₦airaland Forum

Talk to an average trader, a bus driver, or a teacher in Nigeria, and the conversation about governance quickly becomes personal. It’s no longer about politics on TV—it’s about roads that damage cars, hospitals that either work or don’t, and whether daily life is getting easier or harder. That’s where this growing opinion comes from: many people genuinely feel that South East governors are trying harder and doing more with what they have.

Take cities like Owerri, Enugu, Aba, and Awka. The changes there are not abstract—they are things people touch and use every day. In Aba, for example, the reconstruction of roads like Port Harcourt Road and other inner-city roads has made a real difference to traders and transporters who had struggled for years with terrible infrastructure. In Awka, improved road networks and drainage systems have reduced flooding and made movement easier, especially during the rainy season.

In Enugu, projects like the rehabilitation of major roads, street lighting, and urban renewal efforts have changed how the city feels at night—safer, more active, more alive. In Ebonyi State, many people still talk about the concrete roads built even in smaller towns and how that has connected rural communities better than before.

But the real story goes beyond the big cities. Go into villages in Anambra or Ebonyi, and you’ll hear something different from what you hear in many other regions. People will point to a new health center, a repaired school, or a graded rural road that now allows farmers to bring produce to market without losing half of it on the way. These are not glamorous projects, but they matter deeply.

A big part of this comes down to mindset. In many South East communities, town unions are powerful. If a governor is not performing, people don’t wait until the next election—they complain, organize, and apply pressure. There’s also the influence of the diaspora: sons and daughters abroad who send money home and expect to see visible development. It creates a culture where leaders are constantly being watched and evaluated.

Now compare that with parts of the South West. Cities like Lagos, Ibadan, and Abeokuta are already economically strong, especially Lagos, which almost runs like a country on its own. Infrastructure projects like the Lekki-Epe Expressway, rail development, and ongoing road expansions are significant, no doubt.

But here’s where the criticism comes in: because Lagos and parts of the South West already have strong economic activity, it sometimes feels like development is happening around the government, not necessarily because of it. For many ordinary people, especially outside the major urban centers, the impact is not always as direct.

Travel to rural areas in Oyo, Ogun, or Ondo states, and the story can be different. Some villages still struggle with bad roads, limited healthcare access, and under-resourced schools. Farmers in these areas often complain about the difficulty of transporting goods, especially during the rainy season when roads become nearly unusable.

Another difference is political culture. In parts of the South West, loyalty to dominant political parties can be very strong. For some voters, party identity plays a bigger role than performance. That can reduce the pressure on leaders to deliver aggressively, because electoral outcomes may already feel predictable.

In contrast, many South East voters tend to focus more on who the person is—what they’ve done before, whether they are seen as competent, whether they understand business and development. That’s why the idea of electing “technocrats” resonates strongly there.

Still, it would be unfair to say South West governors are doing nothing. That’s not true. There are real projects and real progress, especially in Lagos and some neighboring states. The difference is in perception and visibility—people in the South East often feel development more directly in their daily lives, while in the South West, it can sometimes feel uneven.

At the end of the day, this isn’t really about which region is “better.” It’s about what drives performance. Where people demand results, organize themselves, and refuse to accept excuses, leaders tend to step up. The South East seems to benefit from that culture right now.

The bigger lesson for Nigeria is simple: development doesn’t just come from government—it comes from a combination of active citizens, accountable leadership, and a shared expectation that things must work. Wherever that mindset exists, progress follows.

They have more revenue so they should. The SE receives three times more allocation per Capita than the SW

lawani:
They have more revenue so they should. The SE receives three times more allocation per Capita than the SW

continue making excuses

So the IGR of SW is a fluke

lawani:
They have more revenue so they should. The SE receives three times more allocation per Capita than the SW

ariesbull:
So the IGR of SW is a fluke

Only Lagos and Ogun are doing substantial IGR in the west.

