Leadership (Abuja)
16 November 2008
Imo State governor Chief Ikedi Ohakim has challenged the Igbo nation not to allow their rich cultural heritage to die off.
He threw this challenge weekend at the flag-off and unveiling of the Omenuko Ojemba epic movie logo at the multi purpose hall, Owerri.
The governor, who decried a situation where Igbo sons and daughters have abandoned their rich cultural heritage for that of the white man, which he said has caused problems and confusion among Ndigbo, said for Ndigbo to move forward again in Nigeria, they must re-embrace the spirit of oneness for which the Igbo of ancient times were known and which helped them to achieve many feats.
The governor also called on all to show respect to traditional rulers who were the real owners of the land and who helped check the abuse meted on Igbo culture and tradition.
Ohakim said most of the problems which the Igbo encountered in Nigeria were caused by the Igbo themselves through the pull-him-down syndrome, and warned that if such attitude was not stopped, the Igbo man would keep losing out in national issues.
He also said Nigeria, as a sovereign federal state, was standing on a tripod comprising Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba, adding that the Igbo nation had contributed much to the development of Nigeria. He warned that they should not be ignored or treated as a minority when national and federal character issues were being treated.
The governor thanked the initiator of the Omenuko Ojemba epic movie, Chief Mrs. Onyeka Onwenu, for her wonderful achievement in producing a multi-faceted movie that has given Ndigbo a very big opportunity to showcase and recapture their lost language.
He remarked that Omenuko Ojemba could revive the dying Igbo cultural and traditional values, create more than 3,000 jobs for Imo indigenes and boost the economy of the state.
In her address of welcome, Chief Onwenu thanked Ohakim for his support and encouragement. She said that Omenuko Ojemba is an epic movie which showcases the rich traditional heritage of Igbo people, especially Imo people, to the whole world and which exposes the uniqueness of the Igbo man who is hard working, and struggles to make something out of nothing in any environment he finds himself.
She enjoined all Igbo sons and daughters to support her movie as it would be beneficial to the Igbo nation.
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