The Deputy President of Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu has called on the Igbo socio-cultural, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to reach out to other similar groups in the country in order to strengthen Nigeria’s unity and enhance the realisation of the nation’s enormous potentials.
Senator Ekweremadu, who described Ohanaeze as a symbol of unity of the Igbo nation and a leading force to preserve its culture and tradition expressed the belief that an interface between Ohanaeze and other regional groupings in the country was key to bringing about a larger accommodation for Ndigbo within the nation.
He, however, called on state chapters of Ohanaeze to unite and forge a common front.
He also enjoined all Nigerians, particularly politicians, to eschew bitterness and imbibe the spirit of tolerance and live in peace with one another.
Senator Ekweremadu spoke during his conferment with the title of “Onu-Nekwuru- Igbo” by the Enugu State Chapter of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo at Mpu, Aninri LG, Enugu state, on Sunday.
He said: “Ohanaeze for me is the symbol of the unity of the Igbos; it is an effort to keep our culture and our tradition. But within these two principles, I believe that we can also find a bigger accommodation within the Nigerian nation through your interface with other such groups.
“I also believe that you can link up with your other state chapters to bring about a stronger Ohaneze Ndigbo in the geo-political of the south east and the south- south and be able to interface with other sister organisations in the south west and the north to ensure that we have greater unity in our country.
“Today, the trend is for regional grouping and that means that, there is advantage in numbers and this advantage can only be created by unity so I believe that we will be better off as a united Nigeria; as a big country; as a country that sees one another as brothers and sisters.
“Today, we have had challenges and mutual suspicion, so it is now time for you to link up with the Arewa group, the Yoruba cultural group to ensure that we are now more united as a country than ever. There is a lot of potential for our country but this can only be achieved if we are all united. We must fight the forces of division in this country or those who want to cheat others or those who want to ensure that others are not accommodated in Nigeria; we must fight against such people because these are enemies of our country.
“So, I appeal to you that while we play our politics, we must ensure that there is unity in Nigeria. You must also prevail on politicians, irrespective of their political parties, to ensure that there is peace in Nigeria, that there is peace in our state and that every Nigerian should be free to live and settle in any part of Nigeria without molestation. That was what it was before the civil war.
“Today, people are being harassed on the basis of where they come. This must stop and this can only stop if you begin to liaise and have conversation with such other groups in other parts of Nigeria.
“We believe that they all mean well for this and that they must prevail on those who take advantage of the vulnerability of our people to cause mayhem and problems and to destroy people’s property. This, you must fight against to ensure that our people are able to live freely wherever they find themselves in any part of Nigeria and beyond.
“Our people travel to everywhere; they settle there and develop themselves and their host communities. They have a right under our constitution to move freely within Nigeria and to settle in any part of Nigeria and be able do business and carry on their lives. Just as we also welcome visitors to Igboland, we will like our people to be accommodated wherever they are and you must make this point clear to your counterparts so that we can only live as brothers and sisters and there will be no division as to language, culture or tribe.”
Sen Ekweremadu also called on the group to pray and support Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s administration in the state, adding that the Governor had laudable programmes for the state.
Earlier, the chairman of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Enugu State, Chief Eric Ebeh said the title bestowed on Senator Ekweremadu was in recognition of his contributions to the growth and development of the Igbo nation.
He added that the organisation will remain steadfast in support of Senator Ekweremadu as he surmounts the challenges of his office as the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate as well as Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament.
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