By Chidi Nnadi, Enugu
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| Ugwu-Oju |
Recently, the cream of Igbo entrepreneurs and elite gathered in Enugu for the presentation of a book: "In Quest of Perpetuity," a bio-sketch of the late Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu, who was a foremost African entrepreneur.
The event tagged "Enugu 2015 Ndigbo and Entrepreneurship" anchored by the President of South-East, South-South Professionals, Mr Emeka Ugwu-Oju, was held at the Dome.
Ugwu-Oju took time after the launch to field questions from newsmen on the book presentation, the Igbo nation, the protests by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), and governance in Igbo land. Excerpt:
The book presentation
The book was launched in November but then we needed to do a bit more in terms of letting the entire country, especially the Igbo nation, know more about the late Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu because sometimes we don't seem to remember people in the past, but if you don't remember the past, you won't be able to figure your way out in the future.
So, that led to my desire to go beyond the book launch to give some presentations on his life. So, the leaders in various sectors should try and present the book to the general public so that we shall know more about the man.
We wanted to have it in Igbo land, South-East, South-South and Nigeria. But down the line the concept changed a bit. Instead of it being a standalone, we now looked for something that is sustainable which now led to the book presentation, market road competition and the issue of public-private sector interactive session for the development of Ala Igbo.
That became the three modules which we now christened Ndigbo and Entrepreneurship and the first was what we held in Enugu. So, we are looking at annually or biannually for staging this event.
The inaugural event
I will give the inaugural event a pass mark and definitely, we will improve in the subsequent editions. With regards to the book presentation, I will say that the book has just been formally presented to the Igbo nation by no less a personality than the socio-cultural leader of the Igbo nation, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Enwo Igariwey ably supported by the South-East governors and many other Igbo entrepreneurs.
I think the objective has been achieved. The four states, Enugu, Abia, Imo and Ebonyi, the leadership of these states were represented. We thank God that it has happened and we still had a reasonable attendance. The key objectives were achieved with regards to the presentation.
Then there was the interactive session of the public-private sector. We had good representation from the public sector side. And we have certain things that we can run with even if we achieve only one and that is the issue of gas utilization in the South-East. Whether people like it or not, it is a major driver of our development.
And Prof Ezigbo who has done a lot in that area happened to be one of the panelists. The concept we have was how we can utilize our gas becausewe are not getting much development from that.
Most times our problem is the roads or the Federal Government, to do this or that. But there is a whole lot to be gained if all the South-East states come together and buy the essence of this interactive session because at least we now have a road map. It is now left for everybody to come together and say, let's make this road map work.
While waiting for the Federal Government, we can do this on our own. That is a major actionable point with regards to the development of Ala Igbo.
What entrepreneurship is all about
Entrepreneurship is not trading. Entrepreneurship is the ability of an individual to say I want to set up an industry. I want to buy and sell. I want to run a school that will deliver this and that. I don't have to wait for anybody. That is what entrepreneurship is all about.
It is not about trading only. So, when you talk about Sir Odumegwu Ojukwu, he was the person who founded the Nigerian Stock Exchange. That is why it is good for people to know him. Yes, he might have been known as a major transporter. But then, as an entrepreneur, he knew when to diversify, when to look at other opportunities.
That was why he knew that a capitalist economy cannot move without a stock exchange and he co-founded the Nigerian Stock Exchange. He was chairman of the board of most of the leading corporations in Nigeria at that time because he saw the stock trading, owning shares and so on and so forth. So, it is that trait of not accepting failure that drives entrepreneurship and it is known among the Igbo.
That is why we have it in this 2015 edition, being innovative, daring and industrious. So that is part of why we are trying to get people to really know more about the meaning of entrepreneurship and why it should be the major driver of the growth of our people.
You remember when we are talking about gas utilization, for instance, we can't be waiting for the Federal Government to do everything. When that happens, it kills the initiative because everybody is waiting for the Federal Government. But in entrepreneurship, you don't wait for anybody. Do the one you can.
