ENUGU — Professor Kingsley Moghalu at the inauguration ceremony of Igbonine, a socio-cultural organization called on Ndigbo to look beyond political party and focus on the emergence of a competent and visionary Nigeria President from South-East extraction capable of moving Nigeria and all its component parts and peoples forward.
This is one of the eight needs enumerated by Moghalu, a former Deputy Governor Central Bank of Nigeria and 2019 Presidential Candidate in his keynote address;
“The Igbos must insist on power rotation to Southern Nigeria in 2023, and with a unique argument for a President of Southeast extraction.”
“The priority should be placed on the emergence of a competent and visionary Nigerian President from our region, from any of the recognized political parties who can move Nigeria and all its component parts and peoples forward.”
“Restricting ourselves to APC/PDP as ‘mainstream’ parties have effectively rendered Ndigbo politically second class in Nigeria because it has prevented us from effectively advancing our strategic interests.”
Moghalu also advised Ndigbo not to disenfranchise themselves as this will be detrimental to the region.
“Ndigbo have nothing to gain by self-disenfranchisement in the Nigerian political system through election boycotts of low voter turnout. We must register to vote and vote in state and national elections because, he who is not at the table, is by implication on the menu.”
He further stated that constitutional restructuring which is the most widely supported option in the minds of most Nigerians is inevitably the way out of Nigeria’s quagmire may not be feasible with this present administration.
In his words, “Constitutional restructuring to return to real federalism with significant autonomy for regional or state governments is the most widely supported option but publicly opposed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari,”
“In reality, constitutional restructuring can be achieved only if in 2023 a President with will and capacity is elected”.
“There is no question in my mind, however, that Nigeria’s future in the absence of the imperative of restructuring is a bleak one, and the country, in fact, is unlikely to survive for long as one entity in that scenario,” he posited.
In his opening remark, the Chairman of the occasion, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Senate Minority Leader representing Abia-South Senatorial district had revealed marginalization and non-inclusiveness in governance as the crux of the problem in Nigeria.
The Senate Minority Leader representing Abia-South Senatorial district of Abia State in the Senate stated, “Our country Nigeria is supposed to be inclusive of everyone because we are all equal partners; every effort must be made to allow for fairness, equity and for deliberate action to make each and every Nigeria feel a part of the nation.”
“We demand that every component of this nation must harness her resources and develop at its own pace; restructuring should be the minimum demand of Ndigbo,” Abaribe said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President General Igbonine socio-cultural organization, High Chief Emeka Okonkwo stated that to achieve a united Nigeria that is enviable to the rest of the world, the renaissance of the Nigerian new social order must be supported.
“Igbonine is borne out of the passion to lend positive and unifying voices to affairs concerning and affecting the Igbo man and support the renaissance of the Nigerian new socio order as encapsulated in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the enthronement of equity, justice, fairness and some measure of ideals of freedom.”
The PG Igbonine further posited, “Our main thrust would be to pursue the course of Igbos through dialogue, friendship, understanding and application of all favorable dynamics at play without coercion or unnecessary friction.”
Igbonine is an association of all Igbos in Nigeria and anywhere in the world regardless of dialect, religion, socio-economic class, and political ideology.
The organization which is non-partisan is duly registered in Nigeria with the Corporate Affairs Commission with registration number 153758 of 16th November 2020.
Igbonine vision statement is to create a united and prosperous Igbo nation, home and in diaspora, in harmony with our host communities and other Nigeria ethnic nationalities.
In his closing remarks, the Chairman Board of Trustees of the Igbonine organization, Dr. Dennis Ekumankama MFR, revealed the plan to establish Igbonine at states, local Government areas, and university communities as this will give the organization leverage to institute ethical standards amongst the youths.
Some other discussants present at the occasion include Senator Dr. Emmanuel Onwe; Chief Mrs. Chika Ibeneme women leader of Igbonine; Mr. Ugezu J. Ugezu an actor and youth representative, however, none of the southern state Governors was present.
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