Former Minister of Aviation Chief Osita Chidoka has called on Nigerians and the international community to look beyond negative narratives about the South-East, affirming that the region remains open for business, travel, and communal life.

In a reflective message shared on Saturday, Chidoka pushed back against attempts to define societies solely by their most challenging moments, insisting that lived realities across Eastern Nigeria tell a more accurate and hopeful story.

“No society is defined only by its hardest moments. What matters is how people continue to live, return home, and find joy despite them,” he stated.

Chidoka pointed to the massive movement of people into the region during the Christmas and year-end festivities as clear evidence of stability and resilience, noting that millions of Easterners travelled home to reunite with family and participate in social and economic activities.

According to him, bustling markets, busy motor parks, active highways, and vibrant social gatherings across the South-East underscored the return of normalcy and the strength of everyday life in the region.

From Aba to Awka, Onitsha to Nsukka, Abakaliki to Owerri, Chidoka said the December economy recorded seasonal highs, with trade, transport, hospitality, and informal commerce experiencing significant growth. He described the South-East as a major driver of national enterprise whose economic vitality remains intact.

Beyond the economic indicators, Chidoka said the choices made daily by communities across the region reflect a commitment to unity, continuity, and progress rather than fear or retreat.

“What I see are people choosing community, resilience, and joy in motion,” he said.

Using the unifying message #EastIsOpen, Chidoka called for a reframing of the South-East narrative to reflect present-day realities rather than isolated incidents. He also celebrated the distinct strengths of each state with the hashtags #AdmirableAbia, #AmazingAnambra, #EndearingEbonyi, #ExcitingEnugu, and #InvitingImo, highlighting their contributions to Nigeria’s economic and cultural life.

He noted that the region’s history of absorbing shocks and rebounding through enterprise, kinship networks, and mobility has once again been demonstrated by the massive festive return of residents and visitors this December.

Chidoka said his message serves both as reassurance to citizens and the diaspora, and as an open invitation to investors, partners, and policymakers.

“The East is alive, moving, and open for good. It is ready to tell its own story,” he said.

As Nigeria continues to pursue economic recovery and sustainable growth, Chidoka added that the resilience and vibrancy of Eastern Nigeria position the region as a key contributor to the country’s development trajectory. (The Sun)