The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ndigbo

  • Ndigbo: Fix the inter-generational disconnect

    Ndigbo: Fix the inter-generational disconnect

    • Nnaji Jekwu Onovo

    The trial, conviction and sentencing of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu stirred reactions at various quarters especially among NDIGBO. Many analysts and commentators see the entire episode as the trial of Igbo nation/people.

    One striking observation is the cautious approach by many commentators especially the Igbo elites, so as not to offend the powers that be or the radical ‘neo-Biafran’ group who hardly agree with the elites. Just a handful of the elites spoke boldly, stating the facts, devoid of emotions. A critical assessment of submissions by many of the elites indicates comments laced with emotions, fear and hypocrisy. The neo-Biafrans, radical groups in their commentaries display ignorance and arrogance. They speak, as though, flexing muscles will resolve the issues.

    Notwithstanding the obvious flaws in the approach of both sub-groups of Ndigbo, it’s interesting that Ndigbo are talking. I hope this creates the needed opportunity for Ndigbo to reason together, rethink the approach to national issues and discourse including politics. This is a period for sober reflection, deep thoughts and fixing the inter-generational disconnect.

    Today, Ndigbo could be classified into two subgroups, the elites and the radicals (less privileged including neo-Biafran—the young people born after the civil war). These two blocks, the neo-Biafrans and elite, never agree and never trust each other.

    The elite comprise individuals who are considered—or those who put themselves up as—leaders because of the power, talents or privileges they enjoy. Often, the exalted position, which they occupy, whether through selection or election, or by achievement or ascription, has placed them in a vantage position to make decisions on behalf of, or give direction to, their people. Included, in the elite class have been the traditional rulers, who belong to the traditional wing of the elite class, and the educated ones—the economic gurus as well as the politicians—who constitute the modern elite.

    Read Also: Wanted: legislative action on state/council joint account provision

    The inter-generational disconnection between the Igbo elite and their grassroots accounted for the reinvention of radical Igbo nationalism since the return to civil rule in 1999. These radical groups, otherwise called “neo-Biafran” movements, include the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Biafra Zionist Movement (BZM), Biafra Independence Movement (BIM), Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), etc

    Members of the elite don’t reject the Nigerian federation and opt for secession. Radical attitudes are expressed by the less privileged, especially by younger people who were born after the war. Many of them are well-educated, with academic degrees, but they are often unemployed and tend to accuse other Nigerians of discriminating against them. It’s obvious that Ndigbo doesn’t agree on an approach, with the neo-Biafrans including IPOB advocating for more radical solutions while the elites group like Ohanaeze Ndigbo focus on negotiation and restructuring.

    The dilemma facing Ndigbo (Igbo people) is a complex mix of political marginalization, a need for strategic realignment, and internal challenges. Key aspects include a struggle for national political power, balancing agitation with pragmatic political engagement, addressing internal issues like marginalization within Igbo communities. 

    There is a need for strategic alliances, and Igbo must extricate itself from a “victim mentality” that hinders progress; and focus on economic development and unity.  There is a need for more strategic political planning, including building alliances with other Nigerian power blocs, rather than relying on emotional rhetoric or isolated agitation.

    On September 26, 2006, the Distinguished Senator Francis Arthur Nzeribe wrote a controversial article he captioned: 2007: STATE OF THE IGBO NATION, a month after the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) carried out their successful stay-at-home order, in the midst of a heated clamour by the Igbo for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction.

  • On the recent Campaign for Ndigbo to leave Lagos (2)

    On the recent Campaign for Ndigbo to leave Lagos (2)

    Like the pogroms against the Jews, particularly those organized within the 19th and the 20th Centuries, the groundswell to such litany of traumatic events began with such campaigns as declared by these “agbayas”. 

    I am stating this in response to those who believe that my column as well as a number of comments from well meaning Nigerians was merely giving strength to such an ugly campaign of which these few felt ought to be ignored, sadly this was the same train of thoughts prevalent in those days, however like that small fire sweeping through the harmattan bush,  we all know what was witnessed next.

    Again, it may be #IgboExit or #Igboleave today, what about tomorrow, it may be #BiniJade and #Itsekiribyebye, or HausaFulaniNagode and #Oyinbomalojare, such madness could even reach fevering heights with campaigns such as #LagosforLagosians , #IbadanforOluloyesonly, #IlorinforOmoAfonja’s #AbujaforGwaris and #AbaganaforAbagana, since we all may love to be mad like the proponents for #Igbomustgo!

