Nnewi is a Prestigious Town, Desist from Violence — Dr Chris Ibe
The President General of Nnewi Improvement Union (NIU), Dr. Chris Ositadimma Ibe has denounced in its fullness the assault on the building in Police Area Command Nnewi by the unknown gunmen on Monday, 9th August 2021.
Describing the act as unpatriotic and uncivilized, the community leader said such action could lead to a total breakdown of law and order in the relatively peaceful town and as such would not be condoned in Nnewi. He warned against assault to constituted authorities and advised the youths to desist from such acts of violence as it is never a panacea for the attainment of the southeast quest on self-governance.
He said Nnewi is a prestigious, organized, and secured town whose indigenes and dwellers team up in unity and contribute to the overall development of Nnewi, Igbo race, Nigerian economy, and beyond via commerce, industry, entrepreneurship, agriculture, hospitality, and tourism, to mention but a few. Nnewi is neither known for bloodshed nor abominable acts but for hard work, commitment, and Independent minded spirit.
He emphatically stated; ” Nnewi is a sacred town”: Nnewi is blessed so nobody should indulge in acts that would rob Nnewi of its fortune.”
Enumerating some of the potentials and endowments in the only one town Local Government Area of Anambra State, he said the contributions of Nnewi to industrial and commercial development nationally and internationally can not be over-emphasized.
Going down memory lane, he used three illustrious sons of Nnewi to buttress his points. Dr. Ibe said the pioneer chairman of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) as well as the richest black man in Africa in his era, Sir Louis-Philip Odumegwu- Ojukwu who donated his private Rolls Royce to the Federal Government of Nigeria to host Queen Elizabeth of England during her visit to Nigeria. He enlightened further, sir. Ojukwu aided the transportation and communication sector by the establishment of Ojukwu Transport Company, building and donation of the Post office in Nnewi which has been serving Nnewi and the Neighbouring towns till date.
Today, two sons of the soil, Dr. Innocent Chukwuma and Dr. Cosmas Mmaduabuchikwu Maduka of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) and Coscharis Motors fame, respectively, are replicating Sir. LP Ojukwu by placing Nnewi in the annals of history with their innovative exploits in the automotive industry and Agriculture. To this end, he appealed to the youths in Nnewi to be law-abiding, borrow a leaf from the aforementioned achievers, and build Nnewi instead of destroying what God has endowed to Ndi Nnewi.
Appreciating the security situation in Nnewi, Dr. Ibe thanked numerous stakeholders and key players in the town especially the incumbent Chairman of Nzuko Ora Nnewi (Nnewi town Union), Dr. Maduka Atueyi who has been using his wealth of knowledge as a security expert to protect lives and properties. He equally said, Sir. Patrick Ubajaka, the Chairman of Nnewi Security Trust Fund has made commendable impacts and plead that everyone should key into.
Responding to The West African Pilot News,WAP, on the current state of the vandalized Nnewi Improvement Union(NIU) Headquarters, Nnewi said he has tried his best by sinking millions of naira to control the erosion menace in the area. Considering the relevance of the NIU Secretariat which played host to numerous historic and remarkable events like social, political, religious, economic activities, Dr.Ibe appealed to kind-spirited individuals and institutions within and in the diaspora to contribute urgently to the rehabilitation of the NIU secretariat which was raided, looted and vandalized beyond imagination by unidentified youths during the EndSARS protest.
He stressed that “ebeonye bi ka ona awachi,” we need to be mindful of our environment. ”
While imploring the traditional institutions in Nnewi, Nzukora Nnewi, Nnewi Youth League, Ohaneze Ndigbo, and other renowned groups to work collaboratively with Nnewi Improvement Union to eradicate all activities that would mar the peaceful co-existence of Nnewi town, he appealed that the youths should be given a sense of belonging by carrying them along in burning societal issues. By so doing, the star chances of youths’ involvement in social vices would be reduced to the barest minimum.
