….says it is a major hindrance to development.
Emmanuel lkpeama.
In a bid to reposition the Igbo nation in Nigeria and in line with current trends, national and global realities, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide under the leadership of Engr. Dr. Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu, (Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo), has called on the Igbo leaders to resolved insecurity in the Southeast which has now become a major hindrance to the development of the region.
This was disclosed in a one day retreat organized by Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide with the theme “Ako bu lje” on Wednesday at the Old Governor’s lodge,Enugu State.
The retreat, which was attended by distinguished Igbo sons and daughters both at home and in the Diaspora including the Governor of Enugu State; former Ministers, members of the academia, traditional rulers, captains of industries, religious leaders, youth leaders, women leaders, under the chairmanships of H.E Admiral Allison Madueke, GCON.
In a communique issued at the end of Ohanaeze Ndigbo retreat,signed by its National Secretary, Okey Emuchay, and National Publicity Secretary, Alex Ogbonnia,the lgbo leaders went further to emphasized the imperative of collaboration between Ohanaeze leadership and Igbo Governors for the realization of Ala-Igbo Transformation Agenda, while urging the governors, security agencies and civil society organisations to redouble their efforts in the security sector.
The Communique also harped on the capacity of Ndigbo for self-sufficiency in food production and urged the Igbo Governors to key into this vision and also ensure tight security in the region so as to earn confidence of intending investors.
The Igbo leaders at the retreat resolved that Ndigbo have the enormous human and natural potentials to initiate a “made-to-fit” regional development agenda that aligns with the current global reality.
“we observed that Ndigbo have not exploited the opportunistic media space to identify the power centres in the region and galvanizing them for collective action.”
“The various specialized Ohanaeze Committees were therefore urged to swing into action to ensure the realization of the new Igbo agenda in sync with 21st Century socio-economic realities.”they stated.
Read also:FG declares Friday, Monday public holidays
In the Communique the Igbo leaders formally adopted the President-General’s vision on restructuring of Ohanaeze and the establishment of specialized committees for the transformation of Igboland. The new Ohanaeze structure comprises seven global zones, namely, Europe, North America and Canada, South America and the Caribbean, Asia, the Pacific, and Africa; while the three zones at the national level include Western, Northern and Eastern zones.
They also adopted the President-General’s blueprints on improving transportation in Igboland, implementation of the Orosanya Committee Report and preservation of the autonomy of Proda; maximization of the Enugu Visa Office, sports development, ending unwarranted hostility to the Igbo outside Igboland, to intensify its drive for the unconditional release of the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The Specialized committees include Education Trust Fund headed by Professor Chinedu Nebo; the Committee on Culture and Tradition is headed by His Majesty, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, CFR, Obi of Onitsha. The Chairman of the Committee on Youth Employment and Skill Acquisition is Sen. Dr. Chris Ngige; while the Committee on Business Leaders is chaired by Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and the Committee on Agriculture is headed by Dr. Ngozi Olejeme.The Committee on the Diaspora is headed by Dr. Sam Obaji while the Committee on Reconciliation and Peace Building in Nigeria is headed by Dr. Dominic Nnaemeka Okechukwu. The mandates of these specialized committees are clearly spelt out in their terms of reference and were handed over to the various Committee chairmen.