    One is even forced to ponder on what NdiIgbo may have done to warrant such; we have contributed our quota and are still contributing, not only to the state’s growth and development but also that of the nation. We have called Lagos and every other place home , going by our philosophy of “Ala wu otu”  we have built resplendent homes, established businesses, developed virgin areas and even intermarried producing offspring who share dual heritages. I for one grew up in Surulere and mixed up with the Femis, Tundes, Moshoodis , Tokunbos, Azeezs and Kabirus, we ate together, schooled together, played street football and disturbed the hell out of the neighborhood, not once did we see the each other as different because of our different ethnic backgrounds, today we still interact with each other while I hold dear my Lagos memories!

    It is not in doubt that we have complimented our Lagos,Yoruba and other brothers in that melting point and mini Nigeria of sorts called Lagos, we have combined our entrepreneurial drive with the lavish hospitality of our Lagos hosts giving it its rich potpourri and mishmash: Like a collection of jigsaw pieces NdiIgbo ,together with other ethnic groups, we have formed interlocks of meaningful socioeconomic and sociopolitical puzzles giving beauty to this mini Nigeria also known as Lagos.

    Have NdiIgbo refused to pay taxes or have we sought to subjugate all known forms of constituted authority in Lagos? Have we married off the pretty Lagos damsels and refused to pay dowry? Have we attempted to discriminate against any other ethnic group in any of our establishments warranting such a response which is obviously extreme! What then is our crime?

    Even if NdiIgbo accept to go, what happens to those of mixed marriages, perhaps traveling back to the early years, some producing grandchildren and great grand children? Will these children of such mixed marriages be told to just go too or will these agbayas conduct DNA tests to determine which gene is generally dominant in these persons? They should be prepared to conduct over millions of tests.

    Whatever these persons championing such a campaign are  seeking to achieve, we ought to impress it upon them that just as the likes of the Agudas or the returnees from Brazil and Cuba such as the Cardosos, the Pedros, the Da Silvas and the Dohertys did adopt Lagos as their home, did make a living and have remained in Lagos for countless generations, so also is any ethnic group free to choose the land of aquatic splendor as their own home including the Igbos!

    Read Also: On the recent campaign for Ndigbo to leave Lagos (1)

    It is even believed that a number of persons asking NdiIgbo to leave Lagos and Yoruba land are not even Lagosians per se, and cannot be said to be more of stakeholders than other ethnic groups that have lived in Lagos! Even at that, these persons calling for Igboexit seem to be bereft of history, otherwise they would recall that despite the competitive nature between the Igbo and the Yoruba, the two major ethnic groups seem to have more in common with each other than with other ethnic groups in Nigeria. Do they know that Zik of Africa was a political son and disciple of the Wizard of Kirsten Hall and an Omoluabi of Lagos in the person of Herbert Macaulay? Whilst Awo was in prison, did the NCNC not enter into a political marriage with the Action Congress to preserve what was left of Awolowo’s legacy which was on a daily basis besmirched by the renegades who had entered an alliance with the Northern People’s Congress? Have they forgotten the supreme price paid by an Ekiti man in Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi who would rather die than see his Supreme Commander whisked away from his own domain where the former had played host! Even in their intense rivalry, Zik and Awo accorded each other such respect  as greats with each commanding impressive followership in each other’s  region. The likes of Adeniran Ogunsanya another core Lagosian readily comes to mind.

    Lastly, at a time like this when nations are removing certain barriers and are forming regional and continental blocs to enhance solidarity, promote free trade , enhance economic and scientific progress and to eradicate poverty and disease, a few grownups are tinkering with an idea that could spark civil strife in a country much desirous of peace, we should sound the alarm bells now and bring such persons to book, as the Nigeria of the 21st Century has no place for ethnic bigotry if we must remain relevant as the true Giant of Africa.Like the pogroms against the Jews, particularly those organized within the 19th and the 20th Centuries, the groundswell to such litany of traumatic events began with such campaigns as declared by these “agbayas”. 

    I am stating this in response to those who believe that my column as well as a number of comments from well meaning Nigerians was merely giving strength to such an ugly campaign of which these few felt ought to be ignored, sadly this was the same train of thoughts prevalent in those days, however like that small fire sweeping through the harmattan bush,  we all know what was witnessed next.

