Restructuring; Varsity Don Urges Ndigbo to Shun ‘Politics’, Embrace Nation Building

By Praise Chinecherem

A university don, Prof. Obasi Igwe on Wednesday urged the Igbo race to adopt new attitude to survive as a marginalized tribe for a new renaissance to happen.

Obasi made the call at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka during the 2nd annual public lecture of His Royal Majesty Obi Nnaemeka Achebe, themed, “Restructuring for True Federalism: A challenge to Igbo Leadership,”

He stressed that the message of restructuring should be centered on nation building and not on ethnicity fueled by tribalism.

“We must change our mindset. If you’re okay and your neighbor is not, you have a potential armed robber as neighbors.

“Let’s keep thinking of others. Let the Igbos think of the Yoruba, while the Yoruba think of the Hausa. Let there be empathy.

“This injustice has lasted for too long. It’s time to leave politics and embrace nation building in Nigeria and restructuring is the very pathway to do so,” he added.

The guest speaker who doubles as National coordinator, Igbo Civil Society Coalition however praised President Bola Tinubu for the relative peace being enjoyed in the Southeast.

He however appealed to the President to release leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), saying his release would further dounce the tension in the zone.

“We want to appeal to Tinubu to free Kanu. Don’t allow another person after the expiration of your tenure to take the credit by not releasing.

“The impression will be given that Yoruba man couldn’t release him. Please set the young man and his colleagues free. We’ll remain eternal grateful.

President-General, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Senator John Azuta-Mbata underscored the importance of restructuring to reflect true federalism, stressing that Ndigbo have what it takes to impact meaningfully in Nigerian democracy.

“The Igbo nation has done well in all areas of human endeavour but have not been able to find its way in the politics of Nigeria. That’s why this topic is apt and timely,” he added.

Enugu state governor, Peter Mba identified unity as one of the greatest challenge facing the Igbo nation.

Mba, represented by Commissioner for infrastructure, Rural Development and Chieftaincy, Deacon Okey Ogbodo regretted the untold suffering NdIgbo had been subjected to, urging the people of the area not to relent in their quest for solution.

“Our challenge as Igbos in Nigeria is unity. We’ll succeed if we’re united. Igbo has suffered a lot in Nigeria federalism. If not for our resilient, we would have been relegated as danger specie. But W
we’ll continue to forge ahead,” he stressed.

Earlier, UNIZIK Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi affirmed that
the Igboness lies in the Igbo character, the Igbo matrix of values impelling hardwork, grim determination, perseverance and adventurism, a dogged spirit that never give up.

Arinze-Umobi, represented by Prof. Harry Obi-Nwosu commended the organisers for the event, urging support for the fledging center to ensure it stood firm to pursue its mandate.

“Igbo communities shared fundamentally the same culture manifesting a common language through with many dialects, same calendar of a four-day week of four-market days, Republican system of governance and classification of the males in Igbo community into age grades,” she said.

The benefactor, Igwe Alfred Achebe described the lecture as a call for sober reflection, saying “any addition to it will only dilute the content.”

Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Former Rector, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Prof. Godwin Onu noted that the lecture’s theme was a call to introspection, a demand for strategic thinking and a profound challenge to the collective leadership of Ndigbo.

“The annual lecture on Igbo repository is founded on a core philosophical commitment to exploring and celebrating ‘Igboness’ as well as a forum for the preservation and advancement of igbo knowledge, fostering deeper understanding of Igbo’s shared heritage.

“We aim to articulate what makes the Igbo people distinct among other nations in Nigeria and worldwide, delving into their origins and the rich tapestry of varying scholarly views that define them,” he added.