Really? I cannot imagine a situation where a northerner, no matter how well intentioned and well educated, will shine the light so that Ndigbo will see the way. Ndigbo lead (not rule), others follow. That's the way it is.
It has been over seventeen years since General Abdulsalam Abubakar, representing the rump of a long line of northern dominated military regimes, finally threw in the towel by allowing a close ally and former colleague, Olusegun Obasanjo, to take over the mantle of office as an elected civilian President. Forget Anambra State and the South-East. Since then for every complaint about the deprivation and neglect of Igboland, my response has been to point out that whatever the South or Igboland lost, has strangely not benefitted the north. Herein lies the true tragedy of our underdevelopment.
An underdeveloped north has presented a myriad of problems to Ndigbo. If only half of the northern kids currently out of school are captured into the school system, perhaps 500,000 new teachers will be required from the South. In short, jobs for southerners. A vast majority will have to come from Igboland since as at now the South-East is involved in filling the gap in Lagos and environs.
Igbo entrepreneurs, traders, craftsmen, professionals, etc, would prefer a much larger middle class in the north, which will result from increased access to education, income equality and the investment by northerners themselves in economic activities across the entire spectrum. Currently the northern elite are happy sitting on the fence. This is unacceptable.
The above scenario represents but a part of the Eldorado that Northern Nigeria can become. It goes without saying that the Almajiri and its other offshoots like Boko-Haram can then be a thing of the past. Ndigbo have for decades looked outside their homestead for investment opportunities. For this they have been praised and also derided especially by other Nigerians who do not possess the temperanent to risk anything outside their immediate hamlets. I know a few Igbo entrepreneurs, (they are few indeed, but the number is growing), who have sworn never again to invest outside Igboland. Can anyone blame them?
I have written elsewhere, quoting Shakespeare, "Sweet are the use of adversity, . . " Is it not strange that it has taken this long for former Military Head of State, Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar, to make such a high profile visit to Anambra State, specifically to Nnewi? There is confusion in the north and in Abuja. Hunger and starvation in the North-East. The wolf is among the chicken! Nobody seems to know what to do.
Ndigbo will develop Nigeria without any preconditions, but first Nigeria has to let it. I wish that the general will honestly confess about "the road not taken," and with his kinsmen, vow to make amends. Otherwise they will still live in their gilded hill-top mansions, with executive jets at their beck and call, but sadly with poverty, ignorance and disease as their neighbours and constant companions. That was exactly what I tried to put across when I responded to President Buhari's query, WHAT DO NDIGBO WANT?. Stop clipping our wings. Allow us to fly. Nigeria will be better for it. This is NOT a call for Biafra. The validity or otherwise of that agitation has nothing to do with the above analysis. It should stand on its own merit.
To conclude, I will say this to the old general, "Physicia heal thyself!" Your nice sentiments are most welcome, but it will profit this polity the more if you spend more time challenging your free loading and indolent brethren. Of course we have their equivalents down south, but thankfully, they do not predominate. I may sound harsh but I have no apologies. That is what Nigeria needs at this time. It is indeed a major achievement that everybody now recognises that Nigeria is broke. May the price of oil remains low for another ten years. Yes, quote me. That is my prayer.
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