Earlier this year, I go work for aba
Market road by mosque was bad!!!!! I came back few days ago
Light dey 247
That bad market road by mosque has been fixed! You will think it was done now now.
I ball in obowo from umuahia, smooth road everywhere
Went to okposi for a wedding, concrete roads
These governors are not serious except for Otti but I am happy they are now doing work in the east.
Solution is doing crazy numbers on roads too
You can go from anambra to Abịa to imo to enugu to ebonyi and the roads are sweet.

The SE receives three times more allocation than the SW per capita and if Lagos were added to the SW the difference will be much greater. Therefore there is no reason the SE governors should not perform better than the SW. Their HDI will be higher and etc

Op claims he's not Igbo but is always trying to promote Igbos superiority over other tribes daily. What do u stand to gain on all this op⁉️

Why setup Igbos for ethnic bashing daily when u r not Igbo ⁉️

U never create posts that promote other tribes like u do Igbos.

U and ur fellow South South collegues (datniggadaz,esnnrutality) and others are always working overtime to set-up Igbos for ethnic profiling and bashing with these stupid posts u keep pushing out daily and I an igno Man is asking u guys to stop it cos the fallout won't affect u but me and my fellow Igbos.

Talk about ur own tribes, promote them as the most superior and best in the world and leave Igbos out of ur madness.

Gbaru ogwu gi knwuor cos it's now clear that u r doing all this with the aim of setting Igbos up for destruction and the unfortunate gullible kanu brainwashed Igbos here can't see this and fuulishily join u in remarketing themselves thinking u r promoting them in a positive way.

I've identified u and ur kind from SS here that are always doing this and will make sure that u guys won't go scot-free when this ethnic baiting threads u keep posting finally results to attacks of my fellow unuigbos.

We don't need u as our mouthpieces, go and promote ur own people and leave us alone to deradicalize our people and live harmoniously with our fellow Nigerians

In terms of roads the South East get roads...they are investing now in healthcare and security

IduNaOba:
Earlier this year, I go work for aba
Market road by mosque was bad!!!!! I came back few days ago
Light dey 247
That bad market road by mosque has been fixed! You will think it was done now now.
I ball in obowo from umuahia, smooth road everywhere
Went to okposi for a wedding, concrete roads
These governors are not serious except for Otti but I am happy they are now doing work in the east.
Solution is doing crazy numbers on roads too
You can go from anambra to Abịa to imo to enugu to ebonyi and the roads are sweet.

Onyebowu onye ebe? What is he saying if I may ask.... Must everything be me against them

Can't someone make a comparative analysis........

LottiOk:
Op claims he's not Igbo but is always trying to promote Igbos superiority over other tribes daily. What do u stand to gain on all this op⁉️

Why setup Igbos for ethnic bashing daily when u r not Igbo ⁉️

U never create posts that promote other tribes like u do Igbos.

U and ur fellow South South collegues (datniggadaz,esnnrutality) and others are always working overtime to set-up Igbos for ethnic profiling and bashing with these stupid posts u keep pushing out daily and I an igno Man is asking u guys to stop it cos the fallout won't affect u but me and my fellow Igbos.

Talk about ur own tribes, promote them as the most superior and best in the world and leave Igbos out of ur madness.

Gbaru ogwu gi knwuor cos it's now clear that u r doing all this with the aim of setting Igbos up for destruction and the unfortunate gullible kanu brainwashed Igbos here can't see this and fuulishily join u in remarketing themselves thinking u r promoting them in a positive way.

I've identified u and ur kind from SS here that are always doing this and will make sure that u guys won't go scot-free when this ethnic baiting threads u keep posting finally results to attacks of my fellow unuigbos.

We don't need u as our mouthpieces, go and promote ur own people and leave us alone to deradicalize our people and live harmoniously with our fellow Nigerians

Yes they are, can you close the thread now?

Anakogheri‼️🥱
Nwokem desist from ur senseless dick measuring posts of superiority of Igbos over others that u keep posting here to draw ethnic bashing and profiling of Igbos.
Anyi ayorogi olu (Nobody send u work)
Promote ur own SS tribes and glorify them as the Best and most developed in the world, we don't care. Leave Igbos alone to focus on their lives and business, we no beg u to promote us cos ur promo is only getting us ridiculed and singled out for vilification and bashing.

