The Igbo Day organized by tthe Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide held yesterday at Awka but all top politicians of Igbo extraction were absent.
Mr. Oseloka Obaze, the secretary to the Anambra State government, was the only top government official present at the ceremony, though there were some traditional rulers from Anambra, Imo, Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi states, as well as some women groups and Igbos in Diaspora.
At the event the apex Igbo body stated that for equity and justice, Ndigbo will seek the office of president of Nigeria at the expiration of the tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan in line with its position on the issue in 2010.
Speaking on the theme, ‘Sojourner remember Igbo land’, the National President, Chief Gary Igarewei said
“Our central theme revolves around an issue that has generated many different shades of opinions, controversies and commentaries, which is the impressive demand for our people to repatriate their working wealth and invest it at home.
“Our call is not in any shape of form the product of parochialism or sentimentalism or informed by a hatred of one united Nigeria. It is an action, which if heeded, shall even go a long way in sustaining the fragile fabric of a united and virile Federal Republic.
“The specter of being landlord in Lagos, Abuja or Kano, but reside in hotels in Enugu, Awka or Owerri is shocking, ludicrous and contrary to all logical considerations.”
He said that suggestions which claim that the primary motivations of those who invest massively outside Igboland are lack of security and good market environment were no longer tenable, arguing that the security situation in Igbo land has greatly improved.
