*Igbos, Tinubu, and Gowon’s 3Rs Policy after 53 Years*[b][/b]

On behalf of the Igbos and the good people of the South East, we wish to extend our sincere congratulations to our dear president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ‘GCFR’, on your well-deserved victory in the presidential elections of February 25, 2023, under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Subsequently, thereof, your swearing-in and inauguration on May 29, 2023, as the 16th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Your victory in the poll is a clear testament to your visionary and strategic leadership, faith in God Almighty, and perseverance to overcome difficulties. It also shows the unwavering confidence of the Nigerian people in your ability to pilot the affairs of this nation to its full potential as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Indeed, you are a great leader and mentor who has been tested and proven beyond every reasonable doubt to have the requisite capacity to reunify and reshape Nigeria for the better. We say congratulations to Your Excellency.

Your Excellency, Sir, your inaugural speech has set out your administration’s guiding principles of the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law, improved security and stability of the nation, growth and development of the economy, as well as inclusive governance. We commend your forthrightness and proposed action plans towards addressing the issues of insecurity, economy, jobs, agriculture, infrastructure, fuel subsidy, monetary, and foreign policies.

*The Igbos and Gowon’s 3Rs policy*
Subject to the above, we kindly implore you to revisit the South East region, as a peculiar case in the nation’s socio-political history, which requires concerted efforts and leadership. Most of the challenges that bedevil the region are unarguably, post-war ideological views, which influenced the way most Igbos perceive the nation and how others perceive them too, and heightened by ineffective political leadership that grappled the region since the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999.

Moreover, the dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the region worsened the problems, as most contracts awarded to better the lives of the people ended in untold stories. The representatives and politically connected superintended over the affairs of the poor and helpless weak majority. Consequently, poverty, crime, and insecurity exponentially multiplied. With the increasing agitations, the poorly informed aligned with the secessionist groups, while the elites clamor for restructuring to grant autonomy to the geopolitical zones, then, recently, the call for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction.

All these views, therefore, reflect the perception over the years, that the region is arguably the most marginalized in the country in terms of infrastructural development and national inclusiveness. Since the war ended on January 13, 1970, the South East region blame the Federal Government for its failure to implement General Yakubu Gowon’s Reconciliation, Reconstruction, and Rehabilitation (3Rs) policy, which ought to address these issues. Today, the big question south easterners always ask is, what will Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s president do differently?

*The dilemmas of Igbos that campaigned for Tinubu*
For us the progressives and jagabanists, we know you are a visionary and courageous leader, who has shown love, cooperation, and interest in supporting the South East, and indeed other regions of the country, as regards inclusive leadership and development. However, this is not the perception of many, especially the supporters of other political parties in the 2023 general elections.

As members of the Directorate of Media and Publicity, Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the APC, and leaders and promoters of the Renewed Hope Mandate campaigns (online and offline) in the region, we witnessed all forms of abuse from revolting family members, within and across the clans and villages visited. Their reasons are obvious and genuine, escalated by misinformation and disinformation that characterized recent opposition politics.

The South East perhaps witnessed the highest rate of negative perception and severe campaigns of misinformation and disinformation against the APC and her candidates in the 2023 general elections. These were directly connected to several issues, mostly, inadequate communication of government policy actions, programs, and achievements of Buhari’s led APC government, and weak relationship with the electorates. In addition, previous governments launched several poverty alleviation and social empowerment programs, which did not affect the lives of the most expected beneficiaries, especially the grassroots. Many of the party stakeholders and leaders in the region sabotaged the genuine efforts by the loyalists to sensitize and mobilize voters for APC, due to several reasons including diverse political interests and ideology, clash of ego and power tussles, conflict of interest over the campaign funds, etc.

Consequently, the mischievous biased the electorates across tribal, religious, and political sentiments and polarized the democratic landscape. This gave rise to increased electoral violence, disenfranchisement of voters, intimidation, manipulation, and mutilation of election results, as against the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and INEC Guidelines.

In fact, “if you see anyone that supported or voted for APC at the state or national elections from the South East, s/he deserves some presidential recognition; some of us were seen as dissidents and treated with disdain by family members, friends, place of worship, and communities”.

*South East’s expectation from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ‘GCFR’*
Your Excellency, Sir, in line with your vision of “making Nigeria a more perfect nation and democracy such that the Nigerian ideal becomes and forever remains the Nigerian reality”, we the South East caucus of the Directorate of Media and Publicity, PCC, after wide consultations with key stakeholders in the region, herein submit the following for your executive attention.

