By Martin Opara
A renowned academic and authority in Igbo history and cosmology, Prof. Chidi Osuagwu has assured that effective, functional and motivational leadership, anchored on credibility, character, and vision, Ndi Igbo can make the future we seek and unleash the enormous potentials of our people for monumental achievements and innovations.
Prof. Osuagwu stated this at a press conference in Owerri, Tuesday, Novemeber 10,2020 while declaring his interest to contest for the President General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, in the forthcoming election.
He noted that the apex socio- cultural organization of Ndi Igbo, at home and in the Diaspora, has a responsibility to recalibrate the homeland economy, by building confidence in our people, both at home and in the Diaspora, to begin to consciously think home and replicate the wonders “we have done across the world right here in Igbo land. We have a duty to permanently end the spilling of Igbo blood anywhere in Nigeria, no matter under which pretext it occurs. We have an obligation to listen to the grievances of our youths, to talk to them, address their worries and guarantee a better and brighter tomorrow filled with opportunities. The dignity of Ndi Igbo, the sanctity of Igbo culture and the protection of all interest if Ndi Igbo must never be negotiated, tampered with nor compromised”.
He said there is need to reconnect with our people, re-establish trust in leadership, address our challenges with unity of purpose, assuage all frayed nerves and make progress.
Prof. Osuagwu assured that, if elected President General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, he will in synergy with relevant stakeholders, galvanize our people to ensure that “the long years of injustices against us in Nigeria, and the litany of deprivations meted our to us, give way to a new era, of Ndi Igbo repossessing our pride of place, become that, which we desire, inspite of all odds”.
He recalled that town unions in the past propelled remarkable achievements of Ndi Igbo in all areas of human development many decades ago. “Today, the Association of South East Town Unions (ASETU) is seeking to return Ndi Igbo to the unique Igbo home grown leadership and unique approach to problem solving. Not only do I share this vision, I look forward to working closely with them towards reaching the grassroots with a view to sewing together, the fabrics of the Igbo race all over the world, to become stronger and better positioned to occupy our rightful place and effectively play our role as a people”.
Prof. Osuagwu affirmed that Ohaneze under his leadership, will seek to rekindle the great and resilient Igbo spirit, that led to the accomplishment of great things, the survival of daunting challenges ever faced by any group of people on earth. “Yet, through those rubbles of despair, and destruction, they arose, not just to survive but to thrive”.
“As the new President General of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, I am amply qualified for, recognizing the fact, that, the mandate actually belongs to the people, I shall work with commitment and dedication, with the abundant talents we have, without unnecessary preoccupation with the usual political correctness and trepidations of the past, to revive our people politically, culturally, and spiritually, while jealously guarding our rich cultural heritage. We must articulate new and old ideas for a paradigm shift from some of the old OHANEZE idiosyncrasy and compromises which has greatly constrained us and limited our ability to be bold, assertive and proactive when the moment and realities demand for such leadership” he echoed.
Speaking further, he said,”I have offered myself for service to our great Igbo race, that I am passionate about and very proud of. The voice of the people, your voice, come next election, is indeed the voice of God.”