    Again, it may be #IgboExit or #Igboleave today, what about tomorrow, it may be #BiniJade and #Itsekiribyebye, or HausaFulaniNagode and #Oyinbomalojare, such madness could even reach fevering heights with campaigns such as #LagosforLagosians , #IbadanforOluloyesonly, #IlorinforOmoAfonja’s #AbujaforGwaris and #AbaganaforAbagana, since we all may love to be mad like the proponents for #Igbomustgo!

    One is even forced to ponder on what NdiIgbo may have done to warrant such; we have contributed our quota and are still contributing, not only to the state’s growth and development but also that of the nation. We have called Lagos and every other place home , going by our philosophy of “Ala wu otu”  we have built resplendent homes, established businesses, developed virgin areas and even intermarried producing offspring who share dual heritages. I for one grew up in Surulere and mixed up with the Femis, Tundes, Moshoodis , Tokunbos, Azeezs and Kabirus, we ate together, schooled together, played street football and disturbed the hell out of the neighborhood, not once did we see the each other as different because of our different ethnic backgrounds, today we still interact with each other while I hold dear my Lagos memories!

    It is not in doubt that we have complimented our Lagos,Yoruba and other brothers in that melting point and mini Nigeria of sorts called Lagos, we have combined our entrepreneurial drive with the lavish hospitality of our Lagos hosts giving it its rich potpourri and mishmash: Like a collection of jigsaw pieces NdiIgbo ,together with other ethnic groups, we have formed interlocks of meaningful socioeconomic and sociopolitical puzzles giving beauty to this mini Nigeria also known as Lagos.

    Have NdiIgbo refused to pay taxes or have we sought to subjugate all known forms of constituted authority in Lagos? Have we married off the pretty Lagos damsels and refused to pay dowry? Have we attempted to discriminate against any other ethnic group in any of our establishments warranting such a response which is obviously extreme! What then is our crime?

    Even if NdiIgbo accept to go, what happens to those of mixed marriages, perhaps traveling back to the early years, some producing grandchildren and great grand children? Will these children of such mixed marriages be told to just go too or will these agbayas conduct DNA tests to determine which gene is generally dominant in these persons? They should be prepared to conduct over millions of tests.

    Whatever these persons championing such a campaign are  seeking to achieve, we ought to impress it upon them that just as the likes of the Agudas or the returnees from Brazil and Cuba such as the Cardosos, the Pedros, the Da Silvas and the Dohertys did adopt Lagos as their home, did make a living and have remained in Lagos for countless generations, so also is any ethnic group free to choose the land of aquatic splendor as their own home including the Igbos!

    It is even believed that a number of persons asking NdiIgbo to leave Lagos and Yoruba land are not even Lagosians per se, and cannot be said to be more of stakeholders than other ethnic groups that have lived in Lagos! Even at that, these persons calling for Igboexit seem to be bereft of history, otherwise they would recall that despite the competitive nature between the Igbo and the Yoruba, the two major ethnic groups seem to have more in common with each other than with other ethnic groups in Nigeria. Do they know that Zik of Africa was a political son and disciple of the Wizard of Kirsten Hall and an Omoluabi of Lagos in the person of Herbert Macaulay? Whilst Awo was in prison, did the NCNC not enter into a political marriage with the Action Congress to preserve what was left of Awolowo’s legacy which was on a daily basis besmirched by the renegades who had entered an alliance with the Northern People’s Congress? Have they forgotten the supreme price paid by an Ekiti man in Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi who would rather die than see his Supreme Commander whisked away from his own domain where the former had played host! Even in their intense rivalry, Zik and Awo accorded each other such immense respect  as greats with each commanding impressive followership in each other’s  region. The likes of Adeniran Ogunsanya another core Lagosian readily comes to mind.

    Lastly, at a time like this when nations are removing certain barriers and are forming regional and continental blocs to enhance solidarity, promote free trade , enhance economic and scientific progress and to eradicate poverty and disease, a few grownups are tinkering with an idea that could spark civil strife in a country much desirous of peace, we should sound the alarm bells now and bring such persons to book, as the Nigeria of the 21st Century has no place for ethnic bigotry if we must remain relevant as the true Giant of Africa.

  • Preserve your resilience, Ndigbo told

    Preserve your resilience, Ndigbo told

    Human capital development expert, and a former president of  Aka Ikenga – the Igbo Think Tank, Dr Chris Asoluka, has urged the Ndigbo to  preserve its spirit of resilience in Nigeria, Africa and the world.

