By Funmi Falobi
Snr Reporter, Lagos

Ndigbo under the auspices of World Igbo Congress
(WIC) said on Wednesday they were strategising on
the possibility of producing Nigeria’s President of
Igbo ethnic extraction come 2015.

The 19th annual WIC convention holding from
August 29 to September 2 in Dallas, Texas, United
States of America, is to be used as the platform to
discuss the issue.
The theme of this year’s WIC convention is, ‘Njiko na
Oganiru Ala Igbo.’

The hosting affiliate is Igbo Community Association
of Nigeria, Dallas, under the leadership of Sam
Nwankwo.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by
WIC Chairman, Joe Nze Eto, Executive Director,
Anthony Ejiofor, and Media Director, Acho Orabuchi.

The statement said the deliberations at the
convention would examine all options as the group
maps out plans on how to internationalise Igbo cause
“so that the global community will understand the
plight of Ndi-Igbo in Nigeria.”
“As a determined organisation, we must ensure that
Ndi-Igbo can no longer be timid about demanding
and receiving equity and fairness in Nigeria.

“The Nigerian President of Igbo extraction should no
longer be a dream, but a practical matter that we
must collectively accomplish within the context of
one and united Nigeria.

“Therefore, we are directing Ndi-Igbo in Nigeria to
stop allowing other groups to direct Igbo’s destiny in
Nigeria. It is our collective responsibility to chart our
own course and work assiduously to achieve our
goals,” it said.

The statement added that with “our special
consultative status at the UN-ECOSOC, we will
immediately constitute the required representation
at the appropriate UN centres and internally
communicate our plans on how to maximise the use
of our status to share with the world the current
socio-cultural, security and economic issues facing
the Igbo in Nigeria.

“No tribe in Nigeria has suffered more
marginalisation than the Igbo people. A case in point
is the Federal Government’s reluctance to build a
new Niger Bridge after promises from three
administrations,” the statement added.

The group, therefore, called on all South East
Governors, National Assembly members, Ohanaeze
leadership, and other Igbo leaders to attend the
convention and actively participate in the dialogue.

“It’ll not be about speeches, but about results to
enhance the condition of Igbo people everywhere in
Nigeria,” it said.

www.dailyindependentnig.com/2013/07/world-igbo-congress-strategises-for-2015-presidency/