Ohanaeze, Afenifere meet in Owerri, urge Nigeria’s unity, growth

In their determination to bond Nigeria for growth and accelerated development, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Afenifere converged on Owerri, Imo State yesterday to fashion a way forward for the country.

Speaking during a courtesy the groups’ visit to Government House, Owerri, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, said Ohanaeze, the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, had a critical role to play in ensuring that Igbo have an enviable place in Nigeria.

He also urged other ethnic groups to come to Imo and invest the same way the Igbo do business and invest in their lands.

His words: “Ohanaeze is a socio-cultural organisation like Afenifere and Arewa. It could relate and marry these organisations and use them to launch the campaign that would truly make other parts of Nigeria to see Igbo as fellow Nigerians.

“We are highly misunderstood, and until you come to an Igboman’s house, you will not know how hospitable he is. This is why we must use organisations like these to tell our story so that other nationalities may understand us.”

Okorocha expressed joy that the groups, led by Nnia Nwodo and Chief Ayo Adebanjo, were in Imo to celebrate, saying: “It is a privilege for any leader to host the leadership of the tow apex socio-cultural organisations.

“My joy knows no bound for the fact that we still have an Ohanaeze today. Few years ago, it was a different story and that’s why I must salute the immediate past President-General Dr. Igariwe and Chief Ralph Obioha.

Speaking, Nwodo said the Igbo were meeting in Imo to celebrate and appraise themselves and to see if there were things they needed to do that were not done and then take the needed actions to see those things done.

“Ohanaeze is interested in seeing how our people who are in government have fared. We owe it to our people to tell them who has done well, and who has not. We can say that Okorocha has done well in infrastructure development of Imo State, as Imo has changed greatly and is now appealing to foreign investors.”