… Says, ‘We’re not going anywhere’

From: Walter Ukaegbu, Abuja

The Igbo are not fretting over the October 1, 2017 deadline given to them by some Northern youth groups to vacate the region, says the Deputy Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Dr. Cosmas Ndukwe.

Ndukwe declared that although it was an established fact that the Igbo of the South east region are marginalised in today’s Nigeria, he believed that majority of them still believe in the unity of the country.

Ndukwe spoke at the weekend in his Abuja residence  when a delegation of his kinsmen from Item community in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State visited to inform him of their decision to honour him with an award of recognition for his numerous achievements in politics and philanthropy.

The delegation, under the auspices of Item Union, Abuja (IUA), was led by its president, Mr. Stephen Ukeje and chairman of the Organizing Committee for upcoming Item Reception Day in Abuja, Mr. Jenson Okereke.

 Ndukwe, one-time Chief of Staff to a former governor of Abia State, stressed that Igbo states stand on the demand for restructuring, even as he pointed out that the efforts to redress the marginalisation of the Southeast region requires more tact than being displayed by some pro-Biafra groups.

According to him: “We the leaders of thought in Igbo land are not calling for dividing of this nation, we are not supporting hate speeches, we are not supporting the moves by so-called Radio Biafra.

“But what we are saying is that there is need for restructuring of this nation so that those who are part and parcel of this great nation will benefit equally from it.

“We are not in support of people trying to threaten us, to malign us, to use subterfuge on us, that we will leave lands where we are and move out to where we are not. We are not going anywhere; this is Nigeria and we need to salvage it together.”

The Abia Deputy Speaker also canvassed for greater unity among Item people and indeed in the entire Igbo land as he urged the Southeast states to avoid discrimination against Igbo person irrespective of of state of origin.

In his remarks, Mr. Jenson Okereke described Hon. Ndukwe as eminently qualified for the honour as he had not only made Item proud but also deserved recognition for his numerous socio-economic contributions to society and philanthropy to Item and neighbouring communities.

Some others in the 21-member delegation were Sir Sylvester Chukwu and his wife, Dr. Kate; Chief Ndukwe Ukaegbu; Mr. Chigbo Agbaeze; Engr. JNJ Udeala; Mr. Francis Egwu; Mr. Smith Ndudim; Mr. Kesandu Uko; and Chief Onuoha Ogbu.