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‘We must take our destiny in our hands’ (1)
Ohanaeze believes that Ndigbo have shown more commitment to
the Nigerian Nation than any other ethnic group in the country. Their leaders
played key roles in the fight for independence to the extent that whilst most
of his contemporaries were busy consolidating their home regions, the foremost
Igbo leader and Nigerian Nationalist, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was always busy
sacrificing his own interests and aspirations and interests of his own people
to protect and save the Nigerian Nation
By Joe Irukwu
Your
Excellencies, Distinguished Senators, Honourable Ministers, Members of the
Federal and State Houses of Assembly, My Lords, Members of the State Executive
Councils, Your Royal Highnesses, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen.
On
behalf of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and the millions of Ndigbo at home and abroad we
represent, I send fraternal greetings to all Nigerians on this special day. We
send very sincere good wishes to our President and Commander-in-Chief, our
governors and the country's leaders in the three arms of government at the
Federal and state levels We pray to God to give them good health and abundant
wisdom to enable them execute their responsibilities to the nation with the
fear of God, and in the best interest of the people
Igbo day 2004
This
special day, September 29'h of every year, was adopted by Ohanaeze Ndigbo
several years ago as a special day solemnly dedicated as a Remembrance Day on
which we meditatively take stock of our lives over the years as we count our
blessings and thank God Almighty for His goodness and mercies. It is the day on
which we remember prayerfully, our fallen heroes who made the supreme sacrifice
in the pursuit of our aspirations and general well-being.
In
the special context of Nigeria as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious developing
nation, one important aspect of the Igbo Day Celebrations is that it offers us
a unique opportunity to bond and celebrate with the leaders and peoples of
other ethnic nationalities who have continuously responded to our invitations,
sometimes at short notice. We thank the leaders of other ethnic groups that
have responded to our invitations.
We
thank in a very special way our neighbours and brethren from the South South
zone whose fortunes and misfortunes are so closely tied to ours as a result of
the formidable forces of geography and history. We wish to take this
opportunity to assure them that our interests are so closely intertwined that
whatever we do in the pursuit of our own interests and objectives, we will
always respect their own interests in line with the traditional bonds we have
shared from time immemorial Undoubtedly, we can do so in the spirit of
EGBE-BERE-UGO-BERE without sacrificing the interests of other ethnic
nationalities that are part of the Nigerian family of ethnic nationalities that
constitute the modern Nigerian nation
As
we acknowledge the value of today’s events, may I, with great respect and
humility, congratulate Ndigbo at home and abroad for so steadfastly sustaining
the spirit and objectives of the Igbo Day concept and for making it a positive
vehicle for sharing our collective dreams and aspirations.
The importance
of the year 2004 to ndigbo
As
evidenced by our theme, the year 2004 marks a turning point in the modern
history of Ndigbo in Nigeria. In January this year, we resolved to take our
destiny into our own hands.
January
31, 2004 will also be remembered as the date on which the new leadership of
Ohanaeze assumed office under a new democratic constitution which transformed
Ohanaeze from what some had rightly or wrongly described as an elitist
organization to a democratic, all-embracing, unifying apex organization that
derives its authority directly from the people it represents, starting from the
lowest level of our grassroots foundation in the villages, wards, towns, local
governments and on to the states and all the centres at home and abroad where
Ndigbo live and work, with the town unions as the principal source of support
and mobilization.
The
year, 2004 is significant to Ndigbo in other important respects. As contained
in our now famous Umuahia Declaration, apart from our decision to become the
masters of our own destiny, we resolved that January 31, 2004 marks the end of
Igbo marginalization and neglect in our fatherland and we all recognized that
date as the day specially ordained by God to mark the beginning of a new era
for Ndigbo for the revival of those core values that made our society and its
people decent, respectable and honourable at home and abroad. It was the day on
which Ohanaeze Ndigbo resolved to place the genuine interests of the people
above all other considerations. It was on this same date that we resolved to
build solid bridges of goodwill, friendship and understanding between Ndigbo
and our immediate neighbours and with other Nigerian ethnic nationalities as
our own contribution to the building of a better Nigerian society in which
JUSTICE FOR ALL would become a way of life in our country.
