Economic Injustice Against My Ibo Nation: This Injustice Must Never Be Ignored

FREDRICK ONWUMBIKO

"There is one very important fact in my analysis that I want everyone to get, and that is that before the civil war, Nigeria as a nation did not have an economic of its own. Let me say it again, that Nigeria as a nation before the British/Biafran civil war did not have an economy of its own. 

I emphasized that point in other to say that whatever seemed like Nigerian economy were British owned. Put differently, if you excluded few of the regional cooperatives and some joint ventures businesses which were mostly British engineered to make buying raw materials easy for the British, every other aspect of the economy were owned majorly by the British, even the military, given the fact that almost every military supply came from Britain. 

It is then save to say that British investment in Nigeria amounted to a great totality of Nigerian economy or that Nigerian economy was at that time synonymous to the total investment of the British. 

"One relevant question that I always managed to ask my interlocutors is whether they were aware of the indigenization decree of 1972, master minded by Awolowo and the Yoruba and the ramifications of that policy, as will be expected, the answer ranged from, I have heard of it but does not understand what it actually meant to I have not heard of the policy. 

Listening to this ignorance induced perspective from my friends made my heart to skip a beat, realizing that the task of bridging this information gap is not going to be a child’s play." 

ODUA INVESTMENT COMPANY WAS USED TO LOOT NIGERIA AND CONVERTED BRITISH, BIAFRAN, EASTERN NIGERIA AND NIGERIA ASSETS FRAUDELUENTLY BY AWOLOWO.

AFTER THE DEATH OF THESE INVESTMENTS WHY HAS YORUBAS NOT BUILT NEW ONES. THEY CANNOT BECAUSE THEY NEVER BUILT ANY.

Odu'a Investment Company Limited was incorporated in July, 1976 to take over the business interest of the former Western State of Nigeria, now Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti States of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. 

The company commenced business on the 1st of October, 1976. ODU'A INVESTMENT COMPANY LIMITED since inception, has been operating as a conglomerate with over 70% of her business as investment/joint ventures with reputable multinationals. 

As early as February 26, 1976, just about three weeks after the creation of the three states out of the old Western State, the State Implementation Committee had given a thought to the establishment of a holding company which was to take over the supervision and monitoring of sundry investments of the former Western State which were hitherto under the control of the Western State Industrial Investment and Credit Corporation. Such investments were over sixty (60) in number. 

The Economic Project Performance Unit, in collaboration with the Western State Industrial Investment and Credit Corporation, was given the duty of making necessary recommendation for the establishment of a holding company.

Investments within the Group at its inception covered a wide spectrum of economic activities, viz; integrated textile mills, breweries, commercial banking, insurance business, real estates, livestock rearing, fisheries services, carbonated drinks, food and beverages industries, manufacturing in chemical and mechanical industries, hotel and catering, vehicle distribution, bottling and marketing of liquefied petroleum gases, printing and publication.

Apart from investments in limited liability companies, Odu'a Investment Company Limited also owns substantial properties in choice locations in the Ikeja residential/Industrial Estates and Apapa in Lagos State as well as a number of residential and commercial properties in Ibadan including the Aje House. It also has investments in properties in various parts of the Country. 

QUOTE "Nigeria- Biafra war was supposed to have been officially over, it was not enough to murder Igbo and their babies in millions, Awolowo who was now on Gowon's payroll, who Ojukwu should have let stay in prison again started marginalizing Igbo Biafrans by confiscating Biafran accounts and looting their hard earn money, giving the Igbo persons 20 pounds each regardless of balance (and interest). 

The "Indigenisation Decree", another bastard policy which followed soon after the arbitrary award of 20 Pounds completed the routing of Biafrans from the commanding heights of the Nigerian economy. Only two years after the war supposed to have ended, when Ibos/Biafrans were still in their economic doldrums, Chief Obafemi Awolowo [the Finance Commisioner under Gowon ] then auctioned the Nigerian economy to the Nigerian "indigenes" with the Enterprises Promotion Decree 1974(so-called). 

He started selling off government and foreign owned properties to "Nigerians" knowing very well that he had just made the Biafrans/Ibos virtually bankrupt. This was of course deliberate, and done to reverse the Hausa/Fulani Yoruba fear of "Ibo domination" also to spite the Ibos/Biafrans futher. 

The timing of this policy was to ensure that there was effective exclusion of the Biafrans/Ibos from ownership in Nigeria's industrial sector, since after confiscation of the money and bank accounts they would no longer have the financial muscle to participate. 