1. INFRASTRUCTURE:
Since the return to democracy in 1999, the South East region has been roundly sidelined as a beneficiary of the federal government's infrastructural schemes, compared to other regions. Until recently, there had been a minimal federal presence in the region, hence the need for deliberate and decisive inclusiveness of the region. The majority of the federal roads in the region and others linking the constituent states to other regions are in their most deplorable states. For example, the Onitsha-Owerri; Umuahia-Ohafia-Arochukwu; Aba-Port Harcourt, Otukpo-Enugu expressways to mention but a few are all in a horrendous state of abandonment. It is equally imperative to include the South East in the ongoing multi-billion naira railway projects of the Federal Government. The region laments that there is no iota of justification for its exclusion in the ongoing contracts for the construction of new Standard Gauge railway lines, despite the high mobility of the people of the zone who are mostly itinerant traders and skilled workers. Besides, the dawdling pace of the proposed rehabilitation of the Eastern Narrow Gauge Corridor (from Port-Harcourt, Aba, Umuahia, Ishiagu, Enugu, Benue, to Maiduguri), leaves the people hopeless. A good access road/rail network in the South East would therefore be strategic to your vision of increasing the GDP growth and rural incomes, and reduction in unemployment through agricultural hubs, commodity exchange, and value-added processing. Your Excellency, you know and appreciate first-hand the mutually beneficial accord and value-adding contributions of our people to the development of Lagos State.

In addition, recall that you made some promises to Ndi Igbo during your electioneering campaigns in our region wherein you have laid emphasis that your government will establish industrial hubs throughout the South Eastern part of the nation, modernize existing ones, encourage and facilitate greater production in places like Owerri and Aba. At the same time, broaden opportunities for Igbo youths to engage in more international commerce by steering more activity towards ports outside of Lagos such as Onne and another seaport in Calabar. The Owerri-Port Harcourt and Aba-Port Harcourt corridors should be made more lucrative and active trade and manufacturing corridors than they already are currently.

The operationalization of new and existing cargo airports in the region will create millions of jobs and facilitate increased economic development, through increased access to raw materials and exports of agricultural and other local contents and resources at competitive global prices. Air cargo transports over US $6 trillion worth of goods, accounting for approximately 35% of world trade by value, International Air Transport Association (IATA, 2021). In addition, the air transport industry, including airlines and its supply chain, makes major contributions to Nigeria’s economy with about $1.7 billion gross value-added contribution to GDP. The South East has the potential to double the current revenue from cargo airports if commissioned to full potential.

2. THE BUSINESS ECONOMY AND FUNDING:
The Igbos are very hard-working, commercially passionate people. We have contributed significantly to the economy, controlling some strategic areas and building penetrative trading blocs within the country and globally. An average Igbo person wants a favorable economic environment and policies that will facilitate his trades and businesses. There is a need to hearken to the cries of the Igbo business community, who persistently complain about harsh policies seemingly designed for the economic asphyxiation of the Igbos. You have made clear, your firm belief in the entrepreneurial spirit of Ndi Igbo and have encouraged a lot of Igbo businesses and investments in Lagos while as Governor and will even do more as president. During your electioneering processes and engagements in the region, you made some promises hinting at terms of trade and commerce, which is the well-known nomenclature of Ndi Igbo. Your administration has promised to encourage policies to aid commerce and support the South Eastern states to reach their full potential. In your exact words, “If elected, I will address all issues and policies that tend to hinder their commerce and enterprise. I will work with businessmen and women and encourage them to make the South East the Taiwan of Africa,” (The Economic Times, The News Nigeria, November 24, 2022). This includes loans to Igbo businesses with very low-interest rates and mortgage payments for purchases of houses and vehicles.

Ndi Igbo believes that your administration will establish policies that would widen the horizons of south-easterners and expand their business reach both in terms of goods and services and which will widen their geographic reach to new markets, make soft business loans available to upcoming business enterprises, supported by the remodeled road and rail network to enable businesses mobility.

3. ENSURING SPEEDY COMPLETION AND OPERATION OF ONITSHA RIVER PORT:
Your Excellency, the Onitsha River Port was officially opened over three decades ago but has been neglected and virtually abandoned. The recent concession plan by the Federal Government should be effectively implemented. When operational, the Onitsha River Port will facilitate efficient trade within the country through cheaper, easier, and cleaner methods of transporting goods and services. There is a real perception that the river port and the seaports within the Igbo axis are deliberately neglected considering that Lagos seaports are congested since the ports handle over 80 percent of the cargoes that enter and exit the country.

4. MEDIATING INTO IPOB ISSUES AND SEPARATISM:
Your Excellency, there is no doubt that Ndi Igbo are demonstrably committed to the notion of a united and progressive Nigeria, where everyone, irrespective of tribe, religion, or political affiliation is empowered to achieve their full potential. Several leaders have acknowledged that "no one in Nigeria is more nationalistic in thinking than the Igboman", and this is true. There is, therefore, an urgent need to mediate the growing tension in the South East zone flowing directly from the separatist agitations, which themselves are a product of the earlier stated perception of marginalization. The failure of the federal system to properly address the injustice towards the people gave rise to renewed separatist agitations by the people.

