The organiser of In-depth Analysis was asking question why the Eastern Region is not developed as other regions in Nigeria; here is my answer to his question. Let me stop you there, In-depth Analysis! If you were a student of business and management, you would have understood that “infrastructure” is the key to the development of any sort. Building roads, airport and sea port are not the responsibility of individuals; it is the responsibility of the federal government. In addition to the absence of enabling infrastructures in the East, the army and the police disrupt daily business activities by causing traffic and extorting people. In some cases in the East, commuters are forced to disembark from their vehicles to walk through the checkpoints. The East is militarily occupied and hindering progress on business activities! Going to the East, the road from Lagos, the sea port or airport, is so bad that goods damaged on transit. Imo Airport was built by the Igbos without federal government support but the federal government has refused to upgrade it to international report; if that happens, no one from the East would stop in Lagos. The east has Atlantic ocean just as the west, why not support the development of enabling infrastructures?

However, the business investments that support the East are owned by the Igbos. Their is no federal government investment in the East. People argue blindly, and I am telling you as a teacher of business and management that the federal infrastructures that enable business growth and development are missing in the East, and the federal government knows about it. The East is not asking anyone to come to develop their region for them; we are just asking the federal government of Nigeria to build necessary infrastructure as they did in the north and in the west. So, ask the federal government the reason why these infrastructures are not present in the East. The Igbos have done their best and are continuing to do there best but tell the federal government to use the money they earn from the East to build enabling infrastructures for the east to develop their region. The Igbos have individually invested to develop their region more than others have invested in their regions. Just look at how other regions enjoy modern railway lines but the East has nothing. To add salt to injury, the police and the army occupy the roads of the east, making it very difficult to travel or to transport goods to the east. The television and radio stations in Nigeria are always interviewing the wrong people, those with limited knowledge; ask some of us who know to tell you the truth based on knowledge. Now you have got your answer from me, what is your next question?

Nigerians hear the Igbos complain and pretend that they do not understand what is happening in Nigeria. The organiser of In-depth Analysis may pretend or may not know that there would be no meaningful development in any country or region without business enabling infrastructures. The north and the west connive to keep the east out of strategic positions of decision making, and when they do, it is always those who seek for crumbs that they pick so that they can be controlled. The East is actually marginalised and Nigerians know it or pretend not to know. The Igbos have done their best for their people by investing their meager earnings for their people to gain employment and earn a living. The organisers of the television channels and media establishments in Nigeria pretend that they do not know the truth. What Nigerians see in politics are just less than 1% of the Igbos who wants to earn a living by picking crumbs from the corridor of power. Now, people like Peter Obi is there, do you see the combined efforts by the elites of the north and the west to prevent him from becoming Nigerian president; even 2023 was robbed from him! Whatever anyone may say about the Eastern region, the truth is that the Igbos are collectively investing in their region and will continue to invest to help their people to earn a living instead of begging. Let the federal government of Nigeria do what they are supposed to do for the people and for the development of the East. We are not begging them, we are asking them to give us our rights! The marginalisation of Eastern Region is real, and Nigerians know it, and majority pretend that they do not know. Gradually, they the Igbos will double their efforts and in the next twenty (20) years, the difference would be clear. Carry on Nigerians, the Igbos would be free one day!

My name remains Oguchi Martins Egbujor, your messenger of truth. We are born into the Eastern region and we are proud and happy that we are born into the region. The world knows that the Igbos have the capacity and by the grace of God, we will attain development with time; he who has ear let him hear!