As "the vanquished"[Biafrans/Ibos] were dispossessed of what they had, "the victors"[Hausa-Fulani-Yoruba] were deliberately empowered through the banks to purchase the Nigerian "national"(illusionary that is) patrimony.

This Awolowo was indeed a treacherous beast with ambition, indeed a wicked bastard. Despite this particular anti-Ibo policy, the Ibos are still thriving such that they could easily produce the most educated people in Nigeria and even in Africa. Despite after all this he did for the Caliphate and Nigeria, he still never became president of Nigeria even for 1 second. Yes he was be "The best president Nigeria never had". UNQUOTE 

" The Nigerian government policy of "starvation as weapons of war" as crafted by Awolowo to which he was never forgiven by Ibos. We can also detail the facts that even after the war, Awo and Nigerian government kept all Ibo money, given them only 20 pounds to every ibo who had money in the banks as punishment for defending themselves and his continued starvation as weapons of war and annihilation. 

In a nuthshell Iboa were left to die, I remember my uncle coming home with 20 pounds and wondering what anyone could possibly do with twenty pounds as opposed to thousands of pounds he had in the bank from oil and Petroleum business before and during the war." 

QUOTING CHIEF EDWIN CLARK ON THE WAR AFFECT ON IGBO" "The harsh post-war economic policy immediately converted Ibo businessmen into street hustlers. Those in the corporate world lost their positions and had to begin new professional careers. 

Importation of stock fish was banned to deny Ibos their only means of protein after the war. (Remember that most livestock were lost during the war). This was followed by the problem of abandoned property implemented mainly by the old Rivers State."

 CHIEF EDWIN CLARK. IBO PROPERTIES WERE SEIZED ALL OVER NIGERIA AND MANY WERE UNDERVALUED AND SOLD AS AUCTION AND AT AUCTION ALL OVER NIGERIA FROM 1967 TO 1980.

WHAT ENGENDERED THE INDIGENIZATION POLICY?

It is no more news worthy to point out that before the civil war that Ibos out of their capacity for honesty, to work hard, to produce, to innovate, to manage, create and persevere were able to penetrate all facets of Nigerian endeavor, when the British used merit as a yard stick. 

It is an irrefragable fact that even Yoruba would not dare challenge that fact, if not, what started the Yoruba hate, envy and jealousy against the Ibos in the first place, Yoruba and Hausa claimed that Ibo was dominating everything in the country but what they will not acknowledge publicly was the fact that the British were making the decisions about who to hire by their own standard and not by Ibo standard and that Ibos were good at what they did and better than them. 

The Yoruba and Hausa wanted not only equal opportunity they also wanted equal outcome regardless of effort and everyone knows that that is impossible. Nigerian economy or that Nigerian economy was at that time synonymous to the total investment of the British." 

"THE GREATEST HEIST IN MODERN HISTORY BY AWOLOWO AND THE YORUBAS,

KNOWN AS INDIGENIZATION OF FOREIGN COMPANIES IN NIGERIA

"This piece was prompted by what I saw as benign ignorance amongst some of our Ibo folks and because such ignorance is music to the ears of some other people and Yoruba in particular.

In more than one occasion my friends and other Ibo have advanced the argument that if Ibo was that smart, how come Yorubas dominated the commerce industry in Nigeria?

What they meant were the domination of Yoruba in the banking, insurance industries, Coco Cola and some other surviving industries. 

In one particular occasion a friend revealed to me that he recently discovered that the reason why some Yoruba are so wealthy is because they were smart enough to invest their money in corporate stocks and bonds (not realizing that Yoruba actually stolen those corporations) while Ibo is busy engaging in buying and selling. 

The Yoruba will like people to continue to believe that story, that it was because they were smart that they were able to do all these great investments in the commerce industry. 

One relevant question that I always managed to ask my interlocutors is whether they were aware of the indigenization decree of 1972, master minded by Awolowo and the Yoruba and the ramifications of that policy, as will be expected, the answer ranged from, I have heard of it but does not understand what it actually meant to I have not heard of the policy. 

Listening to this ignorance induced perspective from my friends made my heart to skip a beat, realizing that the task of bridging this information gap is not going to be a child’s play. 

What is disconcerting is that some in their benign induced ignorance believe that the effect of indigenization is inconsequential at this time because it happened about forty years ago. 

This piece is therefore for those that are educable and for those that have the capacity to appreciate the magnitude and most importantly for those that can relate that gigantic economic event that reshaped the economic foundation on which Nigerian economy settled on after the British/Biafran war and as well as relate our present economic malaise to that economic foundation engendered by indigenization.