    He was spoke when Aka Ikenga President Agbalanze Chike Madueke, led a delegation of their leaders to felicitate with him in Lagos this week.

    Asoluka noted  that the  Ndigbo  had capacity to reshape their current realities, for better governance and rapid development.

    “Our enterprise and industry remains our national and global emblems, for which no one denies, nor any entity able to take away from us yet. So we must preserve it tenaciously, develop it exponentially, and improve on it digitally, because global competitiveness is about ideas and its powers to transform.

    “I re-emphasise that Ndigbo wherever they are, for which Aka Ikenga specially exists, are people with admirable resilience and competences. It is our historic and cultural provenance that we must keep aflame, to attract and enlighten current and future generations,” he said.

    Read Also: Wike to clerics: beware of failed politicians

    Reflecting on his times as the Group’s President, he said Aka Ikenga was an outcome of deep thinking, a child of necessity, that has now become a consequential adult proudly. He urged Ndigbo, especially the youths to rise and locate thier common  point of service to their  nationality and pitch their talents to uplift their homeland, through platforms as Aka Ikenga.

    The President of the group, Agbalanze Chike Madueke, assured  Asoluka that the commitment of the leadership is to grow from the character and foundations people like him and others laid.

    Elders of the group led by Elder Delly Ajufo, Chief Don Ezeh and Pharm. Nnamdi Obi decorated Asoluka as “Emeritus President” as guided by the President, who finally adorned him with a Presidential crest.

  • Ndigbo celebrate New Yam festival

    Ndigbo celebrate New Yam festival

    The premises of Ronik Comprehensive Secondary School in Ejigbo, Lagos came alive recently when the Igbo in the community converged to celebrate their annual New Yam Festival.

    It was an exhibition of the rich culture and tradition of the Ndigbo, as they came from different parts of Lagos resplendent in their colourful outfits.

    The Akwa Tiwa Aki Support Uwa Ego Music group added colour to the ceremony with their traditional music. They also ushered guests to their seats, although their service was not for free, as ‘beneficiaries’ rewarded them with cash.

    Read Also: Preserve your resilience, Ndigbo told

    Dubbed: “Iriji Obindigbo 2023”, the event also included the Iwaji ceremony, a cultural display and launch of the association’s calendar.

    The Onowu of Ejigbo, Chief Odinaka Innocent, put the events in perspective, when he said, it was majorly to celebrate their culture. He urged the people to donate generously to the unveiling.

    Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Celestine Chukwunenye, thanked God for his blessings, which were recorded from their farms in the year and urged his kinsmen to make the most of the event.

    Chief Launcher, Chief Emmanuel Okwuchukwu Okpala, unveiled the calendar with N400,000; Chukwunenye N200,000; the Eze Ndigbo in Lagos, while  N100,000; former Member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Jude Idimogu donated N200,000. Chief Whip, Ejigbo LCDA, Mrs Grace Nwankwo-Okere, N50,000, among others.

  • Preserve your resilience, Ndigbo told

    Preserve your resilience, Ndigbo told

    A human capital development expert, and a former president of  Aka Ikenga – the Igbo Think Tank, Dr Chris Asoluka, has urged the Ndigbo to  preserve its spirit of resilience in Nigeria, Africa and the world.

    He was spoke when Aka Ikenga President Agbalanze Chike Madueke, led a delegation of their leaders to felicitate with him in Lagos this week.

    Asoluka noted  that the  Ndigbo  had capacity to reshape their current realities, for better governance and rapid development.

    “Our enterprise and industry remains our national and global emblems, for which no one denies, nor any entity able to take away from us yet. So we must preserve it tenaciously, develop it exponentially, and improve on it digitally, because global competitiveness is about ideas and its powers to transform.

    Read Also:Tinubu holds Ndigbo in high esteem – Shettima

    “I re-emphasise that Ndigbo wherever they are, for which Aka Ikenga specially exists, are people with admirable resilience and competences. It is our historic and cultural provenance that we must keep aflame, to attract and enlighten current and future generations,” he said.

    Reflecting on his times as the Group’s President, he said Aka Ikenga was an outcome of deep thinking, a child of necessity, that has now become a consequential adult proudly. He urged Ndigbo, especially the youths to rise and locate thier common  point of service to their  nationality and pitch their talents to uplift their homeland, through platforms as Aka Ikenga.

    The President of the group, Agbalanze Chike Madueke, assured  Asoluka that the commitment of the leadership is to grow from the character and foundations people like him and others laid.

