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Ndigbo have given conditions under which they would support President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 if he finally decides to run.
Chairman of the Igbo World Assembly, Dr Anthony Anakwenze who gave these conditions yesterday at Crystal Palace Hotel, Enugu during the 2013 convention of the group said it was actually the turn of the Igbo to produce the president in 2015.
He, however, said that if Jonathan makes up his mind to run again in 2015, the Igbo would shelve their ambition to allow him serve out his terms.
But the Igbo, he said, would do this on the condition that the president would ensure that all federal roads criss-crossing the Igbo nation that are deplorable are fixed, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport fully upgraded to international status, second Niger Bridge completed, and constant power supply assured for the region.
His words: “In the area of infrastructural development, we continue to advocate the federal government to fully operationalise the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, which has been upgraded to international standard and upgrading of Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport.
“We want conduction of much needed repairs on the Enugu to Port Harcourt, Onitsha to Enugu, Ninth Mile to Markudi Road, Umuahia to Arochukwu Road, Enugu to Abakaliki Road and the bridge linking Ebonyi and Obubra in Cross River, Onitsha to Lagos are paramount to infrastructural growth and development of our people.”
Beside, IWA would want Jonathan to intervene in the 2,000 active erosion sites in Igboland, as well as build coal-fired plant and the reactivation of coal mines in Enugu, among others.
Anakwenze also called on the Igbo who are fond of investing out side Igbo land to now begin to think home, saying this would help in creating job for the teeming Igbo youths.
The IWA chairman also enjoined the Igbo to continue to promote the Igbo culture, particularly the Igbo language.
Speaking at the occasion, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Igariwey thanked IWA for staging the convention which had taken the group to so many states in Igbo land in the past.
“IWA comes home every year to look for ways of helping Nigeria and the Igbo nation. Ohanaeze will encourage other Diaspora groups to emulate their move to move the country forward,” he said.
He called on the Igbo to be united and support one another, saying that everybody cannot lead at the same time.
But speaking, the founder and National Chairman of United Progressives Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, who was honoured by IWA for his long service to Igbo land, disagreed with the position of the group that the Igbo would wait if Jonathan decides to run again in 2015.
“I disagree with IWA that the Igbo will go to sleep and wait for Jonathan to finish before an Igbo man will take over.
“I agree that the president has the right to contest again, I’m not the one to stop him, but we need to sit down to discuss this, the Igbo will contest the presidency in 2015,” Okorie insisted.
Governor Sullivan Chime who was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner for Commerce, Dr Jude Akubuilo was honoured with an Excellence Award in recognition of his giant strides in Enugu State.
Other dignitaries at the convention included the representative of President Jonathana, Prof Alphaeus Onyeke, SSA on Research, the former Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General, Justice Eze Ozobu, Ohanaeze Secretary General, Dr Joe Nworgu, Ohanaeze Deputy President, OAU Onyema, traditional rulers and members of IWA from across the globe.
He, however, said that if Jonathan makes up his mind to run again in 2015, the Igbo would shelve their ambition to allow him serve out his terms.
But the Igbo, he said, would do this on the condition that the president would ensure that all federal roads criss-crossing the Igbo nation that are deplorable are fixed, the Akanu Ibiam International Airport fully upgraded to international status, second Niger Bridge completed, and constant power supply assured for the region.
His words: “In the area of infrastructural development, we continue to advocate the federal government to fully operationalise the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, which has been upgraded to international standard and upgrading of Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport.
“We want conduction of much needed repairs on the Enugu to Port Harcourt, Onitsha to Enugu, Ninth Mile to Markudi Road, Umuahia to Arochukwu Road, Enugu to Abakaliki Road and the bridge linking Ebonyi and Obubra in Cross River, Onitsha to Lagos are paramount to infrastructural growth and development of our people.”
Beside, IWA would want Jonathan to intervene in the 2,000 active erosion sites in Igboland, as well as build coal-fired plant and the reactivation of coal mines in Enugu, among others.
Anakwenze also called on the Igbo who are fond of investing out side Igbo land to now begin to think home, saying this would help in creating job for the teeming Igbo youths.
The IWA chairman also enjoined the Igbo to continue to promote the Igbo culture, particularly the Igbo language.
Speaking at the occasion, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Igariwey thanked IWA for staging the convention which had taken the group to so many states in Igbo land in the past.
“IWA comes home every year to look for ways of helping Nigeria and the Igbo nation. Ohanaeze will encourage other Diaspora groups to emulate their move to move the country forward,” he said.
He called on the Igbo to be united and support one another, saying that everybody cannot lead at the same time.
But speaking, the founder and National Chairman of United Progressives Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, who was honoured by IWA for his long service to Igbo land, disagreed with the position of the group that the Igbo would wait if Jonathan decides to run again in 2015.
“I disagree with IWA that the Igbo will go to sleep and wait for Jonathan to finish before an Igbo man will take over.
“I agree that the president has the right to contest again, I’m not the one to stop him, but we need to sit down to discuss this, the Igbo will contest the presidency in 2015,” Okorie insisted.
Governor Sullivan Chime who was represented at the occasion by the Commissioner for Commerce, Dr Jude Akubuilo was honoured with an Excellence Award in recognition of his giant strides in Enugu State.
Other dignitaries at the convention included the representative of President Jonathana, Prof Alphaeus Onyeke, SSA on Research, the former Ohanaeze Ndigbo President General, Justice Eze Ozobu, Ohanaeze Secretary General, Dr Joe Nworgu, Ohanaeze Deputy President, OAU Onyema, traditional rulers and members of IWA from across the globe.
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