BeachTime:
I'll advise Nigerians to apply critical thinking when making analysis; and it will be appreciated if Nigerians shun bigotry , Myopia and corruption,and build an organized society.
You wanna know who is really cheated and marginalized in my opinion? Akwa ibom,Bayelsa,etc. .I'll use Akwa ibom /Anambra as example.
Akwa ibom generates $13 Billion dollars per year .The money is confiscated and shared by Nigeria to all states and Akwa ibom ends up receiving only $50 million dollars per month or $600 million dollars per year.
Anambra's total internal revenue is $14 Million dollars . Akwa ibom's internal revenue minus oil is $11 Million dollars.
Anambra receives free $20 million dollars from Nigeria per month.
A 1.5 km bridge like the Onitsha bridge length cost $600 million to 1.3 billion dollars depending on number of lanes and vanity features. The second Onitsha bridge cost $600 million dollars. Anambra would not have the money to build the bridge if all states have autonomy and control of their resources.
The Akwacross needs at least 10 six lane worldclass bridges (calabar itu , Oron calabar ,etc. ) all of these would cost a combined $6 Billion dollars . Does Nigeria care about those bridges? Akwa ibom has a natural harbor for seaport . In fact, that very Ibaka area seems to be an international trade point between Nigeria and the central African countries. Does Nigeria care about that seaport? In fact,it won't hurt having an 2 seaports in the area with the present day calabar seaport as reserve seaport. Akwa ibom has the perfect spot for Maritime University ,yet that was not converted to university. Even so,it won't hurt if Nigeria has at least 2 or 3 Maritime Universities.
Donald Duke was more qualified to be Nigeria's president ,yet he was nixed . Bakassi(Calabar(akwacross) territory)was forfeited to Cameroon by Nigerian government.
Who cares about producing president if you have autonomy and control your resources. In my personal opinion, I think Igbo have it good in Nigeria than Calabarians,Ijaws and some others.
The above is my unbiased submission. I would like anyone to counter my point with facts and tell me how Igbo is marginalized and I'll kindly reason with your opinion.

faith2kool:
If Igbo’s Have Functional Sea Port In Igbo Land, An Igbo Business Man Can Feed And Cloths A Senators – Obasanjo Told Buhari

Many Igbo feel politically and economically marginalised, and the government’s hardline stance is not helping.

50 years after Nigeria’s then Eastern Region declared itself the Republic of Biafra, sparking a brutal and costly three-year civil war, the country again faces a separatist challenge. Across the Igbo south east, there is resurgent agitation for an independent Biafra state.

President Muhammadu Buhari’s forceful response to the agitation has been counter-productive, inflaming passions and boosting separatist sentiments. The government needs to change course and prioritise dialogue over coercion.

The starting point of any response is to understand the agitation’s roots. They include political and economic grievances, a deep sense of collective victimisation among the Igbo, and the failure of south east politicians to provide good governance and development.

[Biafra 50 years on: Remembering, regretting, repeating history?]

Roots of the agitation

Separatists contend that since the Biafra War, the Igbo, one of the country’s three major ethnic groups, have been marginalised. They note that no Igbo has been elected to lead the country since Nnamdi Azikiwe’s ceremonial presidency in the 1960s or to be vice president since Alex Ekwueme (1979 to 1983).

This persisted even under military rule. The only Igbo head of state in this period, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, was killed after only seven months.

Administrative structures decreed by northern-led military governments have also undermined the region. Of the country’s six geo-political zones, all but the south east contain either six or seven states. The south east has just five, while it accounts for only 96 of Nigeria’s 774 local governments. Representation in government and the flow of federal resources are based on these administrative units.

Today, the south east, like much of the country, suffers deficient and dilapidated infrastructure and widespread youth unemployment. But many believe this is structural. They point out that as federal revenue allocation is based on number of states and local governments, the south east receives the least of all zones.

Unequal treatment

Under Buhari, political grievances have deepened. With no Igbo heading any of the military and security services, many argue the region has no voice in key organs such as the National Defence Council (NDC).

“We are like second class citizens, of the same status as a colonised people, except that this is internal colonialism, caliphate colonialism”, asserted a retired Igbo military officer.

The situation has also been aggravated by Buhari’s statement shortly after coming to power that “constituencies that gave me 97% cannot in all honesty be treated, on some issues, with constituencies that gave me 5%”.

To many in the south east, who mostly voted for former president Goodluck Jonathan, that statement raised fears that the president would not accord them equal treatment with the north.

