THE SPIRIT OF BIAFRA: The Igbo Renaissance

Historical accounts of the Nigerian Civil War give a glimpse of the colossal failure the Biafran Republic could have been if Ojukwu won. Many experts agree that Biafra would be destabilized by counter-revolts, coups, and insurgencies arising from competition for power by the different sub-Igbo groups, and marginalization of the non-Igbos coopted into the defunct Biafra. Igbos are historically good at managing their individual/families' businesses and communal governance within smaller areas. A history of substantive cultural intelligence of centralized governance is missing. Unlike the Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba, Kanuri, and Benin in Nigeria, Igbo societies have historically existed as fragmented autonomous communities connected by agreements, oaths, totems, and other forms of kinships. The cultural intelligence of centralized governance must be learned first, before considering whether to/not to secede. Hence, as late Prof Chukwuemeka Ike rightly opines, the Pan-Biafra groups should first demand good governance from their state governors and local council chairpersons. Good governance should include providing frameworks/incentives for Igbos from all over the world to invest profitably in development ventures like the construction of railways, and sea and air ports, manufacturing, business/holiday resorts, internet data farms, and mining (Igbo) cryptocurrencies, etc., in the homeland. Consensuses achieved in doing business together successfully will naturally overflow into consensuses in national and global politics. Igbos can dominate the political economy of not just Nigeria but several other countries where they are currently major economic players.

Prof. Uwem Essia is an economist with many years of teaching, research, and consulting experience in economics, the management sciences, and related human development fields. He is currently engaged in private studies and publishing.