There is no doubt that most people, particularly those that do not have either basic or international economics background are overwhelmed by the subject of INDIGENIZATION OF FOREIGN COMPANIES IN NIGERIA because of their inability to understand the economics of it and the efficacies to make the necessary connections and relate it to the present economic doldrums"  

DELTA RESTATES COMMITMENT TO REVAMP AILING INDUSTRIES …..OGHEAH

                 The Delta State Government has intensified efforts towards revamping the ailing industries so as to create employment for the people of the state.

                     The state Commissioner for Information, Chike Ogeah, esq who stated this in Asaba while briefing the press on the activities of the Economic Advisory Team, emphasised that power supply was very important in the realisation of a robust economy for the state, particularly in the area of reactivating the ailing industries, even as he disclosed that the commissioner for Energy, Charles Emetulu had earlier expressed the readiness of the ministry to partner with the PHCN in power distribution.

                     Mr. Ogeah maintained that the Economic Advisory Team had been mandated to drive all the developmental agenda of the state government, adding that its target was to ensure infrastructural deficit, tackle unemployment through job creation for the youths, secure local investment climate in the state as well as curb corruption among others.

                     He said that ICT would be used as a driving force towards actualising the numerous targets of the team.

                     Mr. Ogeah reiterated that the state was endowed with other means of generating revenue outside oil, saying that the 13% oil derivation had been utilised to achieve its purpose, just as he restated that the ICT Park was an integral part of Delta beyond Oil.

                     The commissioner, who stated that all projects, embarked upon by the state government would be completed in due course, highlighted some of the approved made by the State Executive Council recently to include the establishment of integrated solar waste management facilities to be sited in Asaba and Warri, construction of a swimming pool at the Effurun Garden Park and purchase of properties for the National Open University among few others.

                     While commending the state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan for his administration’s determination to reposition sports in the state, Ogeah said that some of the victorious Team Delta at just concluded Eko 2012, who had been honoured with some cash reward for achieving such a glorious feet would also be given scholarship and employment by the Uduaghan led administration.

Ngige as Man of the People

 

 

                                                                                                      Igboeli  Arinze

Before i delve into the meaty parts of this feature write up, i would like to recount an experience i had while attending a function that had the presence of the quartet of the Senate President, Senator David Mark; the Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi; Former Governor of Anambra State and Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Chris Ngige and his counterpart and also a former governor of the state, Senator Andy Uba. 

The occasion was the Anambra State University’s convocation lecture delivered by the Senate President with the theme as “Democracy and Democratization in Nigeria: The Journey So Far! “ The lecture hall was packed to the full as technocrats, academics and scholars, non academic staff, traditional rulers, students and other notable dignitaries had come to felicitate with ANSU and perhaps drink deep of David Mark's knowledge stream. 

But of course, procedures had to be followed, first came the prayers, then the national anthem, and then the university orator began the ritual of recognizing the university's august visitors. First was the Senate President, who received a loud ovation, the orator then recognized Governor Obi, who y virtue of his office is also the visitor to that university. 

Trust the orator, she wanted to look good before her boss, as you can never know too well how a political office holder might feel about how they have been introduced and so she gave it her best shot, calling the governor several titles and appellations for about a minute and half, Okwute, Honorary this and that, a privilege a more decorated David Mark was not afforded and at the end of it all, our governor got a mild ovation , quite unnatural, as any knowledgeable person might say, but all thanks must go to the verve put in by the orator.  

                 

Then came the turn of Senator Ngige, one could notice the orator's drop in tone, body language and enthusiasm, obviously she had done a good job for our governor, why spoil it by according an opponent of his with the same vigor, tone and style? Perhaps she didn't want to be asked if there could be two governors in a state?

Rambling on the words, "The former Governor of Anambra State", at this stage the hall became silent, the kind of silence that a Buddhist would naturally love, the crowd listened on, awaiting the mention of a name or senatorial zone, since both Ngige and Uba had been addressed as governor at one point in time. Ngige for three and a half years and Uba for a period of 16 days.

Then the words fell out of her mouth “and Senator representing Anambra Central". Alas that was it, the audience cheered and applauded with a mighty noise, Ngige then stood up to acknowledge the cheering as others had done before him and then took his seat but the cheering continued amidst shouts of Onwa!,Onwa! rising in tempo, this caused Ngige to rise up a second time to receive the applause, meanwhile a lady in her mid forties threw caution to the winds as she dashed forward to kiss the Senator's hands, she probably must have been a staff of the university but who cared, she was swept in the euphoria of the moment, like others her joy knew no bounds.

