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Leaders chart new course for Ndigbo

By Lawrence Njoku, Enugu
22 October 2015   |   11:59 pm
LAST Tuesday, a cross section of prominent Igbo leadership gathered in Enugu with focus on finding ways to rediscover the roots of the people and prepare the race to play more active roles in Nigeria’s current dispensation.
Vice-President, Dr Alex Ekwueme

Vice-President, Dr Alex Ekwueme

LAST Tuesday, a cross section of prominent Igbo leadership gathered in Enugu with focus on finding ways to rediscover the roots of the people and prepare the race to play more active roles in Nigeria’s current dispensation.

The occasion, which was the 16th annual anniversary of the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), provided opportunity for the leaders to do a self-reassessment and arrived at the conclusion that this generation of Igbo leaders may not lift Ndigbo from the present political quagmire.

At the occasion were former Vice-President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, former governor and ministerial nominee, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze, Professor Chukwuemeka Ike, Chief Mrs. Maria Okwor, former Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya, traditional ruler, Igwe Azuka Ngoddy among others.

Nwabueze, who broke the ice after surveying the high table occupied by him and others at the event, said that the old generation of leaders have literarily expired, stressing that there was not much that should be expected from them at the moment.

Looking at the direction of Ekwueme, he said, “Our generation has passed. I am tired. This is the first time I could stand up to address people in the last two years. Ekwueme is 83 and Professor Ike is about 95.
“All of us on this high table have aged. Leadership is not a small matter. We should look for those in their thirties and forties to support”.

He said that the quest to rule Nigeria by Ndigbo should be kept on the front burner, explaining that should the bid fail in 2019, then 2023 should be another opportunity.

Nwabueze however emphasised that it was time to begin the search for new set of leaders who would take over from them and drive the process of positioning Ndigbo in the scheme of things.

Nwabueze, who broke the ice after surveying the high table occupied by him and others at the event, said that the old generation of leaders have literarily expired, stressing that there was not much that should be expected from them at the moment. Looking at the direction of Ekwueme, he said, “Our generation has passed. I am tired. This is the first time I could stand up to address people in the last two years. Ekwueme is 83 and Professor Ike is about 95.

He told the youths in the gathering that they must rise to be counted by not only protecting their identity, just as he lamented the loss of value among Ndigbo and their current placement in the scheme of things in the country.

On his part, Ekwueme said that he rose to become the Vice-President during the Shehu Shagari administration basically because he was an igboman. He said that people of Igbo extraction were highly revered in the country.

He however bemoaned the dying nature of the Igbo language among the present generation of Igbo people, while calling on the students and youths present at the event to embrace and appreciate the Igbo language rather than allowing it to dwindle.

Also speaking at the convention, Onu said that the occasion was significant especially as it served the useful purpose of showing off the rich past and heritage of the Igbo.

According to him, “Today, our society is faced with the danger that the Igbo language may not survive for long. It is sad that most of our children find it difficult to communicate in our native language. The attraction of foreign values has become almost an obsession that has weakened our self-confidence and injured our self-esteem.

Nwabueze

Nwabueze

We cannot rediscover ourselves if we do not reclaim our cultural heritage. It has become important because a people without culture are a people without self-confidence. If a people lack self-confidence then such a people lose the will, determination and drive to successfully engage the development process in the pursuit of the common good.

I wish to assure you all that the APC-led Federal Government of President Buhari will initiate visionary and sustained efforts to help Nigerians rediscover their rich past. In doing so, such efforts will be guided by the knowledge that cultural re-awakening is an important tool in the economic, social and political development of our beloved country.”

The President of IYM, Elliot Uko said the theme of this year’s annual convention “Ibuli Asusu Igbo” was carefully chosen to encourage and propagate interest in Igbo language, adding that IYM would continue to fight for true federalism, which would restore confidence in the unity of the country as well as give the citizenry a sense of belonging.

Uko said the movement would also continue to support President Buhari’s campaign against corruption and terrorism.
Recognition in form of plaques presentation were given to Ekwueme, Onu, Nwabueze as well as iconic actor, John Okafor (Mr.Ibu) and Professor Ike, a veteran novelist.

Students who participated in an essay writing contest and a quiz also received certificates and cash rewards instituted by former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.

22 Comments

  • Author’s gravatar

    The time to restore the freedom of Igbo people to live under a non oppressive regime has come.
    The blatant abuse of the fundamental human rights of the radio Director of IPOB is indeed regrettable. Buhari is on record to have indeed said ” God willing, if what happened in 2011 happens in 2015, monkeys and baboons will soak in their blood” Nobody hounded Buhari into jail, even though he had means and capacity to carryout that threat. In contrast, the IPOD radio Director has never called for the slaughter of Hausa Fulani in Nigeria. he has ONLY asked for the right of his people to govern themselves and their land.
    Buhari should release Mr. nnamdi kanu and respect his fundamental human rights. Every Nigerian regardless of his tribe or ethnicity is entitled to freedom of speech, not just Buhari, Junaid Muhammed or Adamu Ciroma. Nigeria has delicately managed its unity even under the military regimes. Buhari mismanaged Nigerian unity by stating openly he was going to be President to only people that voted for him. Yet, he feigns surprise why others have asked for independence of their ancestral land from his oppressive dictatorial regime.Those concerned about unity of Nigeria have proposed many great ways of restructuring the country via many national conference recommendations which Buhari has dumped in the trash can.

