President Goodluck Jonathan has insisted that Nigeria will be stronger and more united in spite of the challenges facing the nation.
Jonathan, who made the statement in Enugu on Sunday in a message to the 2013 World Igbo Day said the future was still bright for the country. The day has as its theme: “Igbos, think home’’.
The president, who was represented by the Power Minister, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, commended the Igbos for their unalloyed support for his administration, assuring them of more Federal Government presence in the zone.
“Among all the ethnic groups in the country, the Igbos has given me the greatest support,’’ he said.
Jonathan expressed delight over the presence of Igbos in other zones of the country and promised not to take them for granted.
Earlier, the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Gary Igariwey, stressed the need for Ndigbo to speak with one voice in a clear direction.
According to him, the Igbos has the requisite human resources to achieve goals.
Igariwey said that concrete efforts for economic integration of Igbo land must be the trust of Ndigbo.
“It is unfortunate that since the creation of states, the hues of divide seem to Ndigbo as paramount cleavages.
“There have been no concrete efforts to pursue projects together that will impact on Ndigbo collectively,’’ he said.
Igariwey said that Igbos would support the South-South to complete their tenure, adding that it would be the turn of the South-East after President Jonathan.
The Ohaneze leader appealed to Igbos home and abroad to invest in the zone with a view to bringing development, creating jobs and reducing high rate of crime.
The event featured cultural displays and goodwill messages from the five states of the zone and the South-South as well as Igbos in the Diaspora.