    Elders of the group led by Elder Delly Ajufo, Chief Don Ezeh and Pharm. Nnamdi Obi decorated Asoluka as “Emeritus President” as guided by the President, who finally adorned him with a Presidential crest.

  • Ndigbo, beware of deception

    Sir: The indigenous Igbo eschatology demands the mourning and remembrance of the dead. So, I observed Biafran Heroes’ Day on May 30, 2019. To me, the day was a solemn day of reflection and reverence: a day to reflect on the most trying period in the annals of the Igbo, the civil war, and revere the memory of all the peoples of erstwhile Biafra that died in the war. It was definitely not a day to heed Nnamdi Kanu’s instruction to intimidate and attack those that refused to observe the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) mandated sit-in. With Kanu’s thoughtless rhetoric and IPOB’s disruption of the peace in Igbo land on that day, they, instead of hallowing, hollowed the memory of the Biafran heroes.

    On that day, it was imperative to appreciate the sacrifices of those young men whose lives were permanently rend apart, and their future turned bleak by the crippling and disfiguring injuries they sustained fighting for Biafra. It was a day to remember and pay tributes to those fallen heroes, who laid down their youthful lives for Biafra. I reminisced, and went down memory lane. In my mind’s eyes, I beheld Biafra: the euphoria and patriotism that greeted Ojukwu’s declaration of Biafra among the masses, and our firm belief that we would win the impending war because “God was on our side” and the “naive and ignorant” Hausa/Fulani were no match for the resourceful Igbo; the palpable despair and frustration that replaced this earlier excitement as the grim realities of war set in; the collapse of Biafra and the fear of a general massacre by the federal forces that engulfed a war-weary people; our pleasant surprise that the heavily armed but disciplined and benign federal soldiers were not marauding, murderous bravos hell-bent on the extermination of the Igbo.

    I recalled the agony of parents watching their children die slowly from starvation; and the terrifying roar of war planes that bombed and strafed, and left death in their wake. I remembered some of those young men snuffed-out in the glory of their youth by the war. For example, in my village, the only child (a son) of a widow was killed in battle. Although his death was hidden from his mother, she complained of wild dreams, and talked about her premonition that her son was dead; heartbroken, she died a short while later. Another widow’s first and second sons, both university undergraduates, were army officers in the Biafran army. Both of them died in combat.

    The village headmaster’s two army officer sons were killed in the war. A high ranking police officer’s medical student son died in battle, and his mother totally lost her mind. Depressed to the point of insanity, she stood disheveled on the street, begging for money. The retired divisional court clerk’s polygamous home lost three sons to the war. My mother’s immediate senior brother died in the battlefield. At the end of the war, his young wife managed to pick herself up again but his mother, my grandmother, was completely devastated by her son’s death. She did not recover from it; she wobbled on for a number of years and died. Such heart-rending narratives were ubiquitous in Biafra for so many people died in that needless and avoidable war. It is estimated that about five hundred thousand Biafran soldiers died in the war.

    It was a day of introspection, deep thought, and seeking answers to questions. In addition to the evinced heroism of the Biafran army in the battlefield, Biafrans also demonstrated amazing steadfastness, fabulous resourcefulness and unmatched inventiveness in the war effort. Why did all that valor, ingenuity and sacrifice end in ignominy? Why did Biafra surrender unconditionally?

    Earlier, Chukwuemeka Ojukwu punished Nnamdi Azikiwe for his opposition to secession. But, as the war raged on, the need for Azikiwe and his extensive international contacts crystallized to Ojukwu; he made peace with Azikiwe. Azikiwe agreed to work for Biafra, and get her diplomatic recognitions, so that Biafra could negotiate peace from a position of relative power. Azikiwe’s diplomatic efforts resulted in the recognition of Biafra by five countries: Gabon, Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Zambia and Haiti. Lamentably, Ojukwu refused to negotiate for peace because a negotiated settlement to the war would mean an end to his power and exalted status: Head of State and Supreme Commander of the Biafran Armed Forces. Consequently, Azikiwe resigned as a Biafran peace envoy.

    Therefore, on May 30, 2019, I prayed that God should grant the Igbo the political perspicacity to sift out perfidious opportunists that have no qualms in gambling with Igbo lives for their own selfish ends so that we will never again tread the path of death and destruction

     

    • Tochukwu Ezukanma  wrote from Lagos, maciln18@yahoo.com.

