President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey, has identified leadership squabbles as the main problem facing Igbos. According to him, “Our greatest problem is that of leadership. Every Igboman wants to be a leader, but there can only be one leader at a time.”

Igariwey stated this while speaking over the weekend in Lagos during the public presentation of the centenary book 100 Years of Amalgamation: Igbos, What Hope in Nigeria? at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Victoria Island.

He lamented that “because of this disunity, it is easy for others to engage us and defeat us.” He cited the travails of Ndigbo in places such as Kano and Lagos, where Ndigbo are not only subjected to economic losses but also lack political relevance despite their huge population in these places.

The Ohanaeze President General declared that “we are a great people, no doubt,” but said that Ndigbo have failed to harness their greatness to advance their welfare. He cited the Igbo culture of heavily investing wherever they find themselves.

“We are the most dispersed people in Nigeria, but we have over-invested even to the detriment of our place,” said Igariwey, who used the occasion to correct the erroneous impression that he either has a doctorate degree or has been awarded an honourary doctorate degree.

He expressed regret that Igbos heavily invest even in places where they are not liked, saying: “This creates a problem.” He used the on-going Boko Haram insurgency in the North as an example, saying: “When things happen, we have to measure our statement so as not to endanger the investment of our people in those places. We do not like this.”

Igariwey’s advice to Ndigbo in this regard: “Let us be strategic in our investment. Think home!”

He thanked Peter Anosike, the author of the book, for using it properly capture the relevance of Ndigbo in the country.

Organised by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Southwest Zone, the event also witnessed the presentation of cheques to the maiden beneficiaries of its N100 Million Education Endowment Fund to indigent Igbo students in tertiary institutions living in the South-West part of the country.

•Photo shows Chief Igariwey.

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