Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Peter Obi, has called on Ndigbo to tell their own history.
The former Anambra State governor made the call when he unveiled a book titled, “Igbo Book of Records” authored by two veteran journalists, Nze Sam Nwanze and Comrade Mike Ubani.
Obi said Igbos are more disposed to write and tell the world their own history, culture, heritage and events to define the future than any other ethnic nationality.
Obi who was represented by his chief press secretary, Mr Valentine Obinyen, described the compendium as a masterpiece that encompasses various tradition and the way of life of the ancient Igbo race by which they rose to stardom through dints of hardwork than the present era of being on the fast lane.
He commended the two journalists for the good work, describing the compendium as a renaissance of the Igbo nation.
“It is entirely a reinsurance of the Igbo nation. The authors have done a great thing for the Igbo race. Now the Igbos have a book of records,” he said.
The 2023 LP presidential candidate tasked Ndigbo to be good ambassadors of the Igbo race stating the Igbos are the best to tell the world about their history.
According to him, the vision of the authors in coming up with the piece, aligned with a book on India where some Indian authors wrote about their culture and great founders.
He noted that Jewish philosophers and writers had also written famous books and even the Holy Bible through which the world knows their history and civilization.
In a lecture delivered at the event, an Associate Professor, Mrs Rebecca Nnamani advocated the revival of Igbo culture as a gateway to redefining the future of Igbos, pointing out that Igbo people are known for hard work, resilience and the spirit of enterprise.
Nnamani stated, “Our ancestors valued reasoning, strategic thinking and planning. We must encourage intellectualism; we must promote our culture and language,” she said.
She enjoined Igbos to reject laziness, mediocrity and imbibe hard work, resilience and perseverance so as to reclaim their lost values.
“When we talk of perseverance, no ethnic group in Africa has demonstrated resilience more than the Igbos. A people who worked tirelessly to shape their destiny were the Igbos of origin. Igbos create; they do not fold their hands but innovate,” she stated.
A veteran journalist, Dr Uche Maduemesi, who reviewed the book also poured encomium of the authors, Nze Sam Nwanze and Comrade Mike Ubani.
Maduemesi, who is also a lawyer, took time to x-ray all the parts of the book, stressing that ‘Igbo Book of Records’ is a must read.
Earlier in his address, Nze Sam Nwanze, said the objective of the book is in line with the policy of the parent body ‘Igbo Achievers Foundation’ registered in 2018 to champion the Igbo cause of recovering their lost values as a panacea for enhancing intellectualism, research and authentic information on the Igbo race.
The highpoint of the event was the unveiling of the book and inauguration of a 7-man award committee chaired by Archbishop Emeritus, Most Rev (Dr) Emmanuel Chukwuma.
The committee would select the Best Southeast Governor of the Year.