  • Get ready for self-defence-Igbo leaders

    Concerned Pan-Igbo organisations have restated the call on Ndigbo to be ready for self-defence in the face of unprovoked attacks by herdsmen.

    This was the consensus at the end of an  emergency consultative caucus meeting in Enugu at the weekend. .

    The call was sequel to a similar advice by apex Igbo organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo last week.

    Convened by Professor Uzodimma Nwala led Alaigbo Development Forum (ADF), the groups after exhaustive discussions came out with the following decisions:

    “That there is obvious agenda of a bloody Islamization and jihad to conquer, occupy, take over and enslave Alaigbo and elsewhere in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “That Ndigbo should do everything in their power to defend themselves, their wives, children and their ancestral land.

    Read Also: Ohanaeze: Ndigbo should be ready for self-defence

    “To set up a joint Committee of pan-Igbo organisations and to prepare Memorandum to alert Ndigbo in Nigeria and in the Diaspora on the peace, development and security of Alaigbo.

    “Calls on all Stakeholders in Alaigbo including the Governments and Traditional Institutions in Alaigbo to pursue a common agenda in the interest of the survival of Ndigbo.

    “Call on Umuigbo world-wide to liaise with the patriotic pan-Igbo organizations to ensure that all needed resources in Alaigbo support all the patriotic forces engaged in the struggle for Igbo emancipation and security.

    “That Ndigbo should seek possible working relationship with other nationalities to ensure collective defence of their territories from the jihadists.

    “To continue to promote the Akuruo-Ulo movement through the agency of the Town Unions and the various Traders organizations of Ndigbo.

    “To engage in constant consultations and collaborative efforts to promote the peace, security and development of Alaigbo.

    The communique was signed by Pof Uzodinma Nwala of ADF; Chief Emeka Diwe, President Association of South East Town Unions; Professor Elochukwu Amucheazi, Secretary, Igbo Leaders of Thought; Innocent Amadi of Bilie Human Rights Initiative; Hon Abia Onyike, chairman ADF publicity bureau; Prof. Math Aniekwu, secretary, ADF; Mrs Fidelis Chukwu, President Igbo Women Assembly; Prince Tony Nwakaeze, Ogbako Igbo Traders of Nigeria; Isaac Onyia, ASETU Enugu state and Comrade Uchenna Madu representing Coalition of Pro-Biafra Organizations.”

  • How Ndigbo can immortalise historical experiences, by Global Igbo Alliance

    A group of Igbo Organisation in the diaspora known as Global Igbo Alliance (GIA) has urged the Igbo race to set aside a day for Biafra Remembrance day.

    In a statement signed by President and Secretary of the organisation, Dr. Christian Duru and Mrs. Chinwe Eboh, the group explained May 30 signifies a day of sorrow (Iru Uju) and not of partisan politics for Ndigbo.

    It said: “It is the responsibility of Ndi’Igbo to not betray their fallen heroes and heroines.

    “The Biafran war is our history and we must uphold it. Biafra Remembrance Day serves to empower the current Igbo leadership at all levels, re-evaluate their roles and responsibility, and frontally assess the many reversals in our contemporary Igbo existence, including incoherent leadership and absence of creative followership.

    “Any attempt to politicise this day with narratives that tend to undermine the millions of Igbo lives that were lost during the Nigerian/Biafran war would amount to scoring cheap political points.”

    It insisted that May 30th Remembrances is an integral and crucial part of the Igbo cultural and traditional etiquettes that compels the Igbo to pay adequate and befitting homage to their dead.

    According to the group, the observance of May 30th through total abstinence from commercial and economic activity by Ndi’Igbo all over Nigeria, and the global Diaspora is an expression of our eternal patriotic duty, not only to the Igbo nation now but also to generations unborn.

    “The Igbo have always held the belief that life is greater than what sustains it. Just as we honor our traditional market days, namely, Afor, Eke, Nkwo and Orie, GIA faithfully reiterates the final call for Ndi’Igbo to seal May 30th 2019 as a sacred day for remembrance of the heroes and heroines who fell, so that, the Igbo nation will rise.

    “We also take this opportunity to commemorate the Centenary (100 years) anniversary of the Aba Womens’ Revolt of 1929 when our women showed great resilience and proved that Ndi’Igbo (both men and women) are strong agents of political and economic reform.

    “If, we abandon our cultural heritage, and fail to immortalise our most tragic historical experience of the 20th Century, then, we are surrendering our divine rights to political expediency.

