By CHARLES IWUOHA

Senate Minority Leader and Senator representing Abia South Senatorial Zone of Abia State, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, has declared that under no circumstance would the Igbo race be subjected to second class citizens in Nigeria where they have equal stakes with other major tribes.

Senator Abaribe made the declaration after he was conferred with the chieftaincy title of “Mmiri Oma Nasoro Oha 1” (literally, the good flowing river for all) by Amuzu Ubakala Autonomous Community in Umuahia South Local Government Area.

The former Deputy Governor of Abia State who has since declared his ambition to succeed Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu in 2023, said his being vocal at the red chamber of the National Assembly was borne out of his conviction that Ndigbo were no strangers but major stakeholders in the Nigeria project.

He averred that any attempt to relegate the race to the background or make them play second fiddle would amount of effort in futility.

Senator Abaribe insisted that Ndigbo must be accorded their honour, rights and privileges as equal stakeholders in Nigeria, more so, considering their numerous contributions and sacrifices towards the development and sustenance of the country.

He promised to continue to defend the cause of the Igbo race, irrespective of the political risks.

“When a man was needed to surety our son, I came out to prove that we are no second class citizens,” Abaribe declared amidst thunderous ovations from the mammoth crowd.

Earlier in his remarks, the traditional ruler of Amuzu Ubakala, HRM Eze Chukwuemeka Iruke, said the honour was in recognition of Senator Abaribe’s outspokenness at the Senate; and for attracting a road project to his community which is outside Abaribe’s senatorial district.

” Without you, Ndigbo would have been voiceless at the senate in this dispensation,” the 78- year old monarch declared.

Eze Iruke said he was yet to believe that the nightmarish road linking Obinubi with Mgbedala which had been a puzzle since his 78 years of sojourn could be built and asphalted.

Earlier in an address, the President-General of the Community, Elder Rex Uwakwe, extolled the heroic efforts of Abaribe at the Senate, and also applauded the patriotic efforts of one of their illustrious sons, Hon. Nwokoma Okorie, who brought Abaribe to the community.

Senator Abaribe who had inspected a mini-solar grid he attracted at Abia State Teaching Hospital, Aba; and Uzuakoli Methodist hospital in Bende LGA, Abia North, said he was a Senator not just for Abia South but for the entire state, and indeed, Ndigbo.

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