President from South East will address Nigeria’s economy — Ohaneze president
By Abba – Eku Onyeka, Abuja
Believing that Igbo people (Nd’Igbo) are good in economic development and management, the President, Ohaneze Nd’Igbo in the 19 Northern States/Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Augustine Amaechi Esq says Nigerian president elected from the South Eastern part of the country, come next presidential election will address the country’s dwindling economy.
The President said this at the reception they organised for the newly elected President General (PG), Ohaneze Nd’Igbo Worldwide, Prof George Obiozor Abuja recently.
He said: “Ohaneze in the 19 Northern States and FCT had a meeting about five or four years ago in Minna, Niger state capital for the emergence of president of Nigeria from the Igbo extraction of the south east. Apart from restructuring, we have been calling for a Nigerian president from that part of the country and you will see the economic development this country will enjoy, should an Igbo man becomes the next president of Nigeria.
“We have been successful in our business, we have been successful in our efforts and we should be successful in governance of this country. Others have tried, but we believe that we have all it takes to transform this country from where we are today to the Dubai and other developed countries of the world. Because of the wonders Nd’Igbo are doing in Aba, they are being referred to as the Japan of Africa.
“When we unite Nigeria, we will contribute to its development. Let me give you an example; wherever we stay in Nigeria, we bring development. Give us Sambisa Forest or Sahara Desert, we develop the place. That is our gift. If an Igbo man becomes president in Nigeria, the situation will change and we shall develop Nigeria.”
Hailing their host communities in the north for cordial relationship and embracing the development from Ndigbo in their area, he said after the war, there was nothing like abandoned properties in the area, even as he enjoined other ethnic groups to join hands in realising Nigerian president from the south east, for the country to attain its desired prosperity and development.
On the crises in Ohaneze in the north, especially in Abuja the FCT, Barr Amaechi said that they have not only ordered that the case be withdrawn from court, but also set up a committee that would settle the matter, even as he informed that the essence of Ohaneze Ndigbo in the 19 Northern states and FCT was to unite Nd’Igbo in the north.
Hailing the five south east governors and well meaning Nd’Igbo, as well as other groups for according PG of Ohaneze Nd’Igbo Worldwide, the desired support and recognition, he treated with a wave of hand, the existence of Ohaneze General Assembly; an association he described as a mere private business organisation.
On the Ebubeagu, a security outfit inaugurated by the five states of the South East, Bare Augustine Amaechi said his members were in support of any measure that would bring security in Igbo land and Nigeria in general, just as he prayed that Ebubeagu becomes a success.
Also speaking on the Igbo presidency, the PG, Prof Obiozor called for equity and justice in producing presidents in Nigeria. Obiozor therefore said that the beginning of putting equity and justice into practice will start from producing president from the south eastern part of the country.
The Igbo paramount ruler (Eze Nd’Igbo) in Abuja, HRH Nwosu Ibe said that the race for the actualisation and realisation of president from that part of the country should be gone into with carefulness, even as he added that south easterners were overdue for presidency. Nwosu Ibe reiterated the need for the process to be gone into with carefulness, for the interest of the country. Reacting to the belief from some people that there are factions in Ohaneze, the royal father said that there were no factions in the Igbo socio – cultural organisation.