Former President Jonathan has urged Nigerians to shun ethnic sentiments.
Newsonline reports that Former President Goodluck Jonathan has charged the nation’s electorate to shun tribal and ethnic sentiment and elect leaders with credibility, and who firmly believe in peace and unity as against religious fundamentalists.
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He said that time has come when the nation’s leaders should whittle down ethnic, religious and political cleavages and also de-emphasise the differences among the various tribes.
Jonathan stated this at a lecture series organised by the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Imo State Council to mark the 80th birthday of the elder statesman and the chairman, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Elders Council, Chief Dr. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu held in Owerri, the Imo State capital.
Dr. Jonathan recalled the prophetic statements of the nation’s founding fathers which have continued to make impact in the nation’s match to greatness, calling on critical stakeholders to “work in synergy to achieve the collective dream of our time.”
He extolled Chief Iwuanyanwu as a good role model, a successful industrialist and an ideal patriot who has continued to promote peace, unity, socio cohesion and national integration among the various ethnic nationalities.
The guest lecturer and former president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief John Nnia Nwodo in his lecture entitled ‘Igbo Quest for Nigeria’s Unity’, recalled that Ndigbo had continued to demonstrate spirit of nationalism and belief in the corporate existence of the nation with chains of investments spread across the country.
“In international diplomatic engagement, the Igbo have done the nation proud and we are one of the most successful ethnic groups in the country.
Nwodo, also a former Minister of Aviation and Information as well as the coordinator of the Southern and Middle Belt Forum, recalled that the defunct Eastern region which previously had the fastest growing economy in the country had now become an object of pity as a result of poor economy and lack of basic infrastructure.
He commended Chief Iwuanyanwu for all he has achieved for humanity and the nation in particular and wished him many more years of a fruitful life.
Speaking, Governor Hope Uzodimma described Iwuanyanwu as a jewel of Igboland, a pride of the nation and a truly detribalised Nigerian with a penchant for love, unity and neighborhood among the various tribes.
The governor recalled that Ndigbo have the spirit to settle in any parts of the country with flourishing businesses.
“Unfortunately, they are being looked upon with suspicion since the end of the civil war in 1970. In spite of this obvious interpretation and misinterpretations, Ndigbo still love Nigeria.”
Responding, Chief Iwuanyanwu commended the dignitaries and the organisers for honouring him.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr Chris Njoku, thanked Iwuanyanwu for coming to the aid of journalists in the state irrespective of the “tasking nature of the profession.”
The event was attended by representatives of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Arewa Consultative Forum, Middle Belt Forum, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Afenifere and the Northern Elders Forum.
Also present were former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara ; former Military Governor of Imo, Ike Nwachukwu, heads of security agencies in the state among others.
