…Says Pa Edwin Clark, epitome of hard work,discipline
UFOMBA UZUEGBU
Chieftain of the Igbo soco-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Okey Nwadinobi, has restated the need for greater unity, equity and justice among all sections of the country as a panacea for the nation’s speedy development.
Nwadinobi, who is the Deputy President of the apex Igbo body, emphasized that the quest for unity, equity and justice must be built on the strength of a people united in aspiration and purpose.
He said the time has come to make room for the Igbo nation in the front, alongside others in the Nigerian project, if Nigeria is to truly become a nation of hope, peace and prosperity.
His made the remarks during a memorial Lecture/Day of Tribute in honour of elder statesman, Pa Edwin Clark in Abuja.
Nwadinobi argued that the nation’s past heroes had unquenchable thirst for unity, equity and justice saying, “we the people of Nigeria must collectively resolve that going forward, no one tribe, no one people, no one creed, will be left behind so that the labour of our heroes past, shall not be in vain.”
According to him,the quest to rebuild the nation and take it back to the vision of the founding fathers and mothers should start with inclusiveness, tolerance, dignity and mutual trust.
“Pa Edwin Clark,whom we celebrate today, manifested and stood for these principles in every way.We thank God that he lived long enough to impact positively on the lives of a high number of Nigerians. He therefore was the mirror that reflected the image of our heroes past, an epitome of hard work, discipline and belief in treating others as he would he would like to be treated”, Nwadinobi said.
According to him, leaders of the post independence era, set high standards and truly achieved them adding that they also established systems that worked and in many cases better than in most countries in education, public service, health services including support to the private sector, among others.
On the Igbo question,Nwadinobi said ; ” When you make room for Ndigbo at the front alongside others, the Nigerian nation will derive immense benefits from the entrepreneurial spirit of the Igbo people, as exemplified by the spare parts wonder of Nnewi, the ingenuity of designs in Aba, the market skills of Onitsha, to mention just a few.
In addition , the Nigerian State, he emphasized, would enjoy the unprecedented apprenticeship incubation model which institutions like the World bank have sent experts to study, among others..
