Ohaneze Ndigbo, has sharply disagreed with the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amechi, on the way forward for the nation‘s unity, especially under the All Progressives Congress(APC) led federal governmentas expressed by its president general, Chief Nnia Nwodo.
Speaking as the 2018 Convocation guest lecturer of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, Awka, the Minister urged the people of the South East to embrace the APC if they truly wanted their interests to be protected in the scheme of things.
Speaking on the topic, “The Igbo in the politics of Nigeria“, Amechi noted that sticking to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which he saw as a regional party would not really guarantee the zone its quest for the presidency they are yearning for. Rather, it would further push them far away from the realities of today’s Nigerian governance and politics.
He noted that most of the projects abandoned by the 16 years of PDP rule had been revived by the incumbent APC administration, including roads and railways.
Hear him, “Embracing the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), would not only draw them closer to the national grid, but increase the chances of igbo presidency…”.
The ongoing projects across the geopolitical zone, in the Minister’s views were clear testimony that Ndigbo were not being marginalised by the administration as erroneously believed. To him, Buhari and his administration meant well for the igbos.
He therefore urged them to shirk of emotions of the past, desist from lamenting about the civil war, which would rather draw Ndigbo backwards than forward.
Noting, “The igbo nation should focus on solutions not recriminations. Let the quarrel with the north real or imagined stop.
“Let us join hands as one people to chart the way forward for a brighter future for Nigeria. We need to examine very carefully the Igbo political trajectory and learn crucial lessons of history.
“We cannot remain trapped in our past. We cant wish away the war that took place but we cant continue to move forward with our heads slightly inclined backwards,” he added.
For being chosen as the 2018 guest speaker for the lecture, the Minister said he was more of an igbo than most people who wondered aloud of his choice for the lecture.
But Nwodo interjected in the Minister’s submissions, insisting that the igbo nation could not be wished away in view of her immense contributions more than any other to the Nigerian project.
He also faulted the configuration of the country as a federation, saying the country had never had it so rough since its hIstory.
“I have never seen a federation where the security aparatus is domiciled in the north, where there are incessant killings and destruction of lives and property,” he emphasized.