It
was on that historical date that Ohanaeze Ndigbo resolved that we would be
guided by those six ancient traditional Igbo Social Justice and Free Enterprise
principles which ensured justice and societal equilibrium in our ancient
societies despite the limitations of those early societies. Since then, we have
decided to take practical steps to inculcate and educate our children and
youths on the ideals of these principles and to communicate them to other
Nigerians as principles that will promote a better Nigerian society in addition
to ensuring a good measure of societal equilibrium and national stability.
These principles rest on the following ancient Igbo principles:
•
Igwe Bu Ike - Unity is strength
•
Onye Aghala Nwanneya - Be your brother's keeper
•
Egbe Bere Ugo Bere - Justice for all
•
Ezi Okwu Bu Ndu - The truth will always prevail.
•
Onweghi Ihe Ka Ezigbo Aha - There is no better substitute for
good
name and an impeccable reputation
•
Nwanne Di Na Mba - As you travel round the country and the world in search of
your livelihood, you may soon discover your "foreign" non-Igbo friend
who may be closer and more devoted to you in every respect than your blood
brother or sister, so watch out for this "foreign" brother or sister.
The theme for igbo day 2004
This
year's theme: ITUGHARI UCHE MAKA ODINIHU, gives us an excellent opportunity to
REFLECT ON OUR PAST, PRESENT AND THE FUTURE. It also gives an opportunity to
reflect on our relationship with our immediate neighbours and our brethren from
other ethnic nationalities since we are all bound together by the unique ties
of nationality and citizenship of one sovereign nation, with all the
consequences of such a union in today's world environment.
The
Igbo Day Celebrations also enable us to perform two vital functions apart from
that of bonding and celebrating. The first is to remember and honour our fallen
heroes, while the second is to reflect and meditate seriously as we take stock
of our lives and circumstances.
Honouring our fallen heroes - the
posthumous distinguished leadership awards
In
addition to the traditional manner of honouring our fallen heroes, we have
decided, this year, to introduce the Posthumous Distinguished Leadership Awards
to give us an opportunity to immortalise some of our illustrious leaders of
blessed memory, who in their lifetime, lifted the dignity and stature of
Ndigbo, Nigeria and Africa through their excellent services to Ndigbo, Nigeria
and humanity.
Those
we have decided to honour this year include the Right Honourable Dr. Nnamdi
Azikiwe, first indigenous Governor General of Nigeria and first President of
the Federal Republic of Nigeria? The Honourable Dr. M.l. Okpara, late Premier
of former Eastern Nigeria; Chief Dennis C. Osadebay, first Premier of the
former Mid-Western Region of Nigeria now Edo and Delta states; Chief Z.C. Obi,
long serving President of IGBO UNION and a great Igbo leader, Dr. Akanu Ibiam, first President-General of
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and first indigenous Governor of former Eastern Nigeria, a
distinguished missionary doctor and a leader of outstanding integrity totally
committed to selfless service to humanity; Chief Sam Mbakwe, a distinguished
nationalist, lawyer and jurist and former Governor of old Imo State;
Major-General J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi, a great soldier and statesman, first
indigenous head of the Nigerian Army and first Military Head of State and
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces; Dr. S.E. Onwu, first Igbo medical
doctor, Sir Louis N. Mbanefo, first Igbo lawyer and finally, Chief Mrs. Janet
Mokelu, a most distinguished woman leader who made outstanding contributions to
the development of Igboland and Nigeria during her very active and productive
life.
The
intention is that these awards will continue for many years to give us the
opportunity to recognize several other distinguished leaders who eminently
qualify for this kind of posthumous recognition.