Again Gbaru ogwu gi knwuor, face ur own people and leave Igbos alone, stop promoting us cos we didn't pay or ask u to do so.

ariesbull:
Onyebowu onye ebe? What is he saying if I may ask.... Must everything be me against them

Can't someone make a comparative analysis........

What did he say?

LottiOk:
Anakogheri‼️🥱
Nwokem desist from ur senseless dick measuring posts of superiority of Igbos over others that u keep posting here to draw ethnic bashing and profiling of Igbos.
Anyi ayorogi olu (Nobody send u work)
Promote ur own SS tribes and glorify them as the Best and most developed in the world, we don't care. Leave Igbos alone to focus on their lives and business, we no beg u to promote us cos ur promo is only getting us ridiculed and singled out for vilification and bashing.

Again Gbaru ogwu gi knwuor, face ur own people and leave Igbos alone, stop promoting us cos we didn't pay or ask u to do so.

We Omoluabis don't care about that, at least, we have rice that we eat all year round

If you bli any governor in the East is doing beta than those in the West I throw a challenge to you, with the expection of Imo state governor who is an APC governor n i do not want to debate.

Pick any igbo governor from the East n the worse governor who is Dapo Abiodun in the West let compare their accomplishment in terms of all project delivery. All the East givernors combined with the exception of Hope Uzodinma can not even contest with achievement of Dapo Abiodun alone.

You think na by mouth. Listing name of road instead of showing road with exact KM. Imagining shamelessly listing uncompleted as achievement of Alex Otti

Imagine other governors listing uncompleted roads also as achievement in 2026 ?! .

ariesbull:
Talk to an average trader, a bus driver, or a teacher in Nigeria, and the conversation about governance quickly becomes personal. It’s no longer about politics on TV—it’s about roads that progress follows.

Inferiority complex is really affecting the person that made this post.

You mean with the uncompleted roads listed as achievement even when only 1 of all the roads listed is up to 10 KM. The way you glorify failure in the East shows why you lot keep escaping from your region to the West every season of the year.

christejames:
We Omoluabis don't care about that, at least, we have rice that we eat all year round

It goes beyond that, it pure bigotry. Imagining listing uncompleted project as achievement of a Nigerian governor in 2026 ? The uncompleted project come even plenty pass the completed projects.


I do not even know if the OP is mocking Alex Otti or hyping his failure listing uncompleted project as achievement of a governor seeking reelection next year.

PappyRome:
Inferiority complex is really affecting the person that made this post.

Sonyboom:
You mean with the uncompleted roads listed as achievement even when only 1 of all the roads listed is up to 10 KM. The way you glorify failure in the East shows why you lot keep escaping from your region to the West every season of the year.

You speak like an APC supporter, i understand your sentiments.


🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

An INFERIOTY COMPLEX induced thread...

Chest beat in the morning, CRY of marginalisation in the evening

Please disregard post from this OP, he's not Igb,he's from Rivers State and doesn't have any Igbo ancestry in his lineage, but keeps pushing such ridiculous dick measuring threads to rile up bile and angst against Igbos.

I've asked him and his cohorts on NL to desist doing such cos this ur reply is exactly the type of response they are looking for. They are using reverse psychology on kanu indoctrinated Igbos by putting up such post to massage their ego as they unknowingly fall for it and give such post validation. True Igbos like Soludo, Umahi, OUK,DSP Ben Kalu, Innoson,Obi Cubana,Arthur Eze,BLord etc can never indulge in such pureil dick measuring taunts for fun or for anyother reason.

I suggest u take his moniker into account when next u want to respond to his uselezz post.

Thanks for ur understanding

JohnAOne:
An IFERIOTY COMPLEX induced thread...