They now see their fears confirmed by some government actions. For example, when the domestic intelligence agency the Department of State Services recruited recently, it hired just 44 new employees from the south east compared to 165 from the north west. Similarly, the south east is nearly completely excluded from a proposed national railway development plan.

Victims of history

Along with political and economic grievances, separatist agitation is driven by a strong feeling of collective victimisation. In 1949, the prominent Igbo leader Nnamdi Azikiwe asserted “it would appear that God has specially created the Ibo people to suffer persecution and be victimised because of their resolute will to live”.

Almost 50 years later, another distinguished Igbo, Chinua Achebe, claimed that “Nigerians of all other ethnic groups will probably achieve consensus on no other matter than their common resentment of the Igbo”.

These feelings have been deepened over the decades by recurrent rioting in the north in which Igbo have suffered great losses. Mostly notably, over 30,000 Igbo in the north were killed and two million fled back to the south in 1966 in the “Igbo pogrom” that followed the January coup and July counter-coup.

During the Biafra War, all other groups rallied round the federal government. The conflict killed about two million people, mostly Igbo, and more died during post-war riots and conflicts in the north.

Some northern leaders have argued that the Igbo were targeted because of their entrepreneurial success not their ethnicity, but such explanations offer no consolation. As one Igbo civil society leader said, the current separatist agitation is “a rejection of the Nigerian state by a group that feels already rejected by that state”.

South-eastern governance failures also fuel unrest. Local political leaders have largely failed to harness the region’s resources, create sustainable employment and engage youth.

As the president-general of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze, Nnia Nwodo said, Igbo youth “have passed a vote of no confidence in us their fathers”. The agitation therefore represents not only a protest against the state but a rift within Igbo society.

Flawed responses

Successive government responses have been generally intolerant and combative. The government generally lumps the separatist movement together with Boko Haram and the militant Yoruba group the O’odua People’s Congress (OPC) as “extremist groups” threatening national security.

Under President Olusegun Obasanjo, the administration arrested the leader of the Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Ralph Uwazuruike, charged him with treason and detained him from 2005 to 2007. Police clashed with MASSOB members repeatedly, killing many.

President Buhari’s government has been similarly intolerant. In November 2015, he issued a “serious warning” that: “The corporate existence of Nigeria as a single entity is not a subject of debate and will not be compromised”. On another occasion, he said: “For Nigeria to divide now…it is better for all of us to jump into the sea and get drowned”.

Following from this hardline stance, security agencies shut down the unlicensed radio station, Radio Biafra, operated by the separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). They have banned pro-Biafran newspapers, arresting and brutalising non-compliant vendors. These measures have driven many publications off the streets, but have not curbed the even more vigorous social media.

Security agencies have also broken up rallies and meetings, killing and arresting scores. An Amnesty International report alleged that security forces murdered at least 150 agitators between August 2015 and August 2016. The army rejected the report, but separatists say the number of deaths was even higher.

In January 2017, when agitators organised a rally in “solidarity” with new US President Donald Trump, police reportedly killed 11 participants and arrested more than 65. Many are still in jail.

The government also arrested IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu in October 2015. He was arraigned and granted bail, but despite court orders for his release, he was held in prison until April 2017. Kanu’s prolonged detention turned him into a hero and increased IPOB membership.

Outlook for the future

The agitation’s future trajectory is unclear. Much depends on the federal government. Further repression will earn the separatists more local sympathy and support and could push them to more desperate actions. If there is no progress towards constitutional, administrative and policy reforms that would respond to the demands of the south east, the agitation could escalate.

Further demonstrations and government crackdowns could further strain the already over-stretched security forces, diverting resources needed to fight Boko Haram and insecurity elsewhere.

Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, has counselled the government to ask the agitators: “What are those things we can do to make you content, to make you feel part of this entity [Nigeria]… What can we do to make them feel that they belong and are not alienated?” The federal government should heed that sage’s advice.

In the short term, the government should refrain from further threats of “crushing” the agitation and free unconditionally the hundreds of protestors currently imprisoned. It should also reassure all regions it will allocate resources and develop infrastructure equitably.

In the longer term, the National Assembly should resume its stalled constitution review and pass provisions that would guarantee all citizens a stronger sense of national belonging and redress the imbalance in administrative units between the zones. This is a key demand of south easterners and one already endorsed by the leaders of most other zones.

