2015: Okorocha renews calls for Igbo presidency Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, on Tuesday brought back to life the quest for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction, saying that the country would witness tremendous progress once an Igbo man takes charge of its affairs. Okorocha spoke in Enugu at the International Colloqium on the Igbo Question in Nigeria. The occasion took place at the ultra-modern Igbozurume Hall, built by the Imo State governor as a centre of unity for Ndigbo. Speaking at the colloqium, chaired by former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, Okorocha said the moment an Igbo man assumes the office of President, the country would witness a turnaround. “The Hausas governed Nigeria and yet there was no progress in Nigeria. The Yorubas governed and the situation was the same. The South-South people are there, and the problem continued. But, once the Igbo man gets there, you will see development in this country,” he said. Okorocha who was the only governor at the event, however, chided present Igbo leaders for failing to work for the collective good of the people. He regretted that despite its huge human and material potentials, the Igbo nation was not working, because of disunity. “The Igbo nation is not working, but the Igbo nation can work, and it will take my generation to make it work. “The problem is not that we don’t have abundant natural and human resources; the problem is not that we don’t have enough educated people, enough business men, enough professors, enough religious leaders; our problem is lack of unity: any day Ndigbo become one, something will happen in Nigeria. “Our problem is that there is no unity. Governors are not united, businessmen are not united, traditional rulers are not united, the women, the youths are not united,” Okorocha said. While praying for unity among Igbos, he said they must ask God for forgiveness, adding that Ndigbo must set aside a date to fast and atone for their sins. On such a day, they must lie down on the ground and cry to God. The coordinator and chairman of the colloquium planning committee, Prof. Uzodinma Nwala, said the event was conceived by a body of Igbo intelligentsia, clergy, elders and patriots in the light of the current socio-political situation in the Nigerian federation and the debate over her future, and in the light of the enormous challenges facing the Igbo nation. Quoting from the handbook of the colloquium, Nwala said the event “provides the much expected opportunity for the entire Igbo race to prepare themselves for a national conference and at the same time, to examine ways and means of overcoming the challenges they face both in Nigeria and in the world today.” A key note speech was delivered at the event by Professor Chinweizu. Other dignitaries in attendance were Chief Chekwas Okorie, Dr. Ikedife, Prof. Mark Odu, Chief Ralph Obioha and Bishop Emmanuel Chukwuma as well as other clergymen. Also present were Prof. Chiweta Ejike, Dr. Max Gbanite, Chief Uka Kalu Uka and Ngozi Chukwu Ugo of International Criminal Court at The Hague.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 06:36:40 +0000