His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, has advised entrepreneurs of South-East extraction to diversify their investments and assets into the region to develop the area.
Igwe Achebe, made the call, Monday in Awka, Anambra State capital, while delivering a lecture titled “Think Nigeria, Invest in Anambra (Aku Luo Uno)” to mark the 25th anniversary of the State.
He observed that no people can achieve greatness and respect in the comity of nations, based solely on their prowess in the diaspora and urged them to make the region their economic power-base to underpin their business interests all over the world.
In his words, “You have to be strong in your home base. Ndi-Igbo have a beautiful God-given homeland, let us develop it and be proud of it”.
“We are not saying that you should pull out and come home, no, diversify back home and ultimately let us make Ala-Igbo the power house to support and underpin our interest all over the world. If you are strong in your home base, they cannot insult you in their land.
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He however advocated for equitable and egalitarian Nigeria to protect the interest of all Nigerians, despite their tribe and religion.
According to him, the long term interest of Ndi-Igbo would best be served in a Nigeria that is just and equitable and provides adequate safeguards and scope for individuals and ethnic nationalities to freely realise their aspirations, as well as contribute their quota to the overall development of the country.
He stated that such a situation, would best be achieved by restructuring the country into a true political and fiscal federation, based on the existing 6-geo-political zones and pre-1996 constitution, stressing that such arrangement, would afford the best platform for Ndi-Igbo to actualise their character as merchants.
“Ndi-Igbo should articulate this and canvass it accordingly and work in consent with other like-minded ethnic nationalities and leaders.
“Even though yields on investments in short term may be higher outside the South-East region, however this is unlikely to remain the same in the medium to longer term with the present and future political risks.
“Commercial prowess and economic strength can never eliminate environmental and political risks and the envy for been seen as a successful stranger in someones community, unless and until a more equitably negotiated country is achieved, “he observed.
He urged Ndi-Igbo to be prepared to engage in such a renegotiated arrangement from a position of strength in other to achieve satisfactory outcome.
Whilst encouraging political partisanship, he urged Ndi-Igbo to come together to define and champion an Igbo fundamental agenda that transcends political partisanship.
The anniversary lecture was part of several events carefully outlined to showcase the potentials of Anambra State.
The event which took place at the Women Development Centre, attracted the crème-de-la crème in Anambra State, including Alex Ekwueme, the former Vice President of Nigeria, Virginia Etiaba, former deputy Governor of Anambra State, Cosmas Maduka, chairman, chief executive officer, Coscharis Group and Ifeanyi Okoye, group chairman/chief executive officer, Juhel Nigeria Limited .
