As the sun shines brighter at the east and sets dimmer in the west; home will always be the best. Home is where the heart is and therein is the treasure. The World Igbo Congress (WIC) is an entity which has been nurtured through the years just like Igbo People’s Congress (IPC), have matured to what it is today. WIC may have noble intentions, with their humongous treasures buried in the south eastern region of Nigeria, but their home seems to be in Diaspora – United States of America. This ambiguity with a shade of abnormality gingers a need for rethinking.

After another convention which ended September 4, 2006 in Boston, this body which some of their objectives are: to unify Ndi-Igbo everywhere; promote, protect and advance Igbo culture and civilization, promote progress and development in Ala-Igbo, promote and cultivate political awareness and civic responsibility among Ndi-Igbo, etc. has really come of age. However, its activities have shown to be more for the Igbo elites and its impact nominal in continental Igbo land. What explanation could be given that an organization which supposedly should be an umbrella for all Ndi-Igbo (both those in continental Africa and Diaspora); since its inception in Houston, Texas has had all its conventions in United States of America. One should start asking; where are the bulk population of Ndi-Igbo? Are they all living in United States of America or at the south eastern region of Nigeria? While kudos should be given to WIC for propagating the interest of Igbo internationally and sending echoes around the globe for the socio-economic advancement of Ndi-Igbo, they should think inwardly on how to get the common man in Igbo land involved. The only way to achieving that would be by hosting some of their annual conventions in various towns in south eastern region of Nigeria.

In the tone of the old school rhyme that says; summer is the season when students are so merry with a long vacation; for Igbo elites, politicians, nouveau riches and every person of substance, summer is the period to converge or retreat into ‘Camp David’ in United States under the canopy of World Igbo Congress. While WIC has provided a cornucopia for the rich and powerful to retreat in America and renew their contacts with the hope of advancing the Igbo course. But to millions of grass root Igbo in Nigeria, little or nothing is known about this Hercules of international symbolism. This is due to little or no impact WIC has made in the local Igbo communities. Even with the numerous teething problems buffeting ‘Ohaneze’ which if not well handled will lead to its demise, ‘Ohaneze’ an Igbo think tank has a wider grass root acceptance than WIC. Today, it seems that the beleaguered ‘Ohaneze’ and the elites are depending on the strength of WIC to resurrect the crawling remnant of the Igbo aspirations within the realm of political survival in the polity of Nigerian terrain.

It costs about $300,000 to organize an annual World Igbo Congress convention in American cities. The Igbo attendees that come from all corner of the globe spend close to $4m dollars annually to grace the convention. Yearly American cities where these conventions are held receive big economic boost. While it is good to support international friendship; imagine what good it will do to the people of Enugu, Imo, Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Delta and any other Nigerian states, if the sum of $4m dollars and more are injected into their revenue through the annual convention of WIC. WIC would not only have helped in the economic development of the people she claims to speak for , but also will generate awareness among the grass roots who are the prime reason for the existence of that body. After all, charity should begin at home.

The gathering of the Ndi-Igbo during the conventions organized by WIC has drawn more towards building political blocs and seeking for panacea to heal the wounds of the marginalization of the Igbo people in Nigeria political system. It falls on the Igbo to work themselves vigorously back into the Nigerian political system by presenting themselves trustworthy, united, staunch, willing and ready. The generality of the work to achieve these tasks falls on the Igbo politicians, elites and chieftains. No other body but WIC seems more organized to foster this action. As important as this may be, WIC has not come out with structures – political, economic and social that would reinvigorate the collapsing foundations of her people and position them for the new trend.

Swami Vivekananda, a 19th century Hindu holy man, once said that every nation has a "special genius" and that of India’s is religious devotion. For the Igbo’s, theirs are tenacity and patience . Those characteristics should be transformed into action if the Igbo should become relevant in the political navigation of Nigeria. Unfortunately, the general claim has been that the Igbo have been marginalized by the federal government of Nigeria, but internally the Igbo elites, politicians and the rich have in various ways marginalized their own people and that is the worst.