You made it clear, Your Excellency, during your electioneering campaign in Ebonyi state, that you will engage the leaders of the South East in a heart-to-heart discussion on all issues agitating their minds on secession and the IPOB demands to secure the release of Nnamdi Kanu and resolve all these issues. In this regard, Your Excellency, dialogue should be initiated as a means to finding a lasting solution and resolving the agitations by the people, giving a listening ear to their grievances thereby giving them a sense of belonging and this will also douse the rising tension and perceived conflict that currently exist between the Igbos and the Yorubas, which started as an offshoot of the last election and is gradually becoming an issue of concern. We wish to make it clear that the Igbos have always been a calm, welcoming, and peace-loving people. This is therefore the work of some misled young individuals who do not understand the long-standing relationship between the Igbos and Yorubas, and indeed other host communities in Nigeria and beyond. Traditionally, the Igbos have always been allies of the Yorubas and this cooperation and peaceful co-existence lends credence to your emergence as governor of Lagos state.

5. EQUITY IN FEDERAL APPOINTMENTS:
Before now, there was a visible imbalance in the political structure of the country, hence the feeling of being treated as second-class citizens. The lopsided appointments in federal positions by the Buhari’s administration were evident and there is a need for true implementation of the Federal Character principle and to ensure that the Igbos are positively involved in the distribution of positions in the military, paramilitary, police, all other security institutions, public service, parastatals, and publicly owned companies. It is worth underscoring that the renewed Igbo cry for Biafra is deeply rooted in perceived injustice and as such is a symbol of the collective deprivation of Ndi Igbo against the system and not a conscious or rational quest for separation.

Your Excellency, appointing Ndi Igbo to your cabinet and key positions will not only foster inclusion but also enable them to make major inputs to positively drive the economy. Accordingly, we are delighted that you appointed an Igbo man, Rear Admiral Ikechukwu Ogalla, the Chief of Naval Staff. This reaffirms your earlier promise that there will be no discrimination as regards appointment and role giving; and the interests of Ndi Igbo will be respected and protected. Moreover, given that even without prompting and in your discretion as the Governor of Lagos State, you appointed Igbos among indigenes of other States, into public positions in your government; we are rest assured that addressing this yawning imbalance in federal appointments against the Igbos will be satisfactorily addressed.

6. CREATION OF ADDITIONAL STATES IN THE SOUTH EAST:
An additional state created from Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Imo, or Ebonyi state is needed to make the South East have six (6) states like other geo-political zones for ease of administration, to promote equity, and enhance development. Being that the South East is the only zone with only five (5) states, an extra state created in the South East, would go a long way to address all the structural injustices and artificial marginalization created against the zone during the military era. It can be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had promised an extra state in the South East to an Ohanaeze Ndigbo delegation that included all South East Governors, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Nnia Nwodo, DIG Hillary Opara (Rtd) amongst others in November 2017, a promise Ndi Igbo and the entire South East still await its fulfillment till today.

We as Ndi Igbo believe that such a Nigeria is still attainable, still possible, and within reach. We believe further that such a Nigeria best accords with the collective Igbo construct of a Nigeria-for-all, where equity, justice, inclusive governance, and merit hold sway. That is the Nigeria the Ndi Igbo aspire to live and flourish in. And, on current form, that is the Nigeria that only you, President Asiwaju Bola Tinubu ‘GCFR’ is capable of delivering.

*In conclusion*
Your Excellency, Sir, we plead that you consider these appeals from the South East as part of the genuine intentions of the Federal Government to reconcile, reconstruct, and rehabilitate the region. Recall a similar request was made to the then Nigerian President Umaru Yar'Adua, and on September 10, 2008, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was created to address the issues of infrastructural development, environmental protection, and empowerment of youths in the oil-rich Niger Delta region.

As the 16th President, we are aware of the need for you to strengthen our institutions, bring the nation together, and revive the struggling economy, therefore, we strongly agree and “with full confidence in your ability, these things are within our proximate reach because you are Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

These deep convictions of renewed hope are once again strengthened by your democracy day national broadcast, that “democracy will yield right dividends to shareholders, not just freedom of choice and right to get people into elective offices, but also social and economic justice for our people”. We pledge unwavering loyalty to your strategic policies, such as the removal of fuel subsidy, “to save our country and resources from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements”.

We pray to God Almighty for renewed moral strength and clarity of purpose to confront the internal and external threats to our democracy.

For the South East Region, on behalf of the South East caucus of the Directorate of Media and Publicity, Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC).


Chief Dr. George Agbakahi
Political Affairs Analyst
(South East Leader, Tinubu Support Organization and Member, Directorate of Media and Publicity, PCC, APC. Also, Chairman, Imo State Media and Publicity Committee, APC).

Dr. Faustinus Chinedu Ilo
Strategic Leadership Expert
(Member, Tinubu Support Group, and Member, Directorate of Media and Publicity, PCC, APC. Also, Chairman, Enugu State Media and Publicity Committee, APC).

This guy go collect now, them go soon the drag am. Wait and see. Ahswear this episode long