2023: Igbo must shun politics of lamentation — NIROH

…urges Ndigbo to jettison separatist agenda, embrace Nigeria

Lawrence Nwimo, Awka

Ahead of the 2023 general election, Igbo socio-political and cultural group, Ndi Igbo Royal Heritage (NIROH) worldwide, has called on Ndigbo in Southeast and Nigeria at large to unite and seek a different approach to politics instead of dwelling on complaints and lamentations.

The group made the call recently, during Igbo Unity Day Celebration themed: ‘The Unification Of The Igbo Nation.” The event held at Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square Awka, Anambra State capital.

The group said Igbo as the oldest race and second after every indigenous group in every city in Nigeria must start taking proactive measures and not dwell on lamentations on issues of electing leaders or taking up sensitive positions in the country.

It stated that Ndigbo are major stakeholders in the Nigerian grand design and played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Nigerian state hence, cannot afford to loose out or become a backbencher in the leadership of the nation.

“The unity Day was designed to encourage Igbos to take a proactive move anywhere they find themselves and stop playing the second fiddle. The politics of lamentation and blame game is destructive and will never take us anywhere. We have invested so much in Nigeria to abandon the Nigerian project.

“The oldest race in Nigeria is Igbo. Igbos are second after every indigenous group in all the cities in Nigeria. We have approximately 18 million Igbos living in the three northern states and 9 million in the Lagos mainland alone. Suffice it to say that Igbos are not in minority in Nigeria and have the capacity to win elective post anywhere in Nigeria.”

While making case for a president of Igbo extraction and welcoming the Obidient movement, it said Ndigbo must decide to play actively in the incoming government. It also noted that the emergence of a president of Igbo extraction will help erase mark of the civil war on the Igbo man

“Igbos have made tremendous achievement attaining the position of vice president about 20 years after the war. Igbo also attained the position of a general in the army a few years later. All these go a long way to establish the fact that we are not mere onlookers in Nigerian socio-political circle. Therefore the attainment of the position of the president will confirm and consolidate the works done all these years.

“That said, Igbos have Midas touch. Whatever they touch turns gold. The Nigerian nation is yearning for this touch. ONLY an Igbo can fix Nigeria considering that we are not only the major stakeholders in Nigeria but also the only tribe that has no alternative country.

“For fairness, justice and equity the next president should be from the southeast. In doing this our son Ifeanyichukwu Okowa must not be vilified. Atiku is a spent force and will be doing himself a whole lot of good by stepping down for our illustrious son Okowa. How good and how pleasant it could be to see an all Igbo tickets as in Obasanjo/Falae and Atiku/Buhari. Igbos have not forgotten the actions of Atiku as a controller of custom and Nigerians can never forget the Bakasi peninsula. That said Ifeanyichukwu is fighting a good fight and deserves our honour and respect.

On the agitation for secession, the group said ” the discussion of secession alone is retrogressive considering that 75 per cent of developments in Abuja belongs to Igbos as well as 65 per cent of Lagos. We have about 40 to 50 per cent of the infrastructural developments in cities like Kano, Kaduna, Katsina and others. On this premise Igbos must jettison any form divisive or separatist agenda and embrace Nigeria with renewed vigour and enthusiasm.

It regretted the Muslim —Muslim ticket of All Progressive Congress, APC, for the presidential election, describing it as an insult to the Christian community in Nigeria. It however called on Nigerians to reject the Islamic agenda and also avoid a repeat of former President Umaru Yaradua’s scenario that nearly sank the country.

It also regretted the infrastructural decay in Igbo land as well as the destruction of the economy of the southeast by the continued insecurity and sit at home, noting that its opinion remains that government is playing politics with the insecurity and that nothing serious is being done to curb the menace.