The much publicized Igbo Day celebration, which took place at the Michael Okpara square, Enugu, on Sunday was characterized by absence of political leaders from the zone.
Governors of the five South-East states, federal and state lawmakers, as well as ministers, also boycotted the exercise.
Apart from Nigeria’s minister of power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, other political stakeholders and religious leaders stayed away.
The host Governor, Sullivan Chime of Enugu State was represented by the state’s commissioner for culture and tourism, Chief Joe Mmamel. No other governor in the zone sent a representative.
DailyPost investigation showed that the boycott may not be unconnected with the leadership crisis that has bedeviled Ohaneze Ndigbo since the beginning of 2013.
The election into the national leadership of Ohaneze, the apex Igbo socio-political organization led to the springing up of a faction, which is opposed to Chief Enwo Igariwey, Ohaneze President General.
A source hinted that Ebonyi State Governor, Chief Martin Elechi, who allegedly felt slighted by Igariwey’s emergence, had since pulled out from all Ohaneze activities pending the conduct of a new election.
In a bid to unite the warring factions, the South-East governors set up a reconciliation committee headed by Senator Uche Chukwumerije.
DailyPost gathered that although the committee had since submitted its report, recommending a fresh election, the governors were hesitant towards acting on the report.
However, the obvious failure of these peace moves were evident on Sunday as the highest annual celebration among Ndigbo witnessed low turn out of guests.
Most of the seats at the popular stand remained empty while the event lasted.
In a Speech at the event, President Goodluck Jonathan expressed gratitude to Ndigbo for their support to his administration.
“You have been a pillar of support for my office and my person. I acknowledge your massive support for my presidency. I promise you that I will always remember this and will not take it for granted”.
He assured the people of the zone that government was working to reverse the notion of marginalization in the area.
This, he said, was already visible in the area of federal infrastructural projects going on in the zone.
The President said in spite of challenges facing the country, the future was bright, calling on the people to eschew parochial interests and “pursue vigorously” those ideals binding the country together.
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