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Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Obi of Onitsha berates South-East govs, Ohanaeze over stagnation of zone
~The SUN Nigeria. Tuesday, October 4, 2016.
Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, yesterday, berated the South-East Governors' Forum and Ohanaeze Ndigbo for showing little interest in the growth of the zone.Achebe, who delivered a lecture with the theme, "Think Nigeria, Invest in Anambra (Aku ruo uno)" at the Dora Akunyili Women's Development Centre in Awka, as part of the Anambra at 25 celebration, expressed worry that selfishness had put the two bodies in disarray.
The monarch regretted that the Governor's Forum, which was meant to be a unifying force for Ndigbo, has failed to play that role because of selfish political interest of Governors, while the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation (Ohanaeze Ndigbo) had been enmeshed in series of controversies.
On the political and economic development of Nigeria, Igwe Achebe reiterated the call for restructuring of the country in a manner that would make for true fiscal federalism
"I truly believe that the long term interest of Ndigbo will best be served in a Nigeria that is just, fair and equitable and provides adequate safeguard as scope for individuals and ethnic nationalities to freely realise their aspiration and contribute their quota to the overall development of the country.
"Such a situation will best be achieved by restructuring the country into a true political and fiscal federation based on the existing six geo-political zones at pre 1996 Constitution. Such an arrangement will afford the best platform for Ndigbo to actualise their character."
At the function where the state Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, his Deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke and his predecessor, Mr. Peter Obi were absent, Achebe also said Ndigbo should not neglect investing in their homelandjust as he called upon oil magnats in Anambra State, led by Prince Arthur Eze, come together and unsure that the state-owned Orient Petroleum does not go under.
In the lecture, he enjoined people of the South East zone to revive the moral and cultural values that were high in the region before now, stressing that Ndigbo needed urgent attitudinal change and must learn to respect one another and their host communities anywhere they reside. Noting that Anambra had what it takes either in human and economic resources to be like Japan, Malaysia, Israel, China, India among other developed climes, Achebe advocated that Nnewi, Onitsha and Aba in Abia State, be transformed to become industrial hubs in Nigeria.
"Ndigbo must think home and act home, in the spirit of Aku-ruo-uno to evolve a philosophy, ideology, strategy and action plans for self-sufficiency, self-reliance and contentment under any circumstance."
Achebe commended Governor Obiano for driving out criminals and making Anambra conducive for investment. The event was attended by prominent citizens from the state including former vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme; Constitutional Lawyer, Prof Ben Nwabueze (SAN), former President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife; Senator Joy Emodi; the first female governor in Nigeria, Dame Virgy Etiaba; Chief Cosmas Maduka (Coscharis) and Anambra State House of Assembly Speaker, Rita Maduagwu, amongst others.
THE IGBO RANT
BIBLICAL TRADITIONS OF NDI IGBO BEFORE THE MISSIONARIES CAME TO AFRICA* IGBO 101.
THE IGBO TRIBE AND ITS FEAR OF EXTINCTION
The Igbo: We die for causes, not for personalities
Written by Emeka Maduewesi
~on fb. 28th September, 2016.
The Igbo will never die for anyone. We will not even riot for anyone. But the Igbo will die for any cause they believe in because the Igbo have a true sense of justice and a determination to obtain it.
The Igbo will not riot because one of their own lost an election. Operation Wetie was the Western response to a massively rigged 1965 election. The Yoruba doused fellow Yorubas in petrol and burnt them alife. Properties were burnt with occupants. The Igbo will never do this.
In 1983, the Yoruba went on a rampage again over the massive rigging by NPN. Lifes were lost and properties destroyed. The riots were over personalities.
Contrast that with Anambra State where Chief Emeka Ojukwu was rigged out by his own NPN, who also rigged out Chief Jim Nwobodo. The Igbo did not protest because the goat's head is still in the goat's bag.
In the North, ba muso was the battle cry when Sultan Dasuki was imposed on the Sokoto Caliphate. The riot and protest lasted for days and crippled economic activities.
The Igbo will riot over issues and causes. The Aba Women Riot was over Tax. The Enugu coal mine riot was about conditions of service. The Ekumeku Uprising was over British colonialization.
Those of "Ekumeku" ancestry - Umu Eze Chima and Umu Nri - were at the forefront of the struggles for Nigerian independence, with people like Dr. A A Nwafor Orizu and Chief Osita Agwuna serving prison terms. Any struggles the parents could not conclude is continued by the children by other means.
The Biafran war was a response to the genocide. The war in fact was brought upon us. The battlefield was Eastern Region. The war ended in 1970 but the issues and causes were not resolved. That is where we are today.
The Igbo will also jointly rise to fight evil in their midst. They did it in Onitsha in the 1980's, Owerri in the 90's, and with Bakkassi in the 2000.
The Igbo will not die for any man. But the Igbo will stand by any man who symbolizes their cause and their pursuit of justice. Even if the man dies, the struggle continues, and like the Ekumeku warriors, the children will pick up the baton from their parents.
This is the Igbo I know, the Igbo I am, and the Igbo we are. This is my story. Feel free to tell yours.
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