Ndigbo under the aegis of Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), have pleaded with President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, to reconstruct Igboland devastated by the civil war and neglected over the years.

President of ADF, Prof Uzodinma Nwala, made this call yesterday at the inaugural conference and presentation of a two-volume book: “Igbo Nation: History and Challenges of Rebirth and Development” of the group at Igbozurume Unity Centre, Enugu.

Nwala, who congratulated Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) for winning the presidential poll, reminded him that “Nigeria is not a federation of political parties, but a federation of ethnic nationalities, many of whom are viable nation-states in their own rights.”

He told the incoming government to remember that equitable power and resource-sharing essential for the unity and stability of any federation is the right of the various ethnic nationalities, and not the right of political parties.

He disclosed that the ADF was working on the production of an Igbo national charter which would help in promoting a common vision among the people.

“ADF is conscious of the challenges posed by Igbo integration both within Nigeria and among her people. We are conscious of the set-back caused by the Nigeria-Biafra war and the immense damage done to internal unity and development in Igboland,” he said.

Also speaking, Chairman on the occasion and the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, called on the Igbos to put the many ideas they have into action.

He also urged Igbos to think home instead of developing other lands where they sojourn, lamenting that their investments outside Igboland were well over 70 per cent while non- Igbo had not deemed it necessary to come to Igboland to invest.

Igwe Achebe said the Igbo spread and investments in other lands have attracted them envy and hatred as was seen in the recent Xenophobia attacks in South Africa.

He insisted that the Igbo must develop their domain educationally, commercially, as well as dictate to the politicians on how they should be governed.

Also speaking, the Chairman, BoT of ADF and former president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Dozie Ikedife, emphasized the need to re-define the Igbo national character, saying that with the co-operation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other Igbo organisations, “we shall make the difference in making Ndigbo to speak with one voice and act with one mind.”

He also said that ADF and other Igbo groups will undertake to conduct a census of the Ndigbo worldwide.

Prominent Igbo leaders at the conference include the presidential candidate of UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie; Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretary- General, Dr Joe Nworgu; Imo State University Vice Chancellor, Prof Ukachukwu Awuzia; former Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General, Prof Joe Irukwu and Elder Kalu Uke Kalu.

*Adapted from Daily Sun. Photo shows Buhari

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