    “The consequence therefore, is that next time, when history visits with its baptism of fire, the Igbo nation will be forever extinct,” it stated.

  • Ndigbo endorsed Atiku in error, says Ngige

    Labour and Productivity Minister Senator Chris Ngige spoke with TONY AKOWE in Abuja on the endorsement of the Peoples democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and its implications for the Southeast.

    Do you think the President will win the region with the presence of Obi?

    Well, I don’t know. What I can tell you is that in Anambra State, we will struggle for the polls with Obi. We are not going to be pushed down like they did the last time.

    What do you make of the endorsement of PDP Presidential candidate by the leadership of Ohanaeze?

    The leadership of Ohaneze shut themselves in the foot. In a bid to please their masters, they went overboard. First and foremost, they went and did an endorsement in November 2018 and when the strategy committee of Ohanaeze confronted them in the executive, they denied. They said they were invited there just like every other person. But, the clips showed that they were at that meeting in Nike Lake and 99.9 per cent of the people in attendance were from the PDP. Professor ABC Nwosu, Dubem Onya, Prof Ogbu, Emmanuel Inwuanyawu were present. Only few came there without knowing that it was for an adoption. I am telling you that they found it difficult to conceal what they were doing. I personally spoke to the President of Ohanaeze, who is my personal friend of many years, and I said to him, we have a guest and so, he should do us the favour of moving this meeting to another day, so that we can all attend. In fact, the governors of the South East were to be involved because the governor of Anambra and Enugu will welcome Mr. President to their domain. President was to commission CBN centre of excellence build in University of Nigeria, Enugu campus. These were functions slated for that day and he said no, that he couldn’t do so because this meeting has been long fixed and I said no, the president of the nation takes precedence in appointments whenever he visits a place. Finally he said we can move the hours from 11 am and I said fine. Our president goes away from Enugu Airport by 6pm. He said no, that he can only move it to 4pm. I spoke to Ebonyi State governor, who is the chairman of South East Governors Forum, I urged him to look at the problem we have with the President of Ohanaeze,  maybe he can intervene because he is suppose to be part of this meeting. I had already contacted the governor of Anambra State, so he said he will take it up with him which he did. I personally invited the President of Ohanaeze and said, you should be at Zik’s place because this is your function. The governor of Anambra told me that he invited him. When Ebonyi governor called me that I should tell my colleagues that the meeting will be for 7pm because he had spoken with him. So by 6 pm we saw off the president at Enugu airport. Myself, Ken Nnamani, Governor of Enugu, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Science and Technology, former Governor Chime and many others started rushing to Nike Lake and got there around 6:30 pm for a meeting fixed for 7pm and we were told that the meeting was concluded by 20 minutes past 5pm. They have endorsed the candidate of the PDP. Two things are clear; Ohanaeze is a socio cultural organisation and not meant for endorsement of any candidate. What you are supposed to be doing, is to get the candidates, hear from them and give them your chatter of demands and not going to endorse because it is there in our constitution, that we are not allying with any political party. Some people have tried it before unfortunately they got their fingers burnt. With all due respect Professor Nwabuieze in 1999 without clearance from Ohanaeze general assembly endorsed Chief Olu Falae against Obasanjo. Olu Falae was flying the flag of APP/AD alliance. Chief Obasanjo won the election and held it against the Igbos and claimed that it was late Chief Alex Ekwueme that secretly told Nwabuieze to go and endorse. Little did they know that it caused a lot of bitterness between Alex Ekwueme and his friend Nwabuieze. Nwabuieze is a strong willed man so he did that by his own judgement thinking he was doing the igbos good. Obasanjo antagonised Alex Ekwueme and all of us who are members of Ohanaeze and all of us who he felt were close to Chief Alex Ekwueme and that was how he took some ragamofian from South East and made them his blossom friends. Again at another time, they went and endorsed in 2003 and the same thing happened. In 2015 the immediate predecessor of Nwodo Prince Igaliwe and the secretary general again went and endorsed president Jonathan and said his name is Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan that he is their brother. They failed because president buhari beat Jonathan in 2015 election. They claim marginalisation because of that endorsement and even the award and allocation of votes that followed there after. Some APC members used it against all of us in the APC. They said there was no vote from us and that the election was won without any input from the South East.

    Read also: Hoodlums set parties’ vehicles ablaze

    Obviously that affected the south east in the composition of government?

