Embrace Kinsmen Domiciled Outside South-East, Nwoko Tells Igbos

Senator Ned Nwoko has urged Igbos successful the South-East to clasp their kinsmen dispersed crossed different parts of the country, stressing that unity and restoration of individuality stay captious for the endurance of Ndigbo.

Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District, spoke successful Abuja arsenic portion of his ongoing mobilisation for the unification of Igbos crossed Nigeria.

He said galore communities with Igbo roots successful the South-South, Kogi, and Benue States inactive grapple with individuality crises dating backmost to the Nigerian Civil War.

Citing the Asaba massacre of 1966, the lawmaker recalled however Anioma radical and different Igbo groups extracurricular the South-East were forced to renounce their individuality to flight killings by soldiers.

“Frightened by the rampaging Nigerian soldiers, galore of our radical had to renounce their Igbo individuality conscionable to survive. Some Anioma radical adjacent adopted Benin names due to the fact that soldiers were combing villages successful hunt of Igbos to kill,” helium said.

According to him, that tragic past explains wherefore immoderate groups extracurricular the South-East shy distant from openly identifying arsenic Igbo.

He noted, however, that the existent propulsion to reconstruct Igbo individuality aligns with the imaginativeness of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex socio-cultural assemblage of the Igbo.

“The larger Igbo nine should clasp its kith and kin scattered crossed Nigeria. The restoration of our shared individuality is portion of the unification we indispensable pursue,” helium stated.

On Anioma identity, Nwoko questioned wherefore immoderate successful Delta State proceed to contradict their Igbo practice contempt overwhelming taste evidence.

“As acold arsenic I know, determination has ne'er been a clip successful past erstwhile Igbos from crossed the Niger waged immoderate expansionist warfare successful Anioma to unit radical to go Igbo. So wherefore the fright?” helium asked.

He insisted that portion individuals are escaped to self-identify, the overwhelming bulk of Anioma radical stay Igbo.

“Those who privation to assertion Benin should spell ahead, but 99.9 per cent of Anioma radical are Igbos,” Nwoko declared.

The Senator is championing the instauration of Anioma State, which helium said should beryllium carved retired arsenic the sixth authorities of the South-East portion to fortify practice and cement unity wrong the geopolitical zone.