05/08/2025
THE IGBO ELITES DO NOT BELIEVE IN ALA-IGBO
A wake-up call to our generation
Let’s tell ourselves the truth:
The current generation of wealthy Igbo elites politicians, businessmen, and public figures will not develop Ala-Igbo. Not because they hate the SouthEast, but because they lack the one thing required to build a homeland which is sacrifice rooted in ethnic solidarity.
They are driven more by profit than purpose. They prefer chasing quick returns in Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, and even abroad, rather than committing to the slow, difficult, and visionary work of rebuilding the Southeast from the ground up.
Most of them are not wired for delayed gratification. They are not ready to invest in a place where they must first build the system before benefiting from it.
The Excuse: Insecurity
Whenever you ask them why they don’t invest in the East, the answer is predictable: insecurity.
But these are the same men who dine and do business with the politicians and powerbrokers responsible for fixing the insecurity. Yet, they never use their influence to hold them accountable.
Why?
Because, deep down, many do not want the insecurity solved.
Insecurity has become the perfect excuse to justify their disconnection from Ala-Igbo.
If peace returns tomorrow, they’ll have no justification left for abandoning their roots.
When there’s violence or injustice against Ndi Igbo be it in the North, West, or even at home most of our so-called elites remain silent. And on the rare occasion they speak, it is often to blame their own people or defend outsiders.
They wear isi agu and shout “Igbo Kwenu!” at cultural events, but when it comes to standing up for Ala-Igbo, they disappear.
They celebrate the culture but reject the responsibility.
They attend New Yam Festivals but won’t invest in agriculture in Ala Igbo instead we celebrate with yams grown in Taraba and Benue.
They visit the village every December but won’t build a single industry there.
This abandonment has real consequences:
• Our young people are unemployed and hopeless.
• Frustration is now fueling extremism and secessionist movements.
• Every election season, we are insulted with “Go back to Anambra.”
• Our best minds are developing other regions and countries, while our own land remains underdeveloped.
Let the truth be told: Too many Igbo elites see Ala-Igbo as a place to be buried, not a place to build.
But There Is Hope
As someone who relocated from the United States back to Enugu, I’ve seen the opportunities firsthand. The land is rich with potential land, talent, agriculture, tourism, logistics, and now digital enterprise.
That’s why I am putting my faith in the younger generation especially the Igbo Diaspora those who understand the power of the internet, digital assets, remote work, and global entrepreneurship.
If you’re a young Igbo person making money online or in the Diaspora don’t repeat the mistake of our fathers.
Build differently. Think long-term. Invest in your roots. Let your success empower Ala-Igbo.
Here’s what we must begin doing, now:
1. Start Local Investments:
Buy land. Set up a small factory. Open a training center. Do it in your village, your town, your LGA.
2. Build Digital Wealth from Ala-Igbo:
Work remotely. Learn tech. Sell services online while living in the East.
3. Mentor or Empower Youths Locally:
Sponsor skills training, remote job placements, or digital literacy programs.
4. Fund What the Government Won’t:
Streetlights, roads, clinics, and internet centers. Our people are doing it in other regions why not here?
5. Create a 5-Year Ala-Igbo Investment Pledge:
No major capital deployed outside the Southeast for the next five years. Invest at home first.
We Must Be the Generation That Builds
The truth is painful, but we must face it:
• The current elite class is too compromised to lead this rebirth.
• Many are lost in greed and political calculations.
• The future now rests on those of us who still believe Ala-Igbo is worth fighting for.
We are the bridge between what Ala-Igbo is and what it can become.
If we don’t act, no one will.
This is not just a call. It’s a challenge.
Until new minds rise, Ala-Igbo will remain a homeland without true economic development.
Let us be the believers who will sacrifice for growth of Ala Igbo.
Our Father's land is begging for our believe, commitment and action.
Gaius Chibueze is the Chairman Founder Eastside Ventures/Voice Of The East
Promoter MAIGA-MAKE ALA IGBO GREAT AGAIN!
©️Gaius Chibueze
