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Cry of marginalisation of Igbos stale, says Ohaneze

By NAN
20 January 2017   |   11:29 am
The President General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Chief John Nwodo has said that the people of the South East would need to adopt a new approach in addressing the problem of marginalisation in the country.
Chief John Nwodo

Chief John Nwodo

The President General of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Chief John Nwodo has said that the people of the South East would need to adopt a new approach in addressing the problem of marginalisation in the country.

Speaking at an inaugural media briefing in Enugu, Nwodo said that it was wrong for the people of the area to continue to bemoan their fate when it appeared no one was listening to them.

He said that there is an urgent need to rediscover their ingenious potential and build a virile economy in the zone through self-help and brotherhood.“The time for lamentation is over. Our continued cry of marginalisation has become stale as no one is listening to us anymore.

“I am aware that in the average Igbo person are bold strands of ingenuity, resourcefulness, intelligence and the ability to survive and thrive in the face of odds and challenges.

“These we should deploy in the development of our economy and for the betterment of posterity,” he said.Nwodo challenged the people of the area to change their psyche from the propensity for heavy investments in real estate to setting up factories and industries with the potential for wealth creation.

“The factories I must point out should be sited in our area as such production units will offer jobs and incomes to our youths and grow the economy of the zone,” he said.He urged the people to have confidence in the ability of Ohanaeze under his leadership to unite the people and move them to greater heights even in the face of difficulties.

“I want the people to go with the confidence that they have inaugurated the beginning of a new era for Ohanaeze; an era of transparency and accountability and building of a new economic infrastructure for our people.

“On my part, I promise that I shall stand for you. I will fight for you. I am ready to sacrifice for you and if necessary die for you,”he said.Nwodo said that it was gratifying that President Muhammadu Buhari had extended a hand of fellowship to the new leadership of Ohanaeze.

“The hand of fellowship which the president extended to us gives me immense confidence that we can tame rising tempers,” he said.Nwodo said that Ohanaeze under his leadership intended to engage the president in dialogue, adding that, “the problem of the Igbo man must be on the discussion table”.

2 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    haba…no more marginalisation?….eboes are in trouble…very soon they will be complaining of expensive ngwo ngwo…

  • Author’s gravatar

    Ichie Nwodo, well said gbamm! What makes the Jewish people tick anywhere in the world is because they are their brother’s keeper first and foremost before any. The Iboman must sacrifice his brother to get a porridge in Nigeria and they are saying marginalization. But also you need to understand that when a man farms in your Obi or backyard of your Obi and sidelines the front of your compound as well as not sweeping it and not even leaving you with the chaffs from the harvest, will you not complain. It is unfortunate that the Ibos have virtually in real estate built up all states of this country. In the Northern states, the thriving economic base of the Sabon Garis like the Jews as well as all the West, South ((to the much of its acceptance of the Ibos) and the Minority States, and still the Ibo man cannot man Interior, Housing and Defence Ministry as well as not accorded any federal presence in its region. All the East have to show for the Oil of Egbema and Ohaji is a piggery called NNPC field office in Owerri- Portharcourt Road.