A New Beginning for South East Zone – By Emeka Chiakwelu

Posted by admin Articles, Columnists, Emeka Chiakwelu, NNP Columnists, South-East Saturday, October 1st, 2011

By Emeka Chiakwelu, NNP, October 1, 2011 – Without doubt the formation and commencement
of South- East EconomicSummit (SEES) in Enugu is among the best economic effort and decision
made so far by South East zone. This is a beginning and nothing
substantial has been done but this shows a radical departure from
incoherency overview to a strategic outlook and planning. The people and
governors of SE deserve recognition for bringing this to fruition.

Before a dream and objective can be actualized and accomplished, first and
foremost a strategic planning which connotes brain storming and summit
must precede effective implementation. The summit held at Nike lake Hotel,
Enugu is the initial move but it does not end there. For at the summit a
strategic map must be conceived and fabricated that can become the compass
to destination of the targeted goal.

The South East Summit outline the main objective which “is aimed at
finding practical solutions and strategy towards turning around the
deplorable state of the economy of the South East as a contiguous bloc and
the creation of an integrated road map for the transformation of the zone.
Other objectives include: To develop a Blue print for the rapid
transformation of States in the South East Zone.” This objective sounds
great but it is a tall order that can be achieved and implemented when
everybody work together especially the private and public sectors.

We have to be realistic that a government does not have all the answers
neither does it have the money and resources to fulfill all the targeted
goals. This synergy between the private and public sectors is inevitable
because the limited resources should be combined for maximum output and
result. In most of the cases the ultimate function of the government is to
create a stable economic landscape that makes it possible for the private
sector to thrive and succeed. The proper and conducive environment
together with ample security makes it possible for trade, commercialism
and capitalism to take hold.

The government does not necessarily guarantee success but it can become a
partner in making an economy thrive by providing social amenities and
infrastructures. When government protects life and property the problem of
robbery, vandalism and kidnapping can be controlled to the barest minimum.
The south East zone must squeeze the problem of social and security
instabilities to make citizens and investors comfortable to stay put and
invest their precious resources. This is not the time to think small and
to take a gradualist and minimalist pathway. This is the time and this is
the summit to think big and to plan big. The summit must be bold and big
with its overviews, outlooks and planning.

This leads us to the issues of job and health. Both of these works
together to re-enforce each other, for a healthy people are also a wealthy
people. The wellbeing of society and productive people are measured on
their health being. Therefore the state of heath must be a top priority.
The issues of poor environmental sanitation and contaminated drinking
water are improved in order to put to a bay the prevalence of borne water
diseases – diarrhea, typhoid, hepatitis and many others.

In the article on South East governors on building progressive states, I
wrote:

But at the interim South East has major problems of erosion, poor
transportation, shortage of power, poverty and many others. And the
governors cannot solve them by engaging in small talks and donating money
to inconsequential organizations and building patches of roads here and
there. Where are the big dreams, big visions and the great innovations and
ideas to transform Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia and Ebonyi States? The
governors and states of South East must have a concerted effort and
coordination grounded on industry and initiatives to bring affirmative
achievements to the citizens of their respective states.

There is a large deposit of coal in Enugu without usage or consumption.
The governors can come together and set up a committee to recommend how
the coal can be extracted and used to supply electricity to industrial
areas in South east geo-political zone.

With same spirit of cooperation they can solve the problem of road
congestion and accidents as goods are being transported by trailers from
Port Harcourt seaport to the cities by constructing rail tracks from the
seaport to rest of the major cities in the zone.

Enugu State University Teaching Hospital can be turned into an
international center for medical research with emphasis on malaria, heart
problems and other diseases affecting Nigerians and Africans.

The South East governors can form Enterprise and commercial partnership
with objectives grounded on sound principle, producing common-sense ideas
and inducements to attract substantial investments into the zone. They can
start by creating one or two industrial zones in each of the five states
that make up the zone. The partnership entity can come up with solutions
to address the issue of electricity and water especially in those
industrial zones. The governors cannot afford to wait for the Federal
government for ever.

With same mindset they can attack the problem of kidnapping and robbery
confronting the geo-political zone. To diminish delinquencies and
criminalities especially among the youths the problem of unemployment must
be addressed. The government must come into some sort of partnership with
the private industry and marketers to address joblessness among the youths
especially university graduates.
http://www.afripol.org/afripol/item/277-great-achievements-ideas-and-innovations-have-eluded-south-east-governors.html

IGWEBUIKE and Restoration Philosophy

The guiding principle and underpinning framework of Igwebuike is the
prevailing philosophy of South East Summit. This is based on the power in
numbers, for the greater the number the stronger is the grip of the people
on the opposing force. But also the emphasis must go beyond that to
connote Restoration which will imply that Ndi-Igbo must work hard to
restore Ndi-Igbo lost economic framework. And this can be possible when
the urgent commonality of purpose propelled the pulling of ideas and
resources for the economic restoration of South East zone.

Attracting Ndi-Igbo Investors back to SE

The people of SE scattered around Nigeria and around the world can be a
major source of investments in the zone. That does not mean that
attraction of other investors are not necessary but it makes sense to
start with immediate and primary stakeholders. The people of SE have
literally developed every corner of Nigeria and Africa except their own
zone. These enormous intellectual capital, human capital and physical
capital when employed and applied to South East will literally transform
the zone into an economic paradise.

There are important things the government must do to make this possible: a
well coordinate agenda for development that will detail and emphasis
infrastructures and the protection of life and property in the zone. Let’s
be realistic, the kidnapping, poor security and armed robbery have scared
and chased away many illustrious sons and daughters on returning back
home. The respective state’s governments do not have to be defensive but
recognized that the problem must be dealt head on. There will be a
confidence building between the government and the Diasporas to reinforce
the thirst and eagerness to work together.

Finally the on going summit at Enugu is something worthy celebrating for
the time is long due: For South East zone coming together not to eat and
drink but to formulate policies and ideas for trade, tourism, peace and
goodwill for families of the zone and for the greater Nigerian family.
Emeka Chiakwelu is the Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol
Organization. Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is
foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden
the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote
and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment,
human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.
[email protected], http://afripol.org/wp_posts

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