This could be a proper time for the evangelism, revival and salvation of this ethnic group who have been dubbed the "Jews of Africa’. How correct this is, only time will tell. There’s an urgent need for the Igbo to have an agenda which is democratic in nature and shun its misconstrued republicanism. The political image of the Igbo man in Nigerian psyche should be rebuilt. When an Igbo man or politician is asked: Got a brother to betray? And his answer is No, then all other regions of Nigeria will have no reason not to give massive support to the much sort Igbo presidency which has remained elusive for now and which is one of the major concerns of World Igbo Congress.

Sunny Oputa is a Senior Fellow and a Political Analyst on Nigerian Affairs at Afripol.Org

The government of Anambra State, Nigeria and Access Bank a local financial institution have recently lunched 2.5 Billion Naira microfinance project. This is good news coming from Anambra State that is bedeviled with high unemployment and capital flight.  “Access Bank Plc, a Nigerian commercial bank, has agreed to work with the Anambra state government to launch the state’s first microfinance scheme, by providing an equivalent of USD 16.5 million to selected microfinance institutions (MFIs) within the month. State Governor Peter Obi plans to set up workshops at the local government level throughout the state, in order to monitor progress and train operatives on “effective operation of the scheme.”  The petty traders and small scale merchants can get small loans based on their worthiness of character without the conventional collateral and security.

Access Bank and Anambra State must be applauded for this important project. The issues of credit and liquidity availability are the major problems confronting small business in Anambra State and Nigeria. It is not news that the people of Anambra State are business orientated with industrious and enterprising spirit. But issue of finance can become a hindrance in starting and sustaining a business venture. Therefore with the presence of micro financing the lines of credit will become avaliable to the serious merchants and traders in the state.

Governor Peter Obi “has also organized a committee, consisting of himself, representatives of the Access Bank, the Central Bank of Nigeria, microfinance bank operators, and others, who will oversee the program. The criteria for taking out a loan are not based on assets or collateral, but on “proven good character of the borrower.” The MFIs receiving funds are restricting the maximum amount that can be loaned to an individual to be equivalent to USD 3,294.”

The problems of unemployment do contribute to kidnapping and armed robbery phenomenon in the state. The youths and young men must be encouraged to start small businesses and they can be persuaded to attend trade schools. Guarantees must be given to the youths that loans and credits must be extended to them at the completion of the trade schools. This can help to curtail delinquency and idleness among some of our youths who are likely to engage in criminal behaviors. The micro financing scheme can become a possibility in fighting crimes and unemployment in the state. But we must be careful not to over stretch the project for government does not necessarily create jobs but formulate policies with enabling environment that makes job creation possible by the private sector. The prime reason for the micro financing is to provide the needed credits to small and petty traders who do not have the collateral and expertise to get loans from commercial banks.

The chairman of the State Committee on Microfinance, Mr. Eze Echesi is capable of doing a good job for the people of Anambra State. Echesi have to assemble a committee of experts and technical advisers from all walks of life especially traders and merchants to aid him in implementing and running a successful micro financing entity. The Governor of the State Peter Obi who is a successful businessman can be of a great help and adviser to the chairman of the project.

The great thing about micro financing is the ability to directly work with the people at the grassroots; the regular day-to-day traders on the street corners and at village market place. The women in Eke market of Umuoji or Nkwo market of Nnewi and similar towns are the reasons that brought about micro financing in the first place and they are the ones that need credit to run their tiny and mini-business outlets. The danger with the project is that it can become a patronage to favor political ally and well connected in the state. This can be a major problem associated with government involvement. The government joint partner with a commercial bank can become deterrence to such a self-defeating purpose.

A major barrier that might delay the dispensing of a loan is the evaluation and quantification of credit worthiness of the borrower. Most of the petty traders are semi-literates and are not keen to record keepings and documentation of daily transactions.  The issues of logistic and location must comes into play therefore the managers of the project must go to the customers, for some of these traders do not have reliable transportation and fares to go to the offices of the loan management. Mass media enlightenment becomes imperative to educate the traders on awareness of the program.

