World Igbo Congress: Away
with this platitude
By Jerome Echesigom
Saturday,
September 15, 2007
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Peter Obi
Photo: Sun News Publishing |
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The annual World Igbo Congress has become etched in the psyche
of Igbos, especially those that live in the United States
of America. Besides the Congress of 1998, which took place
in London, all others have taken place in the USA –
Chicago, New Jersey, Dallas, New York, etc.
The World Igbo Congress is patterned after the World Jewish
Congress. The Igbos and the Jews have a lot in common. Apart
from the common entrepreneurial speech, both tribes have a
lot of their people living in the Diaspora. In fact, the World
Jewish Congress contributed a lot to the economic development
of the Jewish State. The founders of the World Igbo Congress
entertain the same dream for Igbo land.
Just after the 13th session, I think it is time for the Igbo
to look back and evaluate what the Congress has done to the
people. It is not enough congregating in foreign lands and
come out with beautiful communiqué that becomes irrelevant
soon after being issued.
It is a good thing to note that three Igbo governors attended
the last World Igbo Congress: Chief Theodore Orji of Abia
State, Mr. Peter Obi of Anambra State, and Dr. Ikedi Ohakim
of Imo State. I listened to their speeches and I must confess
the Congress was impressed because they seem to understand
the developmental imperatives that are desiderata in Igbo
land today.
But in most organized Congresses, all we hear are platitudes,
especially when speakers read already prepared speeches. Sometimes
those speeches are just the reflection of what the writers
feel the people want to hear.
I am impressed with Governor Obi of Anambra State for he spoke
extempore. You could at once see that he was not being platitudinous,
for he evidently spoke from conviction, which flowed from
some projects he had already sat down to conceive and plan.
A good example is Obi’s quest for Ozubulu axis, which
will benefit from the 2nd Niger Bridge, to be declared a Trade
Free Zone, for the manufacture of oil components and other
things. In fact, from the revelation that some banks are interested
in the project shows how far he has gone.
Obi talked about so many other things, a good example of how
investment in stock and shares can be profitable to individuals
and states. He did not stop at that but told the Congress
that by December, he would complete a new stock building now
under construction.
Obi talked about the State of infrastructure in Anambra and
what has been done or will be done. A good case is the absence
of accredited hospitals in Anambra. He equally revealed that
Onitsha General Hospital has been accredited and Amaku, Awka
is being equipped for accreditation.
In Obi, one sees a governor who plans and carries out his
plans. Listening to him, I suggest that in subsequent Congresses,
our governors should be encouraged to speak from inner conviction.
When they do, they are usually more frank and open.
The organizers of the World Igbo Congress must also consider
bringing the event home and extract the conference from politics.
So long as they use it to seek political relevance as discernible
from their actions, the Congress may lose relevance with time.
Jerome Echesigom wrote in from Nnewi, Anambra State
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