The leaders of the south east must also respond to their region’s needs by focusing on economic development and curbing massive youth unemployment. The south east governors’ recent initiative towards integrated regional development is a welcome step that should be pursued vigorously.

50 years after the south east attempted to break away, the country remains fragile. Its democracy is still unstable, as demonstrated by the recent coup rumours as President Buhari is reportedly very ill.

[Nigeria: Coup rumours reflect rising distrust in Buhari’s absence]

At a 25 May colloquium on Biafra: 50 years after in Abuja, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo said the greatest responsibility of Nigerian leaders today is to give a pathway to unity in diversity. The country’s leaders must work harder to build bridges, close cleavages, and achieve a more cohesive country.

If they fail, separatist agitations will grow even stronger.

https://tigblog.com.ng/2019/12/21/if-igbos-have-functional-seaport-in-igbo-land-an-igbo-business-man-can-feed-and-cloths-a-senator-obasanjo-told-buhari/

tartar9:
"If Igbo’s Have Functional Sea Port In Igbo Land, An Igbo Business Man Can Feed And Cloths A Senators"
Their always rude and arrogant ways of requesting for help alone is enough to make anyone not to heed their requests.

BeachTime:
I'll advise Nigerians to apply critical thinking when making analysis; and it will be appreciated if Nigerians shun bigotry , Myopia and corruption,and build an organized society.
You wanna know who is really cheated and marginalized in my opinion? Akwa ibom,Bayelsa,etc. .I'll use Akwa ibom /Anambra as example.
Akwa ibom generates $13 Billion dollars per year .The money is confiscated and shared by Nigeria to all states and Akwa ibom ends up receiving only $50 million dollars per month or $600 million dollars per year.
Anambra's total internal revenue is $14 Million dollars . Akwa ibom's internal revenue minus oil is $11 Million dollars.
Anambra receives free $20 million dollars from Nigeria per month.
A 1.5 km bridge like the Onitsha bridge length cost $600 million to 1.3 billion dollars depending on number of lanes and vanity features. The second Onitsha bridge cost $600 million dollars. Anambra would not have the money to build the bridge if all states have autonomy and control of their resources.
The Akwacross needs at least 10 six lane worldclass bridges (calabar itu , Oron calabar ,etc. ) all of these would cost a combined $6 Billion dollars . Does Nigeria care about those bridges? Akwa ibom has a natural harbor for seaport . In fact, that very Ibaka area seems to be an international trade point between Nigeria and the central African countries. Does Nigeria care about that seaport? In fact,it won't hurt having 2 seaports in the area with the present day calabar or bakasssi seaport as reserve seaport. Akwa ibom has the perfect spot for Maritime University ,yet that was not converted to university. Even so,it won't hurt if Nigeria has at least 2 or 3 Maritime Universities.
Donald Duke was more qualified to be Nigeria's president ,yet he was nixed . Bakassi(Calabar(akwacross) territory was forfeited to Cameroon by Nigerian government.
Who cares about producing president if you have autonomy and control of your resources. In my personal opinion, I think Igbo have it good in Nigeria than Calabarians,Ijaws and some others.
The above is my unbiased submission. I would like anyone to counter my point with facts and tell me how Igbo is marginalized and I'll kindly reason with your opinion.

BeachTime:
I'll advise Nigerians to apply critical thinking when making analysis; and it will be appreciated if Nigerians shun bigotry , Myopia and corruption,and build an organized society.
You wanna know who is really cheated and marginalized in my opinion? Akwa ibom,Bayelsa,etc. .I'll use Akwa ibom /Anambra as example.
Akwa ibom generates $13 Billion dollars per year .The money is confiscated and shared by Nigeria to all states and Akwa ibom ends up receiving only $50 million dollars per month or $600 million dollars per year.
Anambra's total internal revenue is $14 Million dollars . Akwa ibom's internal revenue minus oil is $11 Million dollars.
Anambra receives free $20 million dollars from Nigeria per month.
A 1.5 km bridge like the Onitsha bridge length cost $600 million to 1.3 billion dollars depending on number of lanes and vanity features. The second Onitsha bridge cost $600 million dollars. Anambra would not have the money to build the bridge if all states have autonomy and control of their resources.
The Akwacross needs at least 10 six lane worldclass bridges (calabar itu , Oron calabar ,etc. ) all of these would cost a combined $6 Billion dollars . Does Nigeria care about those bridges? Akwa ibom has a natural harbor for seaport . In fact, that very Ibaka area seems to be an international trade point between Nigeria and the central African countries. Does Nigeria care about that seaport? In fact,it won't hurt having 2 seaports in the area with the present day calabar or bakasssi seaport as reserve seaport. Akwa ibom has the perfect spot for Maritime University ,yet that was not converted to university. Even so,it won't hurt if Nigeria has at least 2 or 3 Maritime Universities.
Donald Duke was more qualified to be Nigeria's president ,yet he was nixed . Bakassi(Calabar(akwacross) territory was forfeited to Cameroon by Nigerian government.
Who cares about producing president if you have autonomy and control of your resources. In my personal opinion, I think Igbo have it good in Nigeria than Calabarians,Ijaws and some others.
The above is my unbiased submission. I would like anyone to counter my point with facts and tell me how Igbo is marginalized and I'll kindly reason with your opinion.