Anambra State government must set benchmarks with deadlines on the project. The government must set a goal and purpose especially what they intend to accomplish with the scheme in next 5- 10 years with regards to business creation and reduction of unemployment in the state. The micro financing cannot be cosmetic and superficial but realistic and pragmatic venture with promising affirmative results to ameliorate the wellbeing of citizens of Anambra State.

Vox populi, vox Dei – The voice of the people is the voice of God. Governor Peter Obi has been reelected and the victory goes to the people of Anambra State of Nigeria, whom inspite of the obstacles turned out to elect the candidate they believed in. In a free society, power comes from people and the people have spoken.  Democracy is about the market of ideas and the person that is able to convince the electorate wins the election.

This is a fresh and new mandate for Peter Obi; obviously he was distracted in his term with interrupted impeachment and trials. But with this victory the people have spoken and empower him to lead them for the next four years. This is not time for revenge or resting in his laurels but an opportunity to complete what he has started. A time for hard work; A time to talk less but definitely a time for action and to deliver the promises he made to the voters. The people put their destiny and trust in the hands of Governor Obi and he must reciprocate by doing the people’s business.

The possibility that Anambra State might live up its motto: The light of the Nation – is emerging. The politics of Anambra State might spearhead the revitalization of Nigeria’s polity. Let’s get this right, nobody is saying that the election was a utopia without hitches. But far from the truth, this is the best so far and this is a good beginning. There was absence of violence and intimidation at the polling stations. Although there were some hiccups especially with the absence of names of the voters together with the lateness of some of the polling stations. But we can make a fair assessment by generally saying that election was credible. Yet there remains a room for improvement, as this can become a foundation to build on. The INEC can learn from this as a case study as they get ready for the 2011 general election.

Governor Peter has to be humble at his victory and he is a thoughtful person. He should extend his hands of amity to his competitors and invite them to aid in building a great state. The campaigns and election are over and time to start planting crops has come! There are many challenges, problems and opportunities in our state. Governor Obi has to take the bulls by its horns and live up to the expectation and mandate from the people.

There are numerous problems in the Anambra State which begs for leadership and pragmatism. First and foremost, he must tackle issue of kidnapping and armed robbery enterprise. The most important function of a government is the protection of life and property. The governance must be creative in arresting unemployment that is culprit to the criminal behaviors. Public sector does not necessarily create jobs but formulate policy and liberalize environment that enable private sector to create jobs.

The pressing issues of erosion gullies must be confronted before it reclaim a sizeable landmass of the Anambra State. This is a serious matter and must treat as such without politicization and polarization from the federal government. The proliferation of water boreholes is not the panacea to paucity of safe drinking water. The new government must embark on provision of tap water in the rural and urban centers. The digging of the soil for water wells might increase the vulnerability of the soil to erosion. The underground water might be exposed to the toxic and hazardous nature-occurring materials which is carcinogenic.

Let us not forget Onitsha the commercial nerve center of Anambra state and indeed Nigeria. During the campaign Obi promise to transform Onitsha to a functional city; Yes! We must hold him to his promise. The management of solid waste collection and disposal in the city must be upgraded. The littering must be controlled with reliable best management practice. The new government must institute a modern sewage treatment plant and operations not just in Onitsha but in the rest of the state. The state may not have the adequate resources for all the projects but the most intrinsic social capital is the political will.

Due to inefficiency of the electric power authority, neighborhoods at nights were engulfed with coagulated darkness: Therefore the street lights of Anambra State especially Awka and Onitsha should be powered with inexpensive solar panels.

The people of Anambra State have suffered long enough in the hands of poor leadership and mismanagement. This is the time for liberation. With the support and loyalty of the people, Governor Peter Obi is capable of delivering and this is the beginning of a new day.     May God Bless Anambra State, Nigeria!