Issues to
meditate and reflect on this Year
In
line with the spirit and objectives of the IGBO DAY concept, we list below some
of the issues we should like to meditate and reflect on. These are issues that
affect our lives as Ndigbo and as Nigerians. We therefore, invite Ndigbo and
our brethren from other ethnic nationalities, as well as the country's leaders
at all levels of our society to reflect on these issues:
(a)
The case for justice for all as a national philosophy that would ensure peace,
national stability and development, since the experience all over the world has
shown that those who are victims of injustice have no interest in peace;
(b)
The need for us to embrace the concept of dialogue, and constructive
discussions in a spirit of give-and-take as a means of resolving our national
and sectional problems as an alternative to wars, anarchy and violence which never
solve any human problems, despite the damage, bitterness and destructions that
they generate;
(c)
The need for the Igbo political elite and their counterparts from other ethnic
groups to wake up and abandon the pursuit of their personal ego and selfish
interests, and address with transparent honesty and integrity, the needs of
their people or risk getting into irrelevance among their people;
(d)
The need for the political elite to place the interests of the people above all
other considerations as an insurance for their own safety against anarchy and
violence from restless youths now publicly displaying evidence of distrust and
dissatisfaction;
(e)
The need for the leadership of Ndigbo to take themselves and the interests of
the ordinary people quite seriously so that the outcome of this year's Igbo Day
does not end up in rhetoric and unimplemented resolutions sacrificed on the
alters of the individual interests of the leadership elite;
(e)
The case for unity and team spirit as a means of ensuring that the collective
and genuine interests of Ndigbo are protected and not sacrificed, or mismanaged
due to the pursuit of divisive and diversionary squabbles sponsored or fuelled
by short-sighted individuals in furtherance of their own personal ambitions and
interests at variance with the real interests of the people.
(g)
The case for genuine and sincere national reconciliation at all levels as a
means of promoting national stability, progress and development.
(h)
The need for Ndigbo and all Nigerians to recognize the mutuality of Nigerian
and Igbo interests to the extent that if Nigeria puts down Ndigbo, Nigeria
itself will remain down, and that injustices inflicted on Ndigbo or indeed on
any other ethnic group is also injustice inflicted on Nigeria which will also
affect the whole country negatively.
(i) The need to reflect on how we can
improve the lot of our people, by improving our economy, our roads and other
infrastructural facilities, as well as the health and
education
of our youths in order to reduce the present high level of unemployment and
crime.
(j)
The need to encourage our youths to recognize the value of Ako-na-Uche, respect
for ourselves and others, especially respect for our traditional institutions,
traditional rulers, and elders as a means of promoting our collective dignity
and self respect in a multi-ethnic, developing society.
(k)
The need for Ndigbo to curtail and address the current trend of being the
loudest group in running down and condemning ourselves, our leaders and
institutions on the pages of newspapers sometimes without justifications.
(1)
lgbo elite and the youth should reflect on the value of AKO-NA-UCHE, tact and
less of the confrontational approach as vehicles for promoting human relations
in a multi-ethnic society as we have in Nigeria.
The position of Ohanaeze on current
topical issues
Following
elaborate consultations, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has arrived at the following positions
on the national issues listed below as they affect Ndigbo and the unity and
stability of the Nigerian Nation
Ndigbo and the Nigerian nation
(a)
Ohanaeze and the majority of Ndigbo at home and abroad believe in the concept
of a united, viable and democratic Nigerian Nation under the rule of law in
which justice to all shall be the order of the day. A nation founded on-the
principles of equality and fairplay which prompted our founding fathers led by
three of our foremost visionary leaders- Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Sir Ahmadu Bello
and Chief Obafemi Awolowo and their colleagues to agree on the formation of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1960.
(b)
We are convinced that Ndigbo, whose interests and aspirations we represent
remain committed to the social, political and economic development of the
Nigerian Nation of our dream built on these ideals of unity, justice and
fairplay as a fundamental principle of our national policy in the overall
interest of all the ethnic nationalities that make up the Nigerian Nation.
• Exerpts of
the Igbo Day address by Prof, J.O. Irukwu, SAN, President-General, Ohanaeze
Ndigbo
To be continued tomorrow
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