BeachTime:
I'll advise Nigerians to apply critical thinking when making analysis; and it will be appreciated if Nigerians shun bigotry , Myopia and corruption,and build an organized society.
You wanna know who is really cheated and marginalized in my opinion? Akwa ibom,Bayelsa,etc. .I'll use Akwa ibom /Anambra as example.
Akwa ibom generates $13 Billion dollars per year .The money is confiscated and shared by Nigeria to all states and Akwa ibom ends up receiving only $50 million dollars per month or $600 million dollars per year.
Anambra's total internal revenue is $14 Million dollars . Akwa ibom's internal revenue minus oil is $11 Million dollars.
Anambra receives free $20 million dollars from Nigeria per month.
A 1.5 km bridge like the Onitsha bridge length cost $600 million to 1.3 billion dollars depending on number of lanes and vanity features. The second Onitsha bridge cost $600 million dollars. Anambra would not have the money to build the bridge if all states have autonomy and control of their resources.
The Akwacross needs at least 10 six lane worldclass bridges (calabar itu , Oron calabar ,etc. ) all of these would cost a combined $6 Billion dollars . Does Nigeria care about those bridges? Akwa ibom has a natural harbor for seaport . In fact, that very Ibaka area seems to be an international trade point between Nigeria and the central African countries. Does Nigeria care about that seaport? In fact,it won't hurt having 2 seaports in the area with the present day calabar or bakasssi seaport as reserve seaport. Akwa ibom has the perfect spot for Maritime University ,yet that was not converted to university. Even so,it won't hurt if Nigeria has at least 2 or 3 Maritime Universities.
Donald Duke was more qualified to be Nigeria's president ,yet he was nixed . Bakassi(Calabar(akwacross) territory was forfeited to Cameroon by Nigerian government.
Who cares about producing president if you have autonomy and control of your resources. In my personal opinion, I think Igbo have it good in Nigeria than Calabarians,Ijaws and some others.
The above is my unbiased submission. I would like anyone to counter my point with facts and tell me how Igbo is marginalized and I'll kindly reason with your opinion.

BeachTime:



Your reply strays from my original comment and did not counter any claims . I used Anambra and Akwa ibom as examples because the topic relates to igbo state ,not Northern Nigeria, and I love Onitsha Anambra.
I know Nigeria had a civil war a few decades ago, but maybe there are things I'm unaware of . I would like to know how Igbos are marginalized right now . I'll appreciate a sound and factual explanation.

henryobinna:
I'm not interested in an argument with you as that's what you're looking for. Primarily because you lack what I think it takes to engage in any such.

So you can add more espitles maybe this time use Abia state, do you like Aba?

tartar9:
"If Igbo’s Have Functional Sea Port In Igbo Land, An Igbo Business Man Can Feed And Cloths A Senators"
Their always rude and arrogant ways of
requesting for help alone is enough to make anyone not to heed their requests.

