|
Nas urges Igbo to avoid
mistakes of the past
By Ben Duru
Correspondent Owerri
Ndigbo have been advised not
to allow the mistakes of 2003, which resulted in their poor performance in
the general elections, to repeat themselves in 2007.
Former Special Duties Minister
and one of the most vocal politicians from the North, Alhaji Wada Nas gave
the advice during a press conference at the Imo Concord Hotel, shortly
after the World Igbo Day celebration.
He described the mistakes as
very costly because it was the period when majority of the political
heavyweights were from the South-East geopolitical zone, adding that the
flags they held were those of disunity.
According to Nas, �these were
flags of disunity. What they now need is a flag of unity and focus,�
adding that this was the time for the Igbo to occupy their rightful place
within the Nigerian federation.
He said that he had come to
join the Igbo to mark the World Igbo Day because of the age old
relationship shared between the North and the South-East and that as a
member of NEPU in the first republic they shared a lot in common with the
NCNC.
�In this spirit, do I
therefore associate myself with the good intention the Igbos have for our
great country. I see wisdom in Igbo�s determination, I see justice,
fairness and equity in their desire and I see nobility in their cause,�
Nas said.
The former minister stated
that the desire of the Igbo was good for the nation and that justice,
fairness and equity were friends of humanity every human being ought to
embrace.
He said that in line with the
type of federation being practised in Nigeria, �the need for political
friends across the board is always a necessity,� and that if all the
necessary mechanisms were put in place there would be no agitation among
the various geo-political zones. He, however, said that �if the necessary
mechanism has not already been put in motion, this gathering of the Igbo
should be the springboard to do so. In doing this, they must not allow the
costly mistake of 1999 to repeat itself and that of 2003, when the
political terrain was over crowded with their sons, each holding a
flag.�
According to him, �the Igbo
have acquired the necessary stature to serve the country at whatever level
available because the Igbo spirit has armed him (Igbo) to emerge as a
great industrialist and international businessman.�
To him, the only stumbling
block to the achievement of this laudable objective is the perceived
disunity, which had been the bane of the Igbo in the past and which, he
said, had largely prevented them from rising above the mark they set for
themselves.
He prayed that the fruit of
the World Igbo Day celebration, which brought Igbo from all walks of life
should now be a rallying point for them in their quest to win the coveted
seat in 2007.
�May the Igbo nation emerge
more united, more focused and more determined from this gathering so as to
pursue with one voice, their legitimate political enterprise in Nigeria
without looking back. May they be guided by the highest ideals in doing
so,� he said.
| 
