The Igbo National Council (INC), after extensive
deliberation during its National Working Committee (NWC) meeting that was held
in Owerri Imo State to discuss on the state of Ndi-Igbo and the Nigeria Nation,
the Council frowned on the pitiable state of affairs in the country, and states
as follows:
1. The Council decries the
slow pace of development and the state of insecurity in the country coupled
with the on going Constitutional confusion currently encircling the polity.
2. The Council condemned in its entirety, the poor state of
economy in the country and finds it disturbing that the members of Igbo race live below poverty line and are at the ebb of most indices of economic
development including high level of unemployment, low income level, high level
of poverty and hunger, high dependency ration, poor medical facilities, poor
and expensive educational and literacy provisions, low level of food
production. The INC calls on Governments at all levels to be up and doing with
efforts to uplift the standard of living of the people.
3.The Council called on the
Government of Rivers State to stop wastage of public funds on unnecessary
and white elephant Projects like the Monorail project which has
gulped over seventy-six billion naira (N76 bn) and which construction has so
far lasted a period of over 5 years and yet, has not reached a distance of 2
kilometers. Thus the project does not and will not serve the present needs of
the people of the Rivers State. The finances being wasted on such projects
could be spent properly on many other meaningful infrastructures that will
contribute to the well being of the people of the state. The INC therefore calls
on government Rivers States to begin the review of those projects that dose
not directly impact on the life of the people or improving the living condition
of the citizens.
4. The Council decried the high level of brain-drain and
human capital flight that has
been going on in Igboland since the end of the Biafra-Nigeria Civil war. The
Council noted that Igbo professionals and people have relocated to other parts
of the country and parts of the world in order to make ends meet.
Consequently, in spite of the large number of medical personnel, legal luminaries,
administrative officers, academic personnel, engineers and other professionals so
far produced by Ndigbo, the Igboland remains bereft of experts to take care of
her affairs. The INC insists that the Governments of Igbo States must begin to
deliberately formulate policies that will improve the condition of living of Ndi-Igbo
in order to retain the caliber of experts and professionals that will
contribute to the good of the land.
5.The Council maintained that Ndigbo needs re-orientation
to enable them overcome the current socio-economic and political
challenges facing the Igbo Race. The INC observes that there is a need to
re-orientate Ndigbo against such negative syndromes as the belief and
affirmation that: Ndigbo are wicked; Ndigbo are cheats; Ndigbo are politically weak;
Ndigbo are disunited or cannot work as one people or in one mind; and many other
similar and negative remarks.
Positive values for which the Nd-pIgbo was known should be
promoted, taught and encouraged at all level of our levels of our development.
Such values include: Igwe bu ike (Synergy is power); Agbata obi onye bu nwa nne ya (Ones
neighbours, are the siblings he has around); Anyukoo mmamiri onu, ya gboo ufufu
(Synergy produces greater result); Igbo bu Eze (Igbo is the King); Bunu
bunu, ibu anyi danda (together, there is no load too heavy for the little white
ants to carry); Etc
6.The Council condemned in its
totality, all anti-Igbo policies: observed in the different segments of
Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA’s) of the Federal Government of
Nigeria, Some of these discriminatory polices exist in: Nigerian Shipping
Council (NSC); National Maritime Administration and Safety Agency; Federal
Aviation Authority of Nigeria (FAAN); National Petroleum Investment Management
Services (NAPIMS); to mention but few.
7.On The Igbo Landing Project:
The INC supports the Igbo Landing Project initiated by Prof. Catherine Acholonu
to resettle black Americans who have traced their origin to Igboland through
DNA tests etc. The INC calls on all people and Governments of the Igboland to
support the project to enable it succeed. The INC praises the reception so far
accorded the project by Akwa-Ibom and Cross Rivers State Governments and
advises Governments of other Igbo States to emulate Akwa-Ibom and Cross River
State governments.
8.The Council Calls on Governor
Rochas Okorocha to employ more humane and realistic approach in making policies
affecting citizens of the state and to avoid politicizing issues of development
etc. The Council condemned in its
totality, the purported dissolution of Town Union Government and the planned
elections into the controversial Committee Governing Council (CGC) by the Imo
State Government. The Council observes that the decision has crumbled activities
at the committee levels.
9.Nollywood Movies: The Council observes
that while the Hausa and Yoruba film makers create movies that promote their
language and culture, Many Igbo film makers have continued to create movies
performed in English language most of which condemn, caricature, mock and demonize Igbo culture. The INC advises Nollywood members of Igbo extraction to
begin to create movies which will promote Igbo language and culture so as to
contribute more positively to the development of Igboland.
In view of the above, the Council
called on DSTV and other Nigeria based satellite television operators to create
an Igbo Channel or face total boycott by Igbo viewers.
Chilos
Godsent
National
President
Comrade Zulu Ofoelue
National Sec. Gen.
