According to Mr Ubah, the future of the South East remains bright in Nigeria due to its potential to becoming the economic hub of the country, just the way Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou are to China.
"My reasons are simple - the South-East is particularly not ready for such a move as we are infrastructurally and industrially deficient,” the business mogul said.Ubah who is also the Publisher of The AUTHORITY Newspapers said the South East lacks the essential and requisite agricultural deposits to sustain herself. He stressed that Ndigbo needs to exploit areas of comparative advantage in agriculture and promote policies that will enhance productivity and trade.
"Industrialisation is key to whatever the South East intends to achieve and stand for. We saw BRIC+S countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China +South Africa) attain their projected economic giant status at the end of 20th Century. Today, all eyes are on the new projected MINT Countries (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey).He explained that there is high expectations on MINT as the new global economic giants in the 21st Century after the emergence of BRICS (an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa)
Ubah opined that the South East must be to Nigeria what Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou are to China before thinking of separation from Nigeria.
The PDP member also suggested that Ndigbo should strive to make the South East a health tourism hub for Nigeria and West Africa by extension, in other to redirect the massive revenue currently being enjoyed by these Indian and American hospitals.
"The Indian healthcare market is worth around $100 billion and is expected to grow to $280 billion by 2020, a compound annual growth rate of 22.9%," Ubah said.
"Is this not strategic enough for the South East to tap into as a means to creating value before harbouring thoughts of self-determination?He charged the South East state governors to lead the revolution campaign to actualize his ideas, declaring that "it's high time we stopped our dependence on federal allocations which merely serves to pay civil servants."
In conclusion, Mr Ubah suggested that Ndigbo should secure partnerships with their brothers and sisters in the diaspora as well as the international community, which can be achieved if there is transparency, accountability and the requisite zeal to pursue the cause within the confines of those who possess the mantle of leadership in the South Eastern states, as such qualities breed confidence in the minds of potential investors.
