Ohanaeze threatens to sue FG over extra state for S’East

 

Ohanaeze threatens to sue FG over extra state for S’East

• Renews call for power devolution

Ohanaeze Ndigbo has threatened to sue the Federal Government over the fewer number of states in the Southeast.

Rationalising the imperativeness of creating an additional state in the region for it to be at par with other geo-political zones, its President-General, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who spoke yesterday at the group’s first retreat, themed Ako Bu Ije(Development with Wisdom) in Enugu, regretted that the South-East had lost trillions of Naira to the problem.

The elder statesman warned the central government against spurning the call, stating: “We are assembling Igbo lawyers to pursue it.”

The body also renewed its call for Nigeria’s restructuring in a manner that encourages powers to be devolved from the federal to state governments.

This, Iwuanyanwu observed, would give the states reasonable autonomy to develop at their pace.

“It will enable us to build our seaports, railways and other infrastructure to develop the zone,” he said.

The Igbo leader also kicked against merging of Project Development Institute (PRODA) with other science institutes, emphasising that the establishment was borne out of the experience of the Nigerian civil war.

In his remarks, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, commended Igbos serving in various capacities for their sacrifice and support.

He said the zone needed to work towards economic integration.

The governor reminded the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation that its economic team needed to engage political leaders across the zone for a common market that could attract investors to the region.

 

In a paper presentation titled, ‘Education: Technical Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Igboland,” the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Nnenna Oti, sought new hope, equal opportunities, technological and entrepreneurial development in the East.

She called on Igbos to identify who they are and pursue their dreams for greater exploits.

Earlier in his welcome address, chairman of the occasion, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke (rtd), said it was time for Igbos to get it right and develop the zone.

Speaking on the theme, the chairman charged: “When you move without wisdom, you get injured,” advising the citizens to ask themselves questions on where they went wrong and make amends.