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…as Chibuike Amaechi urges Ndigbo to veer into national politics
Raymond Ozoji, Awka
President-General Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, says that Ndigbo are true ambassadors of Nigeria judging from the magnitude of investments they have across the country.
Nwodo stated that 40% of properties in Lagos and Abuja were owned by Ndigbo in spite of the inequality and injustice meted out to the Igbo nation by the Nigerian government.
The Ohaneze Ndigbo boss, who spoke at the 12th convocation ceremony of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, faulted the composition of the Nigerian constitution saying the constitution was a deceit on the citizenry. He emphasized that there was no federation where the security apparatus was domiciled in one section of the country.
He also condemned the fact that the federal government has not imprisoned any Boko Haram member nor herdsmen wreaking havoc across the country, noting that the government of the federation must recognise the place of Ndigbo in the Nigerian polity.
Guest lecturer on the occasion and Minister of Transport, Chibike Rotimi Amaechi, who delivered the convocation lecture titled “The Igbo Man In The Politics Of Nigeria”, stressed the need for Ndigbo to veer into national politics by identifying with the President Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government of Nigeria.
The two-time Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly berated ex-president Jonathan’s PDP-led federal government, saying it did virtually nothing for the Igbo nation and the country at large.
He said Ndigbo should emerge in national politics and support the Buhari administration for them to attain the presidency.
Chairman of the 12th convocation lecture of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka and chairman Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, who is also the traditional ruler of Onitsha, said Ndigbo sacrificed alot during the Nigerian Biafran civil war.
According to Igwe Achebe, the Igbo nation feel marginalised and under-represented in the Nigerian polity. He said this was why Ndigbo and Nigerians were clamouring for the restructuring of the federation and the Igbo presidency respectively. He stressed the need for equal rights and justice for all in the Nigerian nation.
Meanwhile, the vice chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Professor Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku, described the convocation lecture as apt as well as a food for thought for all well-meaning Nigerians noting that through convocation lectures, issues of national and international concerns are delibrated upon.
Ahaneku stated that since his inception as vice chancellor in the last three years, convocation ceremonies had been a yearly activity at Nnamdi Azikiwe University and that the institution had continued to graduate with comparative advantage over their counterparts across the nation.
