Governors have only been paying lip service to the issue of encouraging their people outside to return home. For this to happen, the governors have to do much more than they have been doing.
We call on the Southeast Governors to be alive to their responsibility and be a strong voice for their people, while emplacing the enabling environment for their people outside to come home and invest. Party loyalty and interest should be set aside by these governors, while the interest of the zone should come first.
At the moment, it appears that our people outside the zone have no one to speak for them. They are literally being treated as orphans by their adversaries because those adversaries feel and know that those Southeasterners are out on their limbs. This should not be so.
We urge the Southeast Governors to buckle up and play their real roles for their people.
