A socio-pressure group, Igbo Union Nzuko Ndi Igbo has unveiledĀ prominent Nigerians for honour at the association’s forthcoming awards and honours ceremony slated in Abuja this year.
The awards are in furtherance of its drive to recognise dignitaries, especially those who have made their marks in deepening democratic practices and attracting the dividends of democracy to the South East of Nigeria irrespective of their state of origin.
Among those to be honoured at this year’s occasion are the Senate president Godswill Akpabio, businesman, Mr. Femi Otedola, governor of Osun State and others.
Speaking to newsmen in Abuja yesterday on the preparations being made for the awards ceremony, the Convener of Igbo Union Nzuko Ndi Igbo, Prince Elias Odoemena, disclosed that those who were named as the awardees, were carefully selected by a panel set up by the board of the association with the mandate to carefully come up with names of Nigerians who would be acceptable to the general public, with biased on their impaction to the people of the South East,
He said Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other leaders in the National Assembly were selected as the most deserving recipients because of their unflinching support and commitment to the development of the South East region, especially in the establishment of the South East Development Commission.
Odoemena also said that the association is also honouring some of these leaders because of their contributions in the establishment of South East Investment Company (SEIC), by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with a projected capital base of over N150 billion naira, which would help in propelling and unlocking the economic potentials of the region, known for their business orientation and drive for business excellence.
He said the creation of these two development bodies or agencies has shown that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu truly loves the people of the South East and is poised to bring more dividends of democracy to the zone.
Odoemena reiterateed the need for the Igbos to reciprocate the gesture by supporting all his policies, noting that without the efforts of the leadership of the National Assembly, especially Senator Akpabio, Hon. Ben Kalu, the Speaker of House of Representatives, and that of Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, who has shown excellent leadership in attracting Development to South East.
Prince Odoemena said that the Igbo Nzuko Ndi Igbo is aware of Senator Akpabio’s contribution to the Development of Igbo land, even when he was governor of Akwa Ibom State. “And as the Senate President, he has given our sons and daughters jobs in the Senate, we can not thank him enough for all these kind gestures.”
Prince Odoemena added that the forthcoming Igbo and Friends Awards would not be only for the Igbos, “but it would also be an avenue to honour our in-laws, grandsons, granddaughters and friends like Akpabio, Adelekes, Femi Otedola, who spent thousands of dollars on Christian Chukwu, Bukola Saraki, who spent money on Mr Ibu’s ill health before he eventually died, and many other friends of Igbo.
Prince Odoemena pleaded with President Tinubu and Senator Akpabio that, since they have given the Igbos what many military heads of state and civilian presidents could not give them, it’s also important that both of them make sure that both SEDC and SEIC are well-founded through the budget of the Federal Government.
