Culled from Business Hallmark newspapers
http:///index.php/presidency/5873.html

In July 1967, a ferocious civil war broke out in Nigeria. The war pitted the Eastern Region, largely populated by Igbos and Ijaws, Ibibios, Efiks and several other minority ethnic nationalities against the rest of Nigeria. The territory of the East was the theatre of the action doing the war which of course led to colossal losses to the physical infrastructure of the area. Other consequences of the war were calamitous. The war which was very unique in several other respects, was so horribly lopsided. It was one war in which the major world powers sided the Federal side, which then proceeded to inflict a crushing blow on the hapless peoples of the Eastern Region. The economic policy of the Federal side, astutely managed by the shrewd Chief Obafemi Awolowo in which starvation was a major plank, further wreaked havoc on the “rebels.” The 20 pounds policy, in which each Biafran was paid merely 20 pounds in exchange for whatever amount of money they may have, further pauperized the people and reduced even their wealthiest class to peasantry.
Fortunately for everyone, Nigerians and Biafrans alike, the war soon ended and on an ennobling and optimistic note. Yakubu Gowon, a rather peace loving gentleman, declared a “no victor, no vanquished” ending and followed it up with a policy declaration of three Rs – Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction.

In the over four decades since the end of the war, there have been intense debates over the success of the Gowon programmes of rehabilitation and reconstruction. Prior to the war, the Eastern Region consisting of some of the most fertile land in all Africa and the most ranked as one of the fastest developing places on earth. Under the dynamic leadership of Dr. M.I. Okpara, the East powered on as an emerging economic giant. Agriculture was the flagship of its economy, with palm oil, cocoa, palm kernel, etc; contributing significantly to its GDP. Urban cities and rural townships developed rapidly in Enugu, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Onitsha, Owerri, Aba, Umuahia, Uyo, etc. Indeed, the region was on the path of sustained socio-economic, political and cultural development.

Then the civil war brutally intervened and destroyed the region. Perhaps the most far reaching consequence of the war was the balkanization of the region. From one region in 1967, it consists of ten states today. Five of those states: Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo consist of the core East, which formed the heartland of the Igbo country, as the defunct Biafra. The other states of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Cross River have acquired their own separate identities. In a historic reversal of roles, these minority states have toppled the Igbos in the socio-economic pecking order. Before the war the Igbos were the lords of the manor in the East. But those days are gone and may be gone forever.

The states of the new fangled South South now hold the balance of power in the East, thanks to oil revenues; Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa states are the crude oil belt of Nigeria. Together, they produce over half of Nigeria's 2.2m barrels of daily production. Oil wealth has meant greater economic opportunities and even greater political leverage. Since 1999 when democracy staged a solid come back, the South South has been running strong politically. Any discerning observer of Nigerian politics would surely not have been surprised that an indigene of the South South emerged president. Jonathan's victory is an eloquent testament of the coming of age of the South South politically, economically and even socially.
On the other hand, the South East has not fared as well. In fact, that is really an understatement. If the truth must be told, the South East has fared quite poorly. And it seems to be getting worse.

Grow up !!!!!

you must have lost touch with reality for believing this ill-conceived propaganda. after the civil, igbo people show to the world that they are truly the African jews and the most resilient tribes in nigeria. today, over 50 percent of the investment in lagos, abuja and port-harcourt are controlled by the igbo people. the only way to rule the world is economic power. the difference between between Russia and America is a good testimony to that fact. bigot, try and grow up.