Ikwo: A Story of Political Influence, Economic Neglect – NCN

A recent social media post by Nwoba Chika Nwoba, a native of Ekpelu in Ikwo and one of the topmost Southeast Social Media influencers, has sheds light on the contradictions of Ikwo Local Government Area.

“Ikwo is the political powerhouse of Ebonyi State… but it’s the third underdeveloped or even underdeveloped local government in Ebonyi State,” Nwoba wrote.

Despite producing top government officials, including a governor, deputy governor, ministers, ambassadors, and other top officials, Ikwo lacks basic infrastructure and development.

“Ikwo has produced governor, deputy governor, ministers, ambassadors, and other top officials… but it lacks basic infrastructure and development,” Nwoba said.

Nwoba emphasized that political appointments are not enough, stressing the need for equitable distribution of opportunities and wealth.

“Political appointments don’t mean empowerment. They’re two different things. Bringing all of your people into government is a precursor for creating a community of lazy people who soon become poor,” he wrote.

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Ikwo local government area of Ebonyi State is the political powerhouse of Ebonyi State as it’s the largest LGA in the state with extra large 20 political wards and staggering landmass. After Afikpo, Ikwo immediately follows when it comes to education and civil service. It’s the highest when it comes to presence of institutions of higher education with the presence of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ebonyi State College of Education which now has been given a university status, a private polytechnic and other colleges. It’s the rice headquarters of Ebonyi. It has the greatest and best sand beaches in the state. It has quantum of solid mineral deposits including a suspected presence of crude oil at a village called Acharaukwu in my town.

Ikwo has produced governor for 8 good years in the person of Chief Martin Elechi with four sub-governors. After that within same timeline, Ikwo produced deputy governor in the person of Barr Kelechi Igwe, PhD for 8 unbroken years. Ikwo produced a Minister of Culture and Tourism during Obasanjo in the person of Frank Ogbuewu. Within same time frame, it produced another Minister in the person of Lawrence Nwuruku. Ikwo immediately produced Nigerian ambassador to Mexico. Ikwo produced another ambassador to Greece. Ikwo produced another ambassador to Argentina in the person of Jonah Mkpuruka. Ikwo produced a one time Accountant General of the Federation of Nigeria. It produced the INEC national commissioner representing South East. Currently, Ikwo has the Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly and another powerful office, Attorney General. Ikwo produced wife of the serving governor. In the order of judicial hierarchy, the next Chief Judge of Ebonyi State is an Ikwo man. These have happened from 1999 to this day.

But Ikwo is the third underdeveloped or even underdeveloped local government in Ebonyi State. It only tops Ezza North and Ishielu. This underscores my message that it’s not about holding tight to power. One good power person is better than having hundreds who are naive. This also underscores the fact that political appointments don’t mean empowerment. They’re two different things. Bringing all of your people into government is a precursor for creating a community of lazy people who soon become poor. Solution is that there should be equitable distribution of fortunes and opportunities. There should be created, institutions that’ll encourage skill, talents and circulation of wealth. If it’s not institutionalized, then it’s a placebo. The major sickness is still there.

NCN.