Igbo Day: Mbazuluike Amaechi blasts S’East govs, others

…As Ohaneze supports Jonathan’s return

From PETRUS OBI, Enugu

First Republic minister and elder statesman, Chief Mbazuluike Amaechi has used this years’ Igbo Day celebrations to condemn what he termed the lackadaisical attitude of governors of the South-East and other political leaders to the affairs of their people.

Amaechi, who was worried by the absence of the governors and other political office holders at this year’s event, which was staged at the Okpara Square in Enugu, lamented that they were not living up to the reasons they were selected to represent the people.

Looking around the venue, the elder statesman queried: “Where are the Igbo leaders? Why are they not here? They have refused to identify with the people.

“They were brought to represent us but they have remained in Abuja; the governors have remained in the Government Houses, that’s not why we put you there.

“We did not put you there to terrorise us with sirens, not to build sky scrappers but to help develop our people and our land.”

Amaechi, who was Aviation minister in the second republic, regretted the position of the Igbo in Nigeria and called for a change in attitude and for concerted efforts to re-position the people in the polity.

In his speech, the President General of Ohaneze, Chief Gary Igariwey on behalf of the apex body declared support for President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of the 2015 elections, insisting that the Igbo would only ask for the presidency after Jonathan must have completed his second tenure.

Said he: “Our problem is that we are not united. Since the end of the war, we have not been able to get the presidency but we can because we are the largest ethnic group in Nigeria and the people with the demographic width.

“But first, let’s get united; Igbo will go for presidency after Jonathan, we can’t keep waiting. Many people say it’s their turn but we are going to work towards it.”