For Obasanjo's Man Friday, Senator Uba got a consolatory applause, now don’t blame him, its not just his thing.

I have taken much pains to paint a picture of how much a people like ours love a politician like Senator Ngige, perhaps I may have rambled a bit or much, forgive me, for you cannot understand such a love, one that is beyond politics, tribe , religion and denomination. Anytime, any day, Senator Ngige is a man of the people.

But what makes Ngige thick? Why Ngige? What are the main attributes of this bearded politician? Answers  anyone?

The ever smiling, diminutive and amiable politician has a grass to respectability story; coming with it is an impeccable civil service record and then a compassion for the common man. If a few had thought that his 2003 - 2006 blaze of glory stint as governor would not be replicated as a senator in the Seventh National Assembly, that the forthrightness, integrity, brilliance and courage which were the hallmarks of  his stewardship then, would simply disappear since he had no Chris Uba and the richa ife nine (Chop and quench in Igbo) gang to deal with this time, I am quite sure that such fellows must be eating their hats now like dear Mr. Grimwig in Charles Dickens Oliver Twist.

As a first time Senator, Ngige has refused to toe the line of first termers who are made to see themselves as being ravaged by the kwashiorkor of ideas, no! I make bold to say that his contributions on the floor of the Senate have been sterling enough, each bearing strong hints of his passion for the ordinary Nigerian. On oversight functions, Senator Ngige has obviously done well again, his input in committees like power and mines, health, education, police, capital markets and constitution review has been well noted by his colleagues in the various committees as well as the leadership of the senate.

On the delivery of the dividends of democracy to his constituents, again it is a plus for Ngige or putting it like this, if these dividends were to be food then Ngige's delivery to the people of Anambra Central is certainly a mouthful.

Starting from the construction of a motorised borehole at Federal Government College Nise coupled with a computer centre for the same school and then on to the construction of three blocks of classrooms in Umunachi, Dunukofia. Another motorised borehole is in Idemili South with five other bore hole projects in Abacha, Ideani,Neni and Ukeh areas. In addition, the Senator has undertaken to site constituency projects via the provision of streetlights to communities within the district. Areas like Nkpor junction, Oyeagu Abagana, Nimo, Ukeh, Obosi, Adazi, Enugu Ukwu, Adazi Nnukwu, Adazi Ani, Nibo, Amawbia, Enugu Agidi, Aguluzigbo and a host of other communities are to benefit from this project.

On the issue of power, one should expect these few skeptics to burn their hands too. As Vice Chairman on Power and Mines, Senator Ngige has certainly been alive to his duties and in that direction has helped to attract certain power projects to the state as a whole. To the glory of God too, the inclusion of Anambra as one of the pilot states to partake in a scheme that seeks to make power outage in these select states a thing of the past is also doing of Senator Ngige.

Projects abound, power stations in Amanuke, Urum, Awka North, Awba Ofemili, Umunachi, Umuoji, Aguleri, Ogidi and Ifitedunu.  This isn't all; there is the construction of 2 by 7.5 MVA injection stations in Idemili South. Installation of 3 by 300 KVA at Isiagu, Amabor, Enuofufe, Amata, Awba Ofemili, Umuchibu, Maternity and Umuosite. Areas like Nnaba and Umunocha are to have constructed a 2 by 300 KVA substattion for each area. Same goes for Umenebo, Nnobi, Eziafakaego, Nawgu, Oba and Ukwulu, which are to enjoy either the construction or installation of 2 by 300 KVA sub stations. Areas like Ndiokpaleke in Orumba, Ugwu Awovu in Enugu Ukwu and Agu Awka are to be rehabilitated, in fact word has it that it was on the senator's prodding that the Energy Commission and other agencies went back to work at the sites mentioned above.

As I speak to you hundreds of students at secondary, tertiary and higher degree levels have been placed on scholarship. Now, if these feats are not laudable then I wonder what is?
 

In the speech that heralded his decision to vie for the senate seat, Senator Ngige's simple submission was to touch the lives of Ndi Anambra again, to transform Anambra State into a land of opportunities and to restore the lost glory to the people of Anambra. In less than two years he has just done more than that.

Finally, statesmen were simply politicians who did ordinary things in an extra-ordinary manner; I reckon that Senator Ngige is fast approaching that mark reserved for titans and quintessential statesmen alike.