Prominent Igbo leaders and elders have advocated fostering collective solidarity and unity of purpose among all persons of Igbo extraction irrespective of geopolitical zone, state and religion.
They stated this at Okpanam in Delta State Capital Territory at the National Conference of Igbo Bu Otu( Gathering of all Igbo speaking people of Nigeria)
In a keynote address, Emeritus Professor Uzodinma Nwala hinted that Ndi-Igbo are identified by their language and various socio-cultural organizations.
While postulating whether the Anioma people of Delta North are Igbos or just part of the Igbo speaking people, the Emeritus Professor said several organizations of Ndigbo had emerged with several leading sons and daughters of Anioma as leading personalities .
He said, ”Chief Dennis Osadebay, one of the most iconic Igbo sons from Anioma, was not only the Premier of Mid-Western Nigeria he was also a one-time Secretary of the Igbo State Union. Chief Sonny Odogwu, another Iconic personality in Igbo.
He was a great Igbo son from Anioma, a Pan-Africanist and Patron of the University of Pennsylvania, USA.
Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, an Illustrious Igbo son from Okpanam in Anioma, the reputed Leader of the January 15, 1966 Nigerian Coup.
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Our dear Air-raid, General Achuzie of the Biafra war fame. It was he who dismembered the Niger Bridge in order to prevent the surge of the Nigerian troops into Igbo Heartland across the River Nigeria.
Major Okonkwo, another great Igbo son from Anioma who was a onetime the Administrator of Midwest State.
The late Asagba of Asaba, Prof Edozien, another great Igbo leader from Anioma who was the Economic Adviser to President Shagaris Government.”
He stated further, ”What we have tried to demonstrate in the above account is the fact that those who argue whether our brothers and sisters in Anioma are Igbo or not are engaging themselves in idle intellectual masturbation”
He stated that the Igbo people once acknowledged to be among the great and dominant people of the world, are known for being genius, industrious couragious, and are respected all over the world.
”They are people highly adaptable and self-reliant, a nation of warriors, humble but shrewd and aggressive commercial class, highly devoted clerical class, with a literati whose creativity, inventiveness and intellectual accomplishments”
While enumerating the challenges confronting the Igbo race, Professor Nwala said the solution lies in the sustenance of major pan-Igbo intellectual and social organizations.
According to him, the Alaigbo Development Foundation has played the role very ably and strategically, but noted that the future of Alaigbo will depend on how much we succeed in evolving a strong political synergy among the various patriotic forces in Alaigbo. This would require the support of the political class and leadership, the business class, the youth and the women”
” What is more we need the critical role of the committed educated class the intelligentsia, who possess the necessary exposure, training and capacity to monitor developments in the society and the world, collect and collate the relevant data, do the necessary analysis and draw up the appropriate conclusions, and on the basis of these formulate the guiding policies and modalities for their implementation to meet the political and economic challenges faced by the Igbo Nation”, he stressed.
Declaring the conference open, Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by Chief of Staff, Government House, Johnson Erijo said his administration would continue to support and provide enabling environment to encourage all socio- cultural organizations for the overall development of the state.
Governor Oborevwori described as highly commendable the initiative by the organizers of the event to bring together all Igbo speaking people under the auspices of the socio- cultural organization.
The Senator representing Delta North in the Senate, Senator Ned Nwoko used the forum to inform the people about the stages the Bill for the creation of Anioma state has gone through, including the public hearing on the creation of Anioma state.
Senator Nwoko who stated that the geopolitical zone the Anioma state will belong when created, did not matter , urged all Anioma sons and daughters in the nine local government areas of Delta North to remain united for the realization of the Anioma state.
President of the Ndi NASU BIA Socio Cultural Organization, Chief Kingsley Kainebi sued for greater unity and cooperation among all Igbo sons and daughters.
Chief Kainebi said, By coming together, we amplify our influence, safeguard our interests, and contribute more meaningfully to the development of our nation”
Chairman, local organizing committee and patron, Ndi NASU BIA Socio Cultural Organization, Agada Chikeobi said the organization had helped to create the awareness in Igbo youths to think Igbo first, thereby establishing a new consciousness of Igbo nationalism.
”We have helped to revive the agitations for the balancing of the South East geopolitical zone by the creation of an additional state to make the number of states in the region six.