    In the end, those that have made a peaceful change impossible, make a violent change inevitable.

  • Author’s gravatar

    “He said that the quest to rule Nigeria by Ndigbo should be kept on the front burner, explaining that should the bid fail in 2019, then 2023 should be another opportunity” Sir with all due respect to your age, that opportunity may never come without accepting and respecting other Nigerians. Stop the name calling and accept the simple truth that Democracy is a game of numbers, accordingly, Ndi-Igbos should learn how to collaborate and extend hand of friendship across all parts of Nigeria. Threats, intimidation or speaking of Big Vocabulary will not make an Igbo man President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    • Author’s gravatar

      Threats ,intimidation least comes from Igboland, even those with greater threat and intimidation to dismember Nigeria. impose sharia law etc are ruling and have been ruling. So my friend be fair when you are assessing situation in Igboland. Yes I agree with you that democracy is a game of numbers but the issue is , is it number based on what? Ethnic, tribal and parochial leaning? In other climes number is based on ideological leaning. I wonder what you mean by Indigbo learning how to collaborate and extend a hand of friendship. Which tribe has formed more alliance with politicians/ political groups outside their domain , lived with other people outside their natural territory etc more than ndigbo and for which they are again vilified?..I wonder why some people who claim to have benefited and had all the goodies from the entity called Nigeria including having their own as presidents still feel threatened. intimidated and not at ease with the existence of Indigbo. Honestly I pity some of you.

      • Author’s gravatar

        You need to listen to an average Iboman, all that comes from him is boastfulness, insults and intimidation. In other climes, those who want to rule in a democracy try to win others through healthy debate not insulting them. Unfortunately, your land vomits her people who daily run to other places for opportunities, which you call “lived with other people outside their natural territory”. People migrate from where there is least opportunities for development to areas that provide greater opportunities. It’s time for you people to begin to think.

        • Author’s gravatar

          What grade or level of Igbo man do you associate with? to me your comment detailed the level you belong to, should I say, you belong to those in Ido or Mazamaza etc this are the ones you associate with because they are either your mates or your bosses, that does not mean you have associated according to you with an average Igbo man, I don’t know how old you are, but from your comment I understood that you are still a kid. know this, majority of people move from city to city not that they can’t survive where they were, they believe they have something, perhaps are not found or not saturated in there destination, thus want to experiment. be that as it may, is still not a must one should live and die in his natural territory, take for example in Europe, precisely Britain a child may be born in England study there but choses to move to Manchester, yet that child is not discriminated at because they are all British one passport. even though you are kid, I believe by the time you read a few books you will have understanding.

          • Author’s gravatar

            Unfortunately for you, from mainland lagos to the Island, Ibo hawkers are everywhere. They may be never-do-wells who have no village they can make a living from. Obviously, your education is a problem and I’ll pardon you. I have already stated it that people move from places to places. They move from places that have least opportunities to places with most opportunities. Why are easterners running away from the east immediately they are born? It is because that place is a dead end. Total emptiness.

          • Author’s gravatar

            You are right. The opportunities came to Lagos as a Federal capital, attracting people from other parts of Nigeria. Lagos was developed with funds from all parts of Nigeria, not Yoruba funds. Even today Lagos is still getting money from the federation account which is 70-75% proceeds of crude oil which comes from outside Yorubaland. Is that not true? Why should you share from such money and still call the hen that lays the golden egg names? Those people hawk which you are ashamed of doing. Most time they grow from hawkers to importers and producers. They learn from the letter ‘A’ and grow from there. As you are looking for white collar job or factories to work in or loot, those people learn from hardship and position themselves for all weather. That is why you sell your land to them and use the proceeds for owombe only to turn around and get jealous. It is your fate. There is nothing you can do about it until you extricate yourself from self defeat.

          • Author’s gravatar

            Well, unfortunately for you, I am from edo state, and I am in Lagos earning my living here. I still know I enjoy the hospitality of the people in whose land I have my bread buttered. I know my boundry and I don’t insult them, and we don’t constitute nuisance to anybody. You can insult the Owambes as you like, and they will have the prerogative to answer you when they think they should. TIME will tell.

          • Author’s gravatar

            DO EDO WOMEN CONSTITUTE NUISANCE IN EUROPE ESPECIALLY ITALY?

          • Author’s gravatar

            Monkey, Nigeria and all Nigerian Lands is for all Nigerians nor matter your tribalism, you can kill yourself if you want or better still ask for your own Republic, if you want people to get visa before coming there, but before then, Nigeria lands are for all Nigerians. that little chunk your hunger killed father and prostitute mother left, be ready to sell it if you have not yet sold it to using your fraise Ibo hawkers. continue to leave with your tribalism while the wise is buying and building all lands in Nigeria.

