IFEANYI EZUGWU, ENUGU.
Seven states; Rivers, Abia, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra, Enugu and Delta
converged yesterday in Enugu under the auspices of the apex Igbo
socio-cultural group, Ohaneze Ndigbo to mark this year’s Igbo day at the
Micheal Okpara square.The annual event which is stipulated to commemorate the efforts of
Igbo heroes who contributed steeply in championing the cause of Igbo had
as its theme, “uplift the homeland” with an inter-denomitional service.
While presenting President Goodluck Jonathans’ address, his
representative, Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo expressed profound
gratitude to Igbo for,”being the greatest pillar of support to my
person and administration. My administration have taken cognizance of
the unalloyed support of the Igbo. Igbo is the ethnic group that has
supported my administration greatly and I promise that it will not be
taken for granted”.“This is evident in the level of Federal attention the infrastructure
in the south-east is receiving as examplified and in the roads,
commencement of international operations at the Akanu-Ibiam airport,
Enugu, the dredging of the river Niger to boost inland water ways
transport. The Akanu-Ibiam airport will have all the trappings of an
international airport. Federal Government is working assiduously to
build Aerotropolis and inject vibrancy at the cargo terminals, befitting
of international standards” said the President.President Jonathan disclosed that Igbo has been frontal in the
believe of the co-operate existence of Nigeria adding that the Igbo is
the highest investor in Nigeria’s economy even as he explained
that,’Igbo carry the banner of Christianity and culture as they traverse
the country in search of greener pastures typical of a republican’.He further urged Igbo youths to eschew the vices of kidnapping, armed
robbery and assassination while appealing to them to imbibe the virtues
of their forebearers in their various endeavours.Contributing, the Governor of Enugu state, Barr. Sullivan Chime
represented by the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Chief Joe
Mamelu urged,”Igbo to uphold the practice of speaking Igbo language
wherever they find themselves to forestall the language from going into
extinction”.In his remark, the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Gary
Enwo-Igariwey poisted that the way forward for Ndigbo is,”to speak with
one voice in a clear direction. Emphasis must be in generating and
directing these energies towards growth poles. We must unite in pursing
commercial and industrial objectives and much more importantly,
political challenges”.“We reiterate for emphasis that Ndigbo must seek the Presidency of
this country at the expiration of the tenure of the south-south. This is
in keeping with our stand that equity,justice and fair-play demand that
we, the only zone remaining to hold the prime office in the country,
should be allowed by our fellow Nigerians to so occupy it in unbroken
succession after the south-south. This is an appeal to the political
class of Ndigbo to put their house in order. We cannot afford to play a
second fiddle forever” Igariwey noted.
IGBO DAY 2013 ORGANIZED BY OHANEZE. 29TH SEPT.2013 AT MICHAEL OKPARA SQUARE ,ENUGU