Iwuanyanwu
The World Igbo Conference recently x-rayed the perennial issues of marginalisation, state creation, and freedom of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), among others. But of symbolic importance and a common stream that runs across the issues is the imperative of getting regional politics right, LAWRENCE NJOKU reports.
The alleged marginalisation of Ndigbo in the scheme of national politics, demand for a sixth state in the region, and unconditional release of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, took centre stage last Friday as Igbo from home and the Diaspora converged in Nsukka for the second edition of the World Igbo Conference.
Though regaled in culture, the event has the theme, Bridging the Igbo Homeland-Diaspora Disconnect for Transforming our Present and Future Together. It was organised by the Centre for Igbo Studies (CIS) of the University of Nigeria (UNN), to support and contribute to the restoration of Igbo identity and language.
Different speakers in the in-person and virtual conference that saw the presentation of various papers though agreed that infiltration is part of the challenges threatening its culture, language and heritage, however, stated that certain activities of successive governments had compounded the development of Alaigbo.
That one-day retreat, which was attended by distinguished Igbo sons and daughters both at home and in the diaspora reflected on the prevailing circumstances in Nigeria and the place of Ndigbo in the current dynamics of Nigeria in the understanding that difficult timers require divine wisdom, hence Ako bu Ije, he stated.
While Onyia raised concerns about Kanus continued incarceration and the apparent indifference of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in pressing for his release like Sunday Igboho, Aguoji acknowledged the spirited efforts of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in defending the rights and privileges of Ndigbo and commended Iwuanyanwus efforts.
Onyia had said: If his counterpart in seeking freedom for his people, Sunday Igboho, has been granted unconditional release by the Federal Government, it beats ones imagination that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who several court pronouncements have acquitted and discharged, has been languishing in prison custody till date. He called for fairness, justice, and equity for every Nigerian, irrespective of tribe, language, religion, region, or political affiliation, noting that it is only on this basis that any country such as Nigeria struggling with the daunting challenges of nationhood can hope to succeed in her current efforts to build a strong and united sovereign entity called Nigeria.
Host Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Charles Igwe, who declared the conference opened, emphasised the need for collaboration among Igbo sons and daughters to achieve their desires and plans for the development of Igboland. He said: This academic harvest marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to unite and strengthen the bonds of the Igbo community, both at home and abroad. I urge all great sons and daughters of Ndigbo to embrace and support the vision of reinventing Igbo studies and transforming Igboland.
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