BRIGHTEN THE CORNER WHERE YOU ARE: A Wake-Up Call to the Elites of Igboho

There comes a time in the history of every community when the mirror must be held up, not to admire our reflections, but to confront our collective failures. For too long, the narrative in Igboho has been defined by a destructive cycle of finger-pointing. We look to the palace and complain about what the traditional ruler has failed to facilitate. But the harsh, uncomfortable truth we must all swallow today is this:

Community development is not a one-man show. Stop the blame game.

If the traditional ruler cannot facilitate a project, what is stopping you? 

The true measure of a town’s greatness is not merely in its history, but in the active, selfless sacrifices of its people. We must adopt a new philosophy: 'Brighten the corner where you are.' Do the little you know you can do, right where you are planted.

The Paradox of the Igboho Elite

Igboho is blessed with an abundance of brilliant minds, successful professionals, and heavyweights. Yet, the number of elites we boast of on paper does not reflect the level of development we witness on our streets. Why? Because our prevailing maxim has become an arrogant and destructive "I don't care" attitude. 

We have replaced patriotism with extreme individualism. We must ask ourselves hard, piercing questions across all sectors:

To the Politicians: Beyond the ballot box, what is your developmental blueprint for your home? Are you using your mandate to attract lasting infrastructure, or are you only visible during election seasons? Play your part.

To the Civil Servants: You sit in corridors of power and influence at the state and federal levels. Are you leveraging your network to direct government attention to Igboho? Play your role.

To the Businessmen and Women: Wealth that does not elevate one's community is ultimately sterile. Are you performing your civic responsibilities? Are you creating jobs or establishing enterprises back home? 

To the Lawyers: Beyond the courtroom, how are you using your legal expertise to defend the heritage, rights, and developmental interests of your immediate community? Do the little you can do.

To the Educationalists: You shape minds globally, but is your intellectual impact felt in your hometown? Are you mentoring the youths of Igboho to become the giants of tomorrow? 

The Uncomfortable Truth: The Kisi Example

If we want to understand the devastating cost of our selfishness, we need only look next door. Kisi is moving forward rapidly, and the secret is not magic—it is selflessness. The elites of Kisi understand the power of collective vision. They do not wait for the government to dictate their future; they prepare for it. Kisi is perpetually ready because their elites plan together in unity. As we speak, Kisi has already planned and designated structures capable of accommodating two universities—whether from the State or the Federal Government—alongside numerous other developmental projects. They build the nest before the bird arrives. 

Meanwhile, Igboho is retarding because we are paralyzed by selfish individuals. What proactive, visionary plans do the elites of Igboho have for the town? Where are the lands we have cleared? Where are the structures we have collectively funded to attract federal or state institutions? 

While our neighbors are building universities and industries through synergy, we are busy guarding our egos and pointing fingers at the throne.

Let Us Make Amends: A Call to Sacrifice

Greatness requires sacrifice. You cannot build a thriving city on a foundation of apathy. We must dismantle the "I don't care" attitude before it entirely dismantles our heritage. 

Let this be the moment you pause, read this, and re-read it. Let it unsettle your conscience. 

It is time to gather our elites, drop our pride, and start planning together. It is time to pool our resources, our intellect, and our influence to build the Igboho of our dreams. Do not wait for a title to make an impact. Do not wait for the palace to initiate what your boardroom can fund. 

Brighten the corner where you are. Play your part. Let us rise, sacrifice, and rebuild Igboho Land—because if we fail, history will not blame the traditional ruler alone; it will record that we had the elites, the wealth, and the power, but we simply did not care enough to try.

Ayekooto Media NG

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David Alani Ige (The Scribe)

Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Ayekooto Media

David Alani Ige is a seasoned journalist, strategic analyst, and the visionary publisher of Ayekooto Media. With a relentless commitment to archiving Nigeria's political realities and delivering the unvarnished truth, he has built a formidable platform for deep-dive reportage and editorial excellence. He is widely known by his readers and peers as "The Scribe".