YOUR Excellences, Kindly permit me to use this medium to congratulate all of you on your most deserving but hard earned victory at the polls. I thank God for finding you worthy to occupy this position of responsibility and pray for wisdom and good health to enable you succeed in this national assignment.
It is very obvious that by this victory, you have been elevated to a position of honour and political leadership of both the Igbo nation and Nigeria as a whole. It is by this recognition that I wish to draw your kind attention to some critical issues which I consider pertinent to the political and economic development of Nd’Igbo in this new dispensation.
I believe that the political environment in Nigeria today has not only placed Nd’Igbo at a cross-road but at the same time at a political strategic advantage depending on how we play our card. There is no doubt that today the Igbo nation has become a powerful bloc that can influence, if well managed, the direction of political and economic activities in Nigeria to the advantage of our people in particular and Nigeria in general. You therefore need to be very creative in thinking and exhibit a high sense of political sagacity in order to discover the best route and a new role that will re-launch us into political reckoning in this new dispensation. I believe that the first test of this new political alignment shall be consummated with your role in the upcoming election of the Leadership of the 8th National Assembly.
Your Excellences, I wish to refresh your memories with the following facts and set an agenda which to my mind represents the wishes and aspiration of the Igbo people. This will engender your success as well as enable you remain focused and committed to the high expectations of our people.
1.Unity of Purpose
At the beginning of the 4th Republic in 1999, the position of the Senate President was zoned to the Southeast by the PDP government. Either by fate or design, Nd’Igbo produced five senate presidents within the eight years of the Obasanjo presidency. This was largely seen as lack of coordination and political immaturity on the part of the Igbo leaders. Today’s circumstance presents a unique opportunity for us to re-write our own history and correct the negative impression about the lack of unity of purpose by the Igbo. By bringing yourselves together to present a bloc vote at all times, you will greatly increase your value and earn deep respect from your colleagues. This is the best way to go in order to achieve more for our people.
2.Igbo Presidency
The Southeast remains the most marginalised in terms of power sharing in our country today. We are the only zone that is yet to produce the president of Nigeria, yet, we have demonstrated our belief and commitment to Nigeria through our sojourn and investments in other parts of the country more than any other zone.Nd’Igbo has indeed paid their dues and sincerely deserves the support of other zones to actualise the Igbo presidency. The way and manner you as the Igbo political leaders of today repackage the Igbo nation politically will go a long way to keep the project alive and achievable within the shortest time possible.
3.‘Ethnophobia’
Nd’Igbo has made enormous economic investment in Nigeria majority of which are located outside the Igbo land. As a result, we have the utmost reason to work for the sustenance of peace and unity of Nigeria. It is often said that you put your heart where your money is. Most people have condemned the recent xenophobia attack in South Africa but within our country lies a similar hatred and systemic repressive agenda against a particular ethnic group, what I call ‘ethnophobia’ – the hate and attack on an ethnic group in her own country. That the Igbo are target of ethnophobia is not debatable considering the number of death and looting of Igbo property and investment recorded in different parts of Nigeria at every imaginable opportunity for violence. Also, a new dimension of hate speeches
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