In 1964 the World Bank named Eastern Nigeria the fastest growing regional econ­omy on earth

History 601

--

In 1964 the World Bank named Eastern Nigeria the fastest growing regional econ­omy on earth. At the time of this assess­ment, Eastern Nigeria was made up of the present five states of the South East, plus four out of the present six states of the South South. Reason for the assessment was that in 1964, Nigeria was the world’s largest producer and exporter of palm oil and palm kernel. Above 90 per cent of the palm oil and palm kernel came from Eastern Nigeria. Nigeria was the world’s largest producer of cassava. Above 60 per cent of Nigeria’s cassava was produced in Eastern Nigeria. By 1964, garri, yam and palm oil from Eastern Nigeria were sold in South Africa, Great Britain and the United States. Coal mining had reached commercial production and Eastern Nige­ria had started making money from Nige­ria’s coal export. By 1964 the Eastern Ni­geria Development Corporation (ENDC) was Eastern Nigeria’s next highest em­ployer of labour after the regional govern­ment itself; producing high quality garri, rice, vegetable oil, fresh eggs, frozen fish, frozen chicken, frozen beef, frozen pork and pork sausages, for domestic distribu­tion and export.

--

Read it again, this was before crude oil so all the non Igbo speaking parts of the then Eastern Region that believe the Igbos need your oil should understand that our people were on the world map as regards economic development before crude oil.

Yet, crude oil was first found in places like present day Ebonyi, Enugu, Anambra and of course Imo and Abia about 40 years before oil was discovered in present day Bayelsa state.

So, if without crude oil the Igbos could achieve this record what makes you think they won't achieve more with the crude oil in Igbo land?

Did you notice what they said concerning coal? The coal in Enugu will banish darkness and provide 24hrs electricity in the entire region.

Over 40% of the electricity being generated in the US come from coal fired power plants. Common sense should tell you that what you have in Enugu can provide constant electricity to the entire country if need be.

So, all those Nigerians that keep talking about Ijaw oil should cure themselves of their own ignorance and realize the fact that people are beginning to see through their lies and propaganda.

I strongly believe that most opposition to an independent Igbo nation is based on envy and fear that the Igbos on their own will so develop that the rest of Nigeria will be like 1,000 years behind.

Who is afraid of healthy competition and why?

Once you know the truth no amount of lies can change it!!!