Chest beat in the morning, CRY of marginalisation in the evening

Oya make all of una dey go home

As una region don good pass Dubai, no need to dey enter night bus come SW again

No! They will go home when there is Biafra, enjoy one Nigeria, you can't be using the gas from East and be shouting go home, the Easterners will be in West and make use of the ports and economy also....ONE NIGERIA ...until you are tired

JAMO84:
Oya make all of una dey go home

As una region don good pass Dubai, no need to dey enter night bus come SW again

Are you done worn your ranting.... Ana ezuzuhari.... Ikpgamu onye mbamiri

The truth is that we have to do comparative analysis of the southern Nigeria and this will bring growth

LottiOk:
Please disregard post from this OP, he's not Igb,he's from Rivers State and doesn't have any Igbo ancestry in his lineage, but keeps pushing such ridiculous dick measuring threads to rile up bile and angst against Igbos.

I've asked him and his cohorts on NL to desist doing such cos this ur reply is exactly the type of response they are looking for. They are using reverse psychology on kanu indoctrinated Igbos by putting up such post to massage their ego as they unknowingly fall for it and give such post validation. True Igbos like Soludo, Umahi, OUK,DSP Ben Kalu, Innoson,Obi Cubana,Arthur Eze,BLord etc can never indulge in such pureil dick measuring taunts for fun or for anyother reason.

I suggest u take his moniker into account when next u want to respond to his uselezz post.

Thanks for ur understanding

ariesbull:
No! They will go home when there is Biafra, enjoy one Nigeria, you can't be using the gas from East and be shouting go home, the Easterners will be in West and make use of the ports and economy also....ONE NIGERIA ...until you are tired

LOL
When home is unlivable, you need to find all kind of excuses to escape it.

LottiOk:
Please disregard post from this OP, he's not Igb,he's from Rivers State and doesn't have any Igbo ancestry in his lineage, but keeps pushing such ridiculous dick measuring threads to rile up bile and angst against Igbos.

I've asked him and his cohorts on NL to desist doing such cos this ur reply is exactly the type of response they are looking for. They are using reverse psychology on kanu indoctrinated Igbos by putting up such post to massage their ego as they unknowingly fall for it and give such post validation. True Igbos like Soludo, Umahi, OUK,DSP Ben Kalu, Innoson,Obi Cubana,Arthur Eze,BLord etc can never indulge in such pureil dick measuring taunts for fun or for anyother reason.

I suggest u take his moniker into account when next u want to respond to his uselezz post.

Thanks for ur understanding

Thanks for this clarification, I always wondered what, apart from childish mischief, DatNiggaDaz and his ilk gained from all his Ndigbo superiority posts. I now realise, based on what you posted, the true reverse nature of such from disgruntled Ndigbo haters in certain places in the South South.

I will always say, until Ndigbo and Ọmọ Yorùbá find a way to work together, the North will continue to treat Southerners in the way they deserve and shouldn't, as second class citizens in Nigeria.

In fact, that partnership is the surest way to a Biafra or Odùduwà, for those that have separatist leanings in both tribes.

Hopefully, start pointing out the nonsense to others too when next I come across it like you just have.

Thanks once more.

There is no need for comparison op, there is difference between Ewa and Rice


By the way, Lagos IGR is bigger than that of New York and Beijing joined together, that alone is enough performance even though the roads in Lagos are completely dilapidated and dirt taking over most parts of Lagos. We must not let those eyesores blind us from seeing the huge Lagos IGR achievement meant for the Lagos landlord and his family's use

Allocation

Well... The last time I checked they still go back every Christmas and Easter to invest back home

JAMO84:
LOL
When home is unlivable, you need to find all kind of excuses to escape it.

DatNiggaDaz:



You are now crying of Southern Yoonity after paraporizing the the appointment. You want our neigbours to work with you after the abuse you heaped o them. You have forgotten how you and your region chased our son GEJ from office ?

Southern yoonity Taqyiyah

I am not crying for Southern Unity anything, I am stating a fact that if those two tribes worked together, there will not be an opportunity for the North to push them to a supporting role.

Up to them if they want to unite or not.

By the way, no one chased your son from anywhere, he was betrayed by his own PDP party members.