    That gave rise to the famous 5 percent; those who gave me five percent and those who gave me 95 percent been padelled against Mr. President. In any case, we are all human beings. If someone looks you in the face and say I will not vote for you and you eventually win the election and he didn’t vote for you and you saw he didn’t vote for you even though it is a secret ballot, but you also saw that there was allocation, tell me would you be very happy? However, I am not trying to justify anything. All I am saying is that we can be adopting candidates.

    The visit of a group from Ohaneze to the President, was that not an adoption?

    If you go and see what happened, it wasn’t an adoption, but a case of coming to say thank you for in infrastructural development that has taken place in the South East. The second Niger Bridge we can see it, he has put out N33 billion for it and no other government has done it. He put it in the national budget and put it as a flagship project in Nigeria and you are funding it. Unlike the previous governments that say it should done on an IPP bases for foreigners to invest and collect money, this president said I am building direct, I am funding direct. I queried with Okonji Iweala and Pius Anyim and the6 are still alive, when they came into the senate caucus of the South East in 2011 when we became senators. They came and told us that it is an IPP that they are doing on second Niger Bridge and investors were coming and I told them that they should clear away from here with the kind of proposal. Oweto bridge is being built for David Mark to connect Loco and Oweto for N80 billion and was funded from federal budget. At the time they came, the Niger Bridge was estimated to cost N110 billion and Madam Okonji Iweala and my friend Pius were saying that it would be built on contractor IPP and I said no and that was what happened. Today this man is building second Niger Bridge, he completed the Musullium. He is building Enugu to Okigwe to Umuahia to Aba to Port Harcourt which was abandoned in the last 16 years. He is building Enugu, Oji River, Amansil, Awka to Onitsha road which was also abandoned during PDP regime. I have no apologies to say that this man is doing well and that is what our people came to do. The people who came are members of the Ime Obi who don’t believe in what Nwodo and his group have done. A lot of us, don’t believe, the South East governors don’t believe in what they have done. Governor Obiano has voiced his own out. The Secretary to Government and delegations were with us standing there at Nike Lake and that was a total disrespect to us. I have worked in Ohanaeze, I was secretary of Ohanaeze Strategy Committee. I was deputy chairman of Ukpoko Igbo as President of Aka Ikenga. I brought Aka Ikenga from Lagos and we organised a forum for South East delegates under Abacha regime to go to the constituent assembly. We did it with our own resources. So no one will talk to me about Ohanaeze or Igbo politics to me. I have paid my dues. I was President of Aka Ikenga for 6 years. So nobody; I repeat, all these people that are parading and masquerading can’t talk to me about Ohanaeze or Igbo politics and non of them can tell me that he loves the Igbos than me. The Igbos of Anambra know that I love them more than any of these people that are parading all over the place. I put my life on the line for the people of Anambra state so that they will have freedom and I also ready to put it on the line again for the Igbo nation so that they can secure their future in Nigeria.

     

  • Buhari’ll win with or without your votes, Ubah tells Ndigbo

    The senatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra South, Senator Andy Ubah, has stated President Muhammadu Buhari will win Saturday’s poll with a landslide with or without the votes of Ndigbo.

    He said it was better the Igbos cast their votes for Buhari as voting against him would not stop his victory at the poll.

    Addressing party faithful on Wednesday at a rally in Nnewi, Ubah said the people of the zone should resist the mistakes of 2015 when APC was not voted for in the South East.

    He said Ndigbo should have nobody to blame if they were not seen to have massively voted for Buhari and every other candidate of the party in the zone.

    According to him: “It is obvious that President Muhammadu Buhari will be re-elected on Saturday. Whether you vote for him or not, he will win.

    “It is unfortunate that during the last election in 2015, only 10 million votes were recorded for Buhari in the South East.

    Read Also: Attack on Buhari, Osinbajo treasonable, says Falana

    “But this time around, I want Anambra South alone to give him not less than 1 million votes.”

    Candidate representing Nnewi North/South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituencies, Engr. Jude Onyeka said voting all APC candidates would guarrantee a team that would bring democracy dividends to the zone.

    On his part, National Auditor of the party, Chief George Muoghalu asked party supporters not to be confused with money or any other gratification.

    Other chieftains at the rally were the party’s deputy governorship candidate in 2017 in Anambra, Dozie Ikedife jnr, Nnewi North chairman, Tony Atuenyi as the host, Engr Forth Dike, J.C.Okeke, Omo Okeke, among others.