BeachTime:
I'll advise Nigerians to apply critical thinking when making analysis; and it will be appreciated if Nigerians shun bigotry , Myopia and corruption,and build an organized society.
You wanna know who is really cheated and marginalized in my opinion? Akwa ibom,Bayelsa,etc. .I'll use Akwa ibom /Anambra as example.
Akwa ibom generates $13 Billion dollars per year .The money is confiscated and shared by Nigeria to all states and Akwa ibom ends up receiving only $50 million dollars per month or $600 million dollars per year.
Anambra's total internal revenue is $14 Million dollars . Akwa ibom's internal revenue minus oil is $11 Million dollars.
Anambra receives free $20 million dollars from Nigeria per month.
A 1.5 km bridge like the Onitsha bridge length cost $600 million to 1.3 billion dollars depending on number of lanes and vanity features. The second Onitsha bridge cost $600 million dollars. Anambra would not have the money to build the bridge if all states have autonomy and control of their resources.
The Akwacross needs at least 10 six lane worldclass bridges (calabar itu , Oron calabar ,etc. ) all of these would cost a combined $6 Billion dollars . Does Nigeria care about those bridges? Akwa ibom has a natural harbor for seaport . In fact, that very Ibaka area seems to be an international trade point between Nigeria and the central African countries. Does Nigeria care about that seaport? In fact,it won't hurt having 2 seaports in the area with the present day calabar or bakasssi seaport as reserve seaport. Akwa ibom has the perfect spot for Maritime University ,yet that was not converted to university. Even so,it won't hurt if Nigeria has at least 2 or 3 Maritime Universities.
Donald Duke was more qualified to be Nigeria's president ,yet he was nixed . Bakassi(Calabar(akwacross) territory was forfeited to Cameroon by Nigerian government.
Who cares about producing president if you have autonomy and control of your resources. In my personal opinion, I think Igbo have it good in Nigeria than Calabarians,Ijaws and some others.
The above is my unbiased submission. I would like anyone to counter my point with facts and tell me how Igbo is marginalized and I'll kindly reason with your opinion.

Esseite:


Good write up... but dont you think there are other minerals in the earth that they could harness to generate funds for their infrastructure aswell as speed up its pace?..

Dont you also think that a seaport would increase its IGR directly from the $11m you stated since its people top the list of importers into the country?

Dont you think a seaport would attract international coys and partnership, aswell as population bloat which in turn increases IGR, standard of living, employment etc

Dont you think so?

BeachTime:
I'll advise Nigerians to apply critical thinking when making analysis; and it will be appreciated if Nigerians shun bigotry , Myopia and corruption,and build an organized society.
You wanna know who is really cheated and marginalized in my opinion? Akwa ibom,Bayelsa,etc. .I'll use Akwa ibom /Anambra as example.
Akwa ibom generates $13 Billion dollars per year .The money is confiscated and shared by Nigeria to all states and Akwa ibom ends up receiving only $50 million dollars per month or $600 million dollars per year.
Anambra's total internal revenue is $14 Million dollars . Akwa ibom's internal revenue minus oil is $11 Million dollars.
Anambra receives free $20 million dollars from Nigeria per month.
A 1.5 km bridge like the Onitsha bridge length cost $600 million to 1.3 billion dollars depending on number of lanes and vanity features. The second Onitsha bridge cost $600 million dollars. Anambra would not have the money to build the bridge if all states have autonomy and control of their resources.
The Akwacross needs at least 10 six lane worldclass bridges (calabar itu , Oron calabar ,etc. ) all of these would cost a combined $6 Billion dollars . Does Nigeria care about those bridges? Akwa ibom has a natural harbor for seaport . In fact, that very Ibaka area seems to be an international trade point between Nigeria and the central African countries. Does Nigeria care about that seaport? In fact,it won't hurt having 2 seaports in the area with the present day calabar or bakasssi seaport as reserve seaport. Akwa ibom has the perfect spot for Maritime University ,yet that was not converted to university. Even so,it won't hurt if Nigeria has at least 2 or 3 Maritime Universities.
Donald Duke was more qualified to be Nigeria's president ,yet he was nixed . Bakassi(Calabar(akwacross) territory was forfeited to Cameroon by Nigerian government.
Who cares about producing president if you have autonomy and control of your resources. In my personal opinion, I think Igbo have it good in Nigeria than Calabarians,Ijaws and some others.
The above is my unbiased submission. I would like anyone to counter my point with facts and tell me how Igbo is marginalized and I'll kindly reason with your opinion.

Philistine:

What Seaport are you talking about? South East does not have access to the sea. Just accept the truth and move on, Igbos are one of the major beneficiary of Nigeria, u guys should quit the blackmailing and Blame game, it works no more.

tartar9:
"If Igbo’s Have Functional Sea Port In Igbo Land, An Igbo Business Man Can Feed And Cloths A Senators"
Their always rude and arrogant ways of requesting for help alone is enough to make anyone not to heed their requests.

Philistine:

What Seaport are you talking about? South East does not have access to the sea.

Is the Niger bridge not in Onitsha

Is Onitsha not in the East

Just asking ooooo