Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has reiterated calls for restructuring of the country and creation of additional states in the Southeast zone.
The president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu made this call during Ohanaeze Ndigbo Retreat with the theme “Ako Bu Ije” (Development with Wisdom) on Wednesday in Enugu.
Iwuanyanwu said Ohanaeze was not happy with the 1999 Constitution as amended and called for restructuring of Nigeria where power would devolve from Federal Government to State Government.
This, according to him, would help the state have a reasonable autonomy to develop at their own pace without any hindrance from the Federal Government.
“It will enable us to build our own seaports, railways and other infrastructure to develop the zone,” he stated.
While calling for creation of another state in the zone, the Igbo apex leader lamented that the southeast had lost trillions of naira because of inadequate states like in other geopolitical zones.
Iwuanyanwu threatened to take legal action against the Federal Government if it failed to give the region an additional state equivalent to other zones in the country, saying “we are assembling Igbo lawyers to pursue it”.
He added that they would allow the state anywhere it was created in Igboland.
He also kicked against the merging of Project Development Institute (PRODA) with another science institute, stressing that the institute was borne out of the experience of the Nigeria Civil War.
His words, “Ohanaeze is in full support of the implementation of Oronsaye report but will request all Igbo anywhere to ensure that PRODA is not merged with any other institutions”.
In his comment, Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State represented by his Deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai commended Igbos serving in various capacities for their sacrifice and support.
The governor said the zone needed to work towards economic integration of their business and people.
He said the economic team in Ohanaeze had a huge task to engage political leaders across the southeast to work towards creating a common market that will attract investors to the zone.
“It beats my imagination that Onitsha and Oguta ports in Imo State are not working. We should act in a way to liberate ourselves.
“Enugu is known for coal and from what I heard from an engineer, if coal is heated 1000 degrees it will melt and if you pour it on the road, will last more than bitumen and asphalt we use in road construction,” he said.
In a paper presentation titled “Education: Technical Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Igboland” the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Nnenna Oti, called for new hope, equal opportunities, technological and entrepreneurial development in Igboland.
She called on Igbos to identify whom they were, pursue their dreams for greater exploits.
In his welcome address, the chairman of the event, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke Rtd. said it was time for Igbos to step out and make a move for the betterment of the zone.
He said, “when you move without wisdom, you get injured”, stressing that it was time for Igbos to ask themselves questions on where they went wrong and make amends.
He commended Chief Iwuanyanwu for organising the programme, stressing that Ndigbo need to change their tactics and approaches with wisdom.