        • Author’s gravatar

          Our land were not vomiting her people until we were confronted with Nigeria by Britain. We want to return to where we were before Britain came to destroy us with Nigeria. We do not want your presidency or anything else you have. We want Biafra sir. Is that OK with you?

        • Author’s gravatar

          In those areas the Igbos migrate to, if that is what you call it, they show greater tendency for development there even more that the hosts who only depend on government for everything. Do you agree with that.? At least, El-Rufai was of the view that Igbos had almost 70% of Abuja property. Lagos has a large share of Igbo property, so do other towns in Nigeria. What a better way of fostering unity is that? If you think the Igboman is boastful, that is your cup of tea. I think your main enemy is inferiority complex. Get out of it and try to compete fairly. They says Igbos are illiterates but all universities in Nigeria outside Igboland have Igbo population only second to the student population of the catchment area. Universities in Igboland have almost 90-95% Igbo population. I wonder if other tribes get educated in Mars. The difference is that an Igboman from a poor family believes he can conquer poverty and change the history of the family. We don’t hover around kits and kin hoping on family property. Emulate Igbos instead of being jealous. What God has made, no man can unmake.

          • Author’s gravatar

            The problem with most of you is being so conceited that you hardly see beyond your sphere of imagination. It so constrains you that you think you are the best thing that happened to the world. This is what led you to the misadventure of the late sixties and the signs are there again that you may soon abandon your properties again if you don’t get wise and learn. It might interest you to know that there are many other tribes that own properties in billions outside their place of origin. I give you the Dangotes, Ibrus etc. as an examples, and they are not hated. You guys are bigoted and it is an ill.

        • Author’s gravatar

          What is wrong with migrating to other places if it is one Nigeria? Ochiab you see how small minded you are? If we can not move and live freely within different tribal enclaves then what is the essence of one Nigeria. My dear stop sulking when you hear the name Ibo after all your people are ruling and are having the best from the Nigeria project while the Ibo is at the loosing end. Some of your leaders claim to have fought a war to keep Nigeria one and I dare ask to whose benefit and at whose cost? You can see why I pity people like you , your leaders fought to keep you together with a people you do not like so who is to blame? Naturally people ( Igbo or non Igbo) gravitate towards any place with greater opportunities as you claim and if it happens to be in your village Ochiab expect to see me there soonest as long as your village is in ONE NIGERIA. The only exception being of course, that all of you born in that community have ever remained there without moving outside of it. There is no need to morose and cause yourself unnecessarily headache, just try to accept the Igboman as you see him, just try at least for the sake of the one indivisible entity = ONE NIGERAI

      • Author’s gravatar

        Stay in your Nigeria, we want our Biafra

  • Author’s gravatar

    The great men. We have taken over

  • Author’s gravatar

    I do not want to be president of Nigeria, I do not want to restructure or do anything with Nigeria. I just want Nigeria to leave me and my people alone. Any person assuming to speak for my people must do so after a referendum where we collectively appoint that person to represent us. Ekwueme, Nwabueze and their friends in one Nigeria are ‘efulefu’ and represent themselves only – let us test it. Release Kanu which they could not even ask for -.

  • Author’s gravatar

    Reading these commentaries, you come to realize how far apart we are as a nation. These type of commentaries validate the argument that the biggest problem facing Nigeria is not corruption but rather the invisible line that divides us. Until these invisible lines are removed, there will no meaningful war against corruption. Most of the time we access our brothers from other tribes based on how the buss driver from their tribe treated us. While Shehu Shagari, Ekwueme, and Obasanjo are at Uta sharing “isi eghu”, Yusuf, Okafor and Akindele are at Lawanson killing each other. There is nothing wrong with Ibos, or Yorubas and nothing is wrong with our Hausa brothers. We just happen to be different. We must all learn to live with one another for the collective interest of all. We disapprove of child abuse and rape regardless of who committed the crime; an igboman, a Yoruba or Hausa; the crime will be condemned by all. But when it comes to, miss use of public fund, the rule changes because the invisible line that divides us also blinds us from seeing that a crime against Nigeria, is a crime against all Nigerians, and such crimes are responsible for high unemployment, bad roads, poor education, poor healthcare, high infant mortality and an endless list of other problems. The point I am trying to make is that nigeria belongs to all of us, we must work together to make it what we want. Nigeria can not function properly without the contribution of Yorubas, Ibos, Hausa and other tribes that make up Nigeria. Let us look ourselves in the mirror and see where changes need to be made for common interest of all of us. Where your neighbor is lacking compliment and where you are lacking learn or borrow from your neighbor. This condemnation of other tribes is not getting us any where. We have been doing this since 1960, let us try other things and see how far we can go as a nation. Not America, and not Britain can do this for us. If we can not do this, nobody can do it for us. Sam Uwandu CPA, is the president and founder of Sam Uwandu & Associates, PC, Washington DC. samuwanducpa@gmail.com