Professor Okonkwo Inspires Unity: Calls on Igbos to Rally Behind Each Other with Support and Solidarity.

By: ULOKA, Chibuike

Lagos - The Chairman of United Nigeria Airline, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, OFR, has urged ndị-Igbo to foster support, solidarity, and collaboration instead of competition and antagonism among themselves.

Speaking after being recognized by the Igbo socio-economic and think tank group, Aka Ikenga, as the "Enabler of Ndi-Igbo Vision, Strength, and Resilience," Professor Okonkwo highlighted the prevalent pull-him-down syndrome within the Igbos in present day.

At the year-end get-together event chaired by Senator Enyinaya Abaribe, Professor Okonkwo lamented the internal challenges faced by Igbo individuals and businesses, emphasizing the need for collaboration. The event, attended by prominent figures like Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo; Chief Dr. Chris Ngige; Dr. Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD of Fidelity Bank; Chief Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman of Arise Television and Publisher of ThisDay Newspaper; Chief Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace Airline; Chief Leo Stan Ekeh; Mrs. Okoli of Emzor Pharmaceuticals; Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, founder of Chisco Transport Company; traditional rulers; and industry players, among others, aimed to celebrate Igbo achievements and address prevailing issues.

Professor Okonkwo shared his concerns about internal attacks on Igbo businesses, citing social media campaigns discrediting Allen Onyema's Air Peace airline. He emphasized the importance of acknowledging positive contributions and fostering unity.

Professor Okonkwo noted that while it is common for Igbo to face significant external competition in all sectors of endeavors, they tend to make every situation favorable and are determined to succeed regardless of the challenges. He emphasized that it is most discouraging that many of the perceived attacks and antagonism often come from within, from fellow Igbos whose only interest and aim is to pull another down.

Professor Okonkwo described how some fifth columnists have resorted to using social media to discredit the efforts of his brother, Allen Onyema, by making unfounded allegations and narratives against his airline. These individuals fail to acknowledge the airline's positive contributions and commitment to serving and brining glory to ndị Igbo as the only Indigenous airline operating overseas.

Professor Okonkwo also highlighted the fact that Igbos are global tourists and mentioned the airline's numerous interventions. Despite all this, a few individuals deliberately choose to attack and discredit Air Peace in an attempt to bring it down and benefit their competitors.

Professor Okonkwo's speech climaxed the event as it resonated; he recounted how Allen Onyema had been supportive of his business, debunking the notion of competition between them, stating that the sky is too big to accommodate everyone.

He emphasized that the bulk of the problems Igbos face lie within the Igbos themselves, with the prevalence of hate and a lack of collaboration.

He further added that many of them are making frantic efforts behind the scenes to dialogue on various issues affecting the Igbos living in Lagos, like the recent abule-ado demolition and a host of others, they are as well concerned.

According to Professor Okonkwo, The problem is no longer what outsiders are doing to us, ndị Igbo, but what we ourselves are doing to each other."

"All speakers here have spoken well about what others have done to ndị Igbo, and I think we've all spoken about that a lot without addressing what we Igbos are doing to ourselves. The spate of hate is too much among many Igbo brothers and sisters, who, instead of collaborating, see themselves as competitors and strive to pull others down rather than working together and showing solidarity."

"People now go to the Internet, generate stereotypes, and present them as truth, and people believe these narratives. A recent example is when a man went to the Air Peace portal and compared a business class ticket to the Southeast with an economy class ticket to a state in the North without considering the difference in pricing for each class. Instead, he started hurling insults and attacks at Air Peace. That's plain wickedness and ignorance."

"When I entered the industry, there were people who thought I would fight and compete with my brother Allen Onyema. Perhaps they believed Igbos were always antagonistic towards each other, thinking I would be a better weapon for them to attack Air Peace. However, when I got in, they saw the opposite. Instead of fighting and competing, we decided to collaborate and work together; this has made us the target of the industry."

Professor Okonkwo, who used the medium to share with everyone how Allen Onyema has remained supportive and how they have decided to work together, thanked Aka Ikenga for finding them worthy of recognition and called for more support and solidarity.

He admonished ndị Igbo to learn to work together, collaborate, and support each other, stating that such remains the only way to fend off any external attacks aimed at Igbo businesses and ndị Igbo across sectors.

"Ndị Igbo, we are known for our resilience, strength, and ability to succeed amidst challenges. If we manage to overcome the 'pull him down' syndrome that has now pervaded our people, external attacks would be nothing," Okonkwo added.

Professor Okonkwo congratulated Aka Ikenga for their successful year-end get-together and the recognition and award bestowed upon him and his brother, Chief Allen Onyema, along with other prominent Igbo figures. He commended their role in promoting Igbo culture and organizing and coordinating the affairs of Ndi-Igbo globally. He stated that the group, founded in 1988, has remained a strong platform for the Igbos and called on every Igbo to support Aka Ikenga in jointly achieving their objectives.

Other speakers and awardees, including President Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, former Minister Chris Ngige, and founder of Chisco Transport, Chief Dr. Chidi Anyaegbu, praised Professor Obiora Okonkwo for his thought-provoking speech about the prevalence of inter-Igbo hatred. They commended his resilience and described him as a true Igbo champion advocating for justice, fairness, and equity, expressing confidence that the Igbos will ultimately triumph.

Yet he supported atiku against obi.