On behalf of the good people of
Anambra State, I welcome you all to Awka. Our ancestors must have had this day
in mind when they gave us the saying that na ‘Izu ka mma na nne ji.’ We have
come together today as a family, to strengthen the ties that bind us to fellow
Nigerians in this big federation. Indeed, there is probably no better time for
this conversation than now. So, I welcome you all to this dialogue!
Brothers and sisters, in the past 58
years, Ndigbo have worked tirelessly with fellow Nigerians to lay the
foundations for a better federation and a more perfect union. We have made the
most sacrifices and more often than not, we have also paid the supreme price
for the unity of this country. But we have made these sacrifices in the belief
that in the contemporary history of mankind, the road to nationhood is often
paved with the blood of patriots. Indeed, Ndigbo have paid the price for
Nigeria’s greatness. We paid in blood. We paid in FULL!
Umu nne m, the future summons us to
a brighter dawn! And we must walk in the shadows of our fathers. Yes, our
fathers played a major role in Nigeria’s long road to independence. And today,
we have gathered to dream a balanced federation into existence for Nigeria and
Nigerians.
Fellow compatriots, I have combed
the pages of history and our contemporary times. And I boldly declare that I
did not find a perfect human society anywhere. Every nation on earth is a work
in progress. Citizens of both advanced and developing countries continue to ask
their countries hard questions that will lead them to a better federation, a
better nation and a better society. And Nigeria cannot be an exception to this
rule. So, we must ask Nigeria hard questions too!
Fellow Nigerians, the question on
everyone’s mind today is ‘what kind of country do Nigerians want Nigeria to
be?’ This is the question that will determine Nigeria’s promise; Nigeria’s
future and Nigeria’s greatness. Happily, different ethnic groups and
geo-political zones have made bold efforts to ask this question in recent
times. And today, Ndigbo will ask their own!
As governor of Anambra State, I was
born and raised in Nigeria and I have lived in Nigeria for the better part of
my life. I have lived the Nigerian Dream and felt Nigeria’s Heartbreaks. I know
what my people want from Nigeria and the question we must ask of Nigeria. We
must ask what every forward looking people want from any socio-political
arrangement… life, liberty and a chance to raise happy families. We must ask
for a just, fair and equitable federation where every citizen is guaranteed the
freedom to be the best they can be and to aspire to the highest position in the
land regardless of their tribe, culture or religion. And this is what Nigeria
in its present structure, has not given to us!
Brothers and sisters, we have
answered the call of history. And hopefully, history will be kind to us. If our
fathers invested their youthful hopes and the power of their intellect in the
Nigeria of their time, we have invested our wealth, our enterprise and our
emotion in remaking Nigeria. Indeed, no other ethnic group has as much
emotional investment in the Nigerian project as Ndigbo. And now, we have been
called upon to re-imagine Nigeria. We welcome this challenge with both hands.
For if we rose from the ruins of the
Civil War to rebuild Eastern Nigeria in record time, there should be no doubt
about what Ndigbo can bring to the table in a fair, just and equitable Nigeria.
Umu nnem, I have no doubt that this
summit will articulate a wise, realistic and hopeful position that will
represent the key expectations of Ndigbo from Nigeria.
It is on this note that I welcome
you all once again to Anambra State!
Ndigbo kwenu!
Kwenu!
Kwezuenu-o!
Kwenu!
Kwezuenu-o!
Dalunu
Chief Willie Obiano
Governor of Anambra State
Governor of Anambra State
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