By CHARLES IWUOHA

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has tasked the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo World Wide on the restoration of lost moral values that the Igbos are known for in time past.

Governor Otti made the disclosure on Tuesday, July 15th, while receiving in audience in his office, the Executive members of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Abia State Chapter, led by her President, Dr. Chukwuemeka Okwuonu.

In the words of the Governor, the responsibility of bringing back those values of honesty, hard work, resilience, dignity, respect for the elders among others, now rests on all Igbo leaders.

"The responsibility of all of us is to bring us back to those good old days. We must ensure that our society returns to what we were brought up with.

"Where people were, even in their poverty, they remained dignified. They were proud. There were things you couldn't associate our people with. We are not thieves. And that's what I tell people.

"Why we are focusing on creating an enabling environment is that our people are not people who are used to begging or handouts. Our people are very hard-working people. So, once you create the enabling environment for their businesses to thrive, they don?t need you to survive.

"So, the new culture where people don't speak their language, where people don't know their culture, where people don't care, is part of the reason why you have a very high level of crime and insecurity," Gov. Otti stated.

The Governor urged the leadership of Ohanaeze to embark on programmes and projects that will inspire collective ownership, involvement and contribution of the Igbos in helping them realize their vision and mission for the people.

This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Otti's Chief press secretary, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha and made available to journalists in Umuahia.

He explained that through that, everyone will have a sense of belonging and added that the survival of the organisation should not be based on government patronage alone, which he said is not sustainable.

"I would encourage you to reach out to all our people, to make contributions. So that they can also legitimately own the organisation.

"Let them feel a sense of ownership. If people buy into the projects that you are executing, if they feel a sense of belonging, then they will contribute.

"An example is what happened here last week, where we did a fundraising for the security trust fund. And at the last count, which was last weekend. I think the total support that we have received from people has gone up to 4.1 billion," Gov. Otti stated.

He assured that he would look into their requests and see how he would support them within the context of competing needs for the state, adding that he would personally help to offset their rent.

Earlier, the President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Abia State Chapter, Dr. Chukwuemeka Okwuonu, while noting that the organisation has articulated some programmes towards promoting the rich cultural heritage of Ndigbo, applauded Governor Alex Otti for making the Igbo language a compulsory subject in the primary and secondary school system in the State.

Dr. Okwuonu said that his leadership is partnering various Igbo stakeholders to champion the Igbo project, adding that one of their mandates is to ensure that the younger and upcoming generations imbibe the culture of hard work, sincerity as well as dignity in labour.

He said that their mission and vision is to establish structures of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in every Local Government of the State before the end of the year and encouraged the speaking of Igbo language amongst Igbo children and families in general. He also informed the Governor of their challenges and appealed for the payment of their office rent.

"I wish to congratulate you, Sir, for making Igbo language a compulsory subject for every student in our primary and secondary schools. This is in line with the vision of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

"We want to make sure, our people understand it, that we have to be truthful at all times. Hardworking, truthfulness, sincerity, ability to do what is right at all times," Dr. Okwuonu stated.

They commended the governor for his impactful leadership across the state, expressing their belief that he will do greater things for the people of the state based on what he has done so far.

They expressed their gratitude to Governor Otti for his supports for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, especially during the last election that produced the current national leadership of the Apex Social Cultural Organization in Igbo land.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, and the Principal Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Chinenye Mba-Uzukwu were among the top government officials who joined Governor Otti at the meeting with the leadership of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

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