Anambra Gov. Poll: How Peter Obi won
By JAMES ODENIGBO with CHUKS EHIRIM (in Awka)
ANAMBRA State Governor Peter Obi lived up to his Biblical first name, which means 'stone' in ionic Greek, as he secured a historic victory in the governorship election held last Saturday February 6th.
Obi who has unwittingly become a veteran of many battles not only defeated his formidable opponents but also broke the second term jinx in the annals of the state's governorship poll... FULL STORY...
Smuggling groups takeover Lagos suburb
By EMEKA IBEMERE
THE losing battle the country is currently waging against corruption among its uniform men has again reared its ugly head in the guise of some men of the Nigerian Customs, who have been fingered as the brains behind a thriving smuggling ring in the Lagos metropolis surburb of Iba.FULL STORY...
Fraud allegations:Ohakim beats up whistle-blower
By DICKSON OMONODE












WHISTLE blower on Imo Governor, Ikedi Ohakim's alleged misdeeds, Samuelson Ikenna Iwuoha claims been brutally assaulted personally by the State's Chief Executive Officer for daring to soil his name. The no-holds-barred critic of Ohakim's government, who has authored over 340 articles bearing allegations of fraud going on in the Imo State government House.
Under siege from the Government House security for a long time, Samuelson's recent ordeal, sources say is allegedly FULL STORY...


NEWS

• Jonathan's presidency :NANS gives Yar'Aadua 14-day ultimatum
• Jos crisis latest: Senator makes case for state of emergency
• Ekwunife leads the pack in opinion poll
• Late Pa Ozurumba buried
• DTSG commiserates with Esiri family
• Don't allow PDP to truncate democracy, ANPP urges Nigerians
• Graham Douglas cautions FEC on Yar'Adua
• Nigeria is not among guinea worm-free countries –Osotimehin
• Gov. Ohakim accused of tearing PDP apart
• FCT minister frowns at delay of cases in courts
• Rep awards scholarship to indigent students
• Rainstorm kills boy, 5, in Jesse
• FG blamed for incessant religious crisis in North
• Candidates poised for peace pact
• Gov Sheriff approves N44.4m for Borno pensioners
• Katsina prays for Yar'Adua
• PDP stalwart harps on peace for dev.
• Council boss warns against rumour mongering
• 2011: No exclusive claim to Osun governorship –Liad Tella
• TUC tasks FG on protracted fuel crisis
• Muslim Forum condemns Jos crisis
• Aganbi backs Uduaghan for 2011
• CAN disburses N2m to christian victims of Boko Haram insurgence in Borno
• Youths cautioned on negative acts
• Utomi blasts Nigerian leaders
• EFCC partners Microsoft
• NIJ graduates for NYSC scheme
• Yar'Adua's absence has stalled amnesty agenda –Bayelsa Group
• Asa people send SOS to Abia govt on kidnapping
• GLO spearheads cost reduction for GSM service
• Revenue Board plans clampdown on tax defaulters
• Ahead 2011: Ikonne declares for AC
• Farmers now enjoy 60per cent subsidy on fertilisers
• Oshiomhole decries marginalisation of voters
• BASG hands over Specialist Hospital to FG
• Monarch leads protest against insecurity in Edo
• Jos Crisis: Plateau youths reject FG's Committee
• Plateau indigenes flee Bauchi on reprisal attacks
• Auchi Poly expels four students
• PDP felicitates with Oyinlola at 59
• South South Assembly supports Jonathan Presidency
• Group drums support for Angozi
• Gov. Ohakim, Imo lawmakers on war path
• Gov. Amaechi goes tough on land speculators
• NGO tasks Senate on Yar'Adua's impeachment
• FMC embarks on rural health care programme
• Gov Sheriff's plan on new emirates receives stiff opposition
• Yar'Adua: TSAV, CNPP, others commend Akunyili

Relating Stories

Trends

• It's hard making a decision between my IT job and Nollywood— Uru Eke
• The girls called Ammunition
• Basketmouth marketing his show like bank shares
• Temitayo thanks God for answered prayers
• T.W.O.'s Cupid Ball keeps lovers guessing
• Tuface becomes double chief
• Nollywood Blings On Night 2010 set to go
• I Stand Rejected (2)
• Introduction to the African Tiger Strategic Development Agenda

Introduction to the African Tiger Strategic Development Agenda

French philosopher Frantz Fanon (1925-1961) once said that “each generation must out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfil it or betray it.” Like Fanon said, the greatest mission that beckons the Igbo of the present generation remains the rapid development of their native lands by any means necessary. It is a divine mission that stands in great need of fulfilment. Therefore in furtherance of those objectives, the Igbo Council of Europe on the 30th of November 2007 constituted a work-group to understudy the present-day social, political, and economic malaise bedevilling the Igbo nation with a view to proffering practical, common sense solutions. It is thus, with great faith in God that we present these observations and recommendations in what we hope would incite the needed paradigm shift that would engender the exploitation and maximisation of the abundant human and material resources in aggressive industrialisation and modernisation of Igboland.

Since the cessation of hostilities and particularly in the last decade, many have become increasingly alarmed at the increasingly dwindling fortunes of the Igbo in all facets of national life. The Nigerian state has remained unrelenting in the deprivation and marginalization of the Igbo, and many amongst the Igbo have themselves become willing tools in helping to advance and actualise the agenda of subjugation by the Nigerian state.

The consequence is that a new cult of disunited, and mendicant Igbo political class who have no sense of history has been foisted on the Igbo public by outside forces, desirous of perpetually arresting the development of the Igbo nation. As a direct consequence, no unified strategic plan for the development and advancement of the Igbo nation exists and schemes to creatively exploit the abundant human resources within the Igbo nation that has served to develop places far away from Igbo land is yet to be initiated.

The federal government has locked the East out of every critical infrastructure that could have helped in maximising the abundant potentials that exist in the area, create millions of jobs and stem migration. It has therefore become increasingly urgent that the Igbo undertake certain extraordinary self help measures to create an industrial capacity in the East that can aid her self sufficiency.

The Nigerian state has, owing to the excesses of successive leaders continued to fail, but the Igbo need not fail along with Nigeria. It is possible with a little bit of vision and leadership to create an oasis of prosperity in a desert of despair. Progress has many friends, while failure is an orphan. Once we begin to take the giant strides of development, we will compel the respect of both our friends and enemies. Ours has been a tragic history, which makes it all the more urgent to create a capacity for self sufficiency in the East. As a distinct people who constitute one of the three single largest black African cultures and ethnic groups we stand challenged to succeed. Our destiny and future is in our own hands.

It is thus as a response to the plight of the Igbo nation that the Igbo Council of Europe has decided to intervene at this great historical juncture to seek to provide ideas and solutions for the construction of a cohesive and mega-prosperous Igbo nation. We also stand ready to partner in the mobilisation of the millions of Igbo in the Diaspora who constitute a core and strategic arm of the Igbo nation that can play a critical role in fund raising, provision of expertise and skilled manpower in the economic development plan.