IPOB/MASSOB protest
I think I will talk for now as the President of South-East/South-South Professionals. Just like the Imeobi of Ohanaeze will meet, then a more enlarged General Assembly of South-East/South-South Professionals will meet to give a formal view on that. But right now, I can say that what we see going on is an expression of freedom of speech which we totally support because we believe that if there is no freedom of speech, then we don't have a country. So, we are not against anybody saying he wants this or he wants that provided it is done in a manner that doesn't go against the law. In other words I don't think people should be carrying arms or inconveniencing others.
In UK, you can go to the park and say whatever you want to say provided you are not threatening or speaking against your neighbour. So, I think the agitators are very well within their rights to do that once they don't infringe on other people's freedom. That is why we have a problem about certain reactions we are getting about this Biafra thing. You hear the former leaders of the country saying Biafra, the people who haven't seen war, they want to do this. I don't know what that has to do with people who said they want freedom, equality, justice and development. It is the same thing that the so-called Biafrans are saying that they want. And that is why I am shocked at the way we are addressing this matter. Nigeria is not giving many people freedom, it is not giving them equity nor justice, it is not giving them development and we keep quiet about it.
What is it that you are looking for in Biafra that you can't get in Nigeria? The same Nigerians say they don't need Biafra because they are saying, this is what we want; this is what we are looking for. The point is that, if we go about it without looking at what these people are saying, is it right or not? And that is engagement and that is dialogue. If you read the letter, the South-East/South-South Professionals wrote to the current president on how we see some of his comments and actions..., there are certain things the Igbo people tend to believe but I am one of those who don't believe in crying about marginalization. I believe you should take your destiny in your own hands and that is how I want a lot of people to be. But having said that, you have to look at the reality, I mean the facts. Have the Nigerian state treated the Igbo fairly? Of course, there are some blames about the development of Igbo land that lies squarely on the shoulders of the Igbo and they should be held responsible for that. So, saying that we lost the war so to say, and certain things are being done.
That was why even those people would say that the last president, Jonathan, did not build some of the infrastructure that is in Igbo land. But many Igbo feel rightly and psychologically okay, he did a lot because he made Igbo feel that there is no barrier to what they can be. They can be coordinating ministers of the economy and Chief of Army Staff which before then was not so. And the new president, whether by act of commission or omission has reversed all that. That is why during his first six days in office, there was not a single Igbo person that has anything to do with government except if we say that we have Engr. Emordi as Permanent Secretary in the State House who immediately after this has been removed. And we made that point that if you want a true federation, everybody has to have a sense of belonging. And some people will say, leave the president, he can decide to run the country with only his family.
I said all well and good, but we are a federation. And what makes a federation works is that you have to have that sense of a federation. So factually there have been certain things showing that the Nigerian state has treated the Igbo not the way they should have been treated. When you go to the different sectors, the Igbo have not got what they should have got. It looks like that you are an appendage to the government of this country, and that might also help reinforce the feeling of if they don't want us in Nigeria, let us have our own Biafra where we can have our destiny in our own hands.
Governance in South-East and Igbo leaders not performing
I don't totally buy that view. Yes, they might not have been at their best but I know that somebody like Dr Chris Ngige tried a lot. Then Peter Obi tried too. Even though that some people complained that he is a micro-manager or this or that, but you could see the difference. Anambra State has the best road network in the whole of Southern Nigeria even though the landmark is not that big. I know that Sullivan Chime, at least, in his first term, tried. He did quite a whole lot in terms of moving Enugu State to the next level. So, it could have been much better but you can't just say there was no good governance in Igbo nation since 1999. And you need to think based on their limitations because at the end of the day, governance is about incentive.
I think one of the best things that have happened to the South-East is the way the elections are done because before, there was no accountability so to say. Then, once they promise you a ticket, you are returned to governance whether you did well or not. But now, any governor that doesn't deliver, goes. So, there is an incentive in not having power at the centre and maybe controlling police and INEC. Hopefully, we are having an independent INEC, then there will be more accountability. Because if you don't have to perform to be re-elected or even to be elected at the first instance, then it becomes like a private property. But I think with what is going on, more power in the hands of the people, they can use their power to work for change and not be looking for handouts.
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