The apex Igbo Cultural Organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has expressed its gratitude to the Governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, for hosting its recently concluded Igbo Summit on Restructuring the country.
In a press statement by the Special Advisor on Media and Publicity to the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emeka Attamah, the body attributed the success of the Summit to the high priority Governor Obiano accorded to it.
The release thanked the Deputy Senate President, Prof. Ike Ekweremadu and members of the National Assembly who attended the Summit with him for their marked presence and resolve to pursue vigorously the issue of restructuring with their colleagues at the National Assembly.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo commended the unequalled enthusiasm and commitment of the Prof. Chukwuma Soludo-led Local Organizing Committee that made the unanimity of Igbo resolve on restructuring manifest through their highly researched and intellectual input and output.
The apex Igbo body expressed its deference to the chairman of the occasion, its illustrious son, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and a host of distinguished Igbo sons and daughters for the big presence and endorsement of the historical stand of Ndigbo.
It further expressed its gratitude to Speakers of the State House of Assembly, Chairmen of State and Local Chapters of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and distinguished traditional rulers whose state chairmen gave their royal assent to the Igbo Position on Restructuring which made it a working document for the restructuring of the nation.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo thanked most especially the delegates from the South West, South South and Middle Belt for their solidarity and felt presence through their goodwill messages at the Summit and assured them that Ndigbo would never relent in the struggle until victory for fairness and equity was realised in Nigeria.
Ohanaeze appealed to those misguided by the tantrums of IPOB members and other destabilizing agents to rethink, ignore the fake propaganda of its detractors and embrace the new dawn in Igboland, adding that united we stand, but divided we fall.
The release reminded the people that this was not the first time the empty threats by the misguided elements fell through as its threat to disrupt the Anambra State elections last year came to nought as the election went on with a huge and unprecedented success for Governor Willie Obiano with its unprecedented turnout too.
It said that the success of the Igbo Summit was resounding and was reverberating in the country and other parts of the world, adding that the only observed noise was by some obviously rented women at the venue who, in any case were ignored by both the audience and security operatives as their noise amounted to nothing.
The release further said that in any democracy, the majority will always have its way with whimpers from the minority as will always be the case in a matter where Ohanaeze Ndigbo has the unalloyed and overwhelming support of the generality of Ndigbo and urged the few dissenting voices to join the band wagon.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo reiterated its unmitigated resolve to pursue the restructuring fight and other fights that will advance the interest and livelihood of Ndigbo to logical end.
The body observed that it was important that members of Pro-Biafra groups understand that Ohanaeze Ndigbo was not working at cross purposes with them but striving for the same end they were fighting for which is self determination for Ndigbo in a country where they are respected and allowed to develop at their own pace without hinderance.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo once more, extended its hand of friendship to IPOB and called on dialogue as the path they were following would only lead to further spilling of Igbo blood for a cause that can be peacefully fought and realised, adding that enough blood of our children have been shed in pursuit of the cause.
Chief Emeka Attamah
SA Media to PG.
