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Nigeria: Drop Defeatist Mentality, Ohakim Tells Ndigbo
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This Day (Lagos)
15 May 2008
Posted to the web 15 May 2008
Charles Ajunwa and Justice Ilevbare
Lagos
Imo State Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, yesterday told Ndigbo to shake off their defeatist mentality occasioned by the civil war in the late 60s and move on with the rest of other nationalities in order to achieve a united country based on the principles of justice and equity.
Ohakim, who declared this at the 2008 Aka Ikenga Lecture titled: Leadership and Good Governance- Any Stake for Ndigbo in Nigeria? which took place at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island, Lagos, said with the emergence of President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua , all limitations of the past have ended.
The Governor also stressed the need for the entire Igbo race to rebrand and reposition themselves in order to be part of the economic revolution and vision 2020.
In his speech titled "Ndigbo: Re-branding for a Changing World, "Ohakim said what Igbo need to advance is not the effusive lamentation of the setback of the civil war, but a repudiation of some limiting traits mostly self-inflicted, that militate against their progress.
" The Igbo question can only be answered by the Igbo. The Igbo problem can only be solved by the Igbo. Blaming the Nigerian nation will no longer suffice as reason for our retrogression or stag-nation,"Ohakim said.
The Governor who urged all Igbo sons and daughters to look inward with a view to seeing a new Igbo that is acceptable to neighbours without suspicion, declared that, "It is important for Ndigbo to recognise that life comes in circles and phases."
Speaking on his efforts at rebranding Imo State, Ohakim disclosed that the new face of Imo is an enduring legacy beyond the dictates of any politician, "The revolution we have started can no longer be reversed because the people can see and feel the gains," he said.
Governor Okahim said that the destiny of Ndigbo is in their hands, imploring them to discard their attitude of drag-him-down (Nsiko) mentality which,he maintained, was responsible for the little progress of the Ndigbo. According to him, Ndigbo can only make progress in the scheme of things today if they have thorough instrospection and draw inspiration and strength from their past.
Continuing he said: "although some people may argue that the civil war is not over; that the shooting just stopped, I believe the war is over.
Even if the vestiges of the war and scars remain visible, Ndigbo must learn to succeed against all odds. Lamentation and self-pity will not advance our cause; rather they will simply attempt to put the blame elsewhere and possibly lead to self-delusion."
To make Ndigbo acceptable to other nationalities, the number one citizen of Imo State said that there is need to re-design and re-package the Igbo nation, adding that "the new Igbo brand must be acceptable to Igbo first before we can sell it to other people." The event was attended by the likes of the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola),Gen. Ike Omar Sanda Nwachukwu rtd. (chairman of the occasion), Rear Admiral Allison Madueke rtd., former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, Hon. Tunde Akogun, Prof. Chike Edozie ( Asagba of Asaba), Prof. Greg Nwankwo, Prof. Anya o. Anya and others.
Fashola, who was represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Aderemi Kuforoji, assured that his government would continue to give special recognition to Ndigbo that reside in the state.
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He also implored Ndigbo to discontinue with the Nsiko mentality which has been holding them down. He implored members of Imo State House of Assembly to continue to give support to the governor to enable him take the state to higher levels.
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