Former Anambra State governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, has posited that the only way to achieve true federation is for the respective ethnic groups to create a synergy for national unity.

Ezeife, who disclosed this at the end of year party and award presentation-ceremony of Egbe Omo Oduduwa in Awka Anambra State, pointed out that there is a confirmed socio-cultural relationship between the Igbo and Yoruba in Nigeria, adding that the two ethnic groups should be on the vanguard of national unity and true federation.

He contended that the bane of Nigeria’s democracy and corporate existence is the so much concentration of power at the centre, and sued for a weak centre and strong federating units.

“I believe that the first call is for the Igbo and Yoruba to start constructive engagement and end the parallel line relationship.

“Parallel lines do not meet. These parallel lines must bend towards each other or the rot and disintegration cannot be halted and reversed. The second call is for the building up of the critical minimum force to propel political arrangements in the directions that make things work. The logical end of the call is for the immediate constitution of a Peoples’ (Constituent) Assembly, where Nigerians will work to give onto themselves the constitutional arrangements that will make things work in Nigeria.

“This should be done in the proven knowledge that the present arrangement is chocking off growth and development possibilities and seems to be moving our beloved country inexorably to ruin!”

At the occasion, former Anambra State governor, Dr Chris Nwabueze Ngige, was honoured as a pacesetter and detribalised Nigerian whose tenure as governor ensured the safety of the people irrespective of tribe or religion.

According to leader of Yoruba community in Anambra State, Mr. Tunde Adegbenjo, Ngige is the only governor past and present that has been of immense assistance to the Yoruba community.

He recalled that in the 2005 pilgrimage, Ngige while in office gave the Yoruba community in Anambra slots to attend pilgrimage.

The Yoruba leader recalled that during the religious and ethnic clashes in the country, Ngige ensured the safety of non-indigenes and provided relief materials for their up keep.

Also honoured was Oyo State Governor, Dr Adebayo Alao-Akala, as the patron, while Dame Virgy Etiaba was made Matron of Yoruba community in Anambra State.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade and Obi Gibson Nwosu of Awka kingdom were made royal fathers of the day.

In his goodwill message to his brothers in Anambra state, Oyo state governor, Alao-Akala, expressed happiness with the award given to him and urged the Yoruba in Anambra State to remain good ambassadors of their state.

Akala further reiterated the Oyo State government’s continued protection of lives and properties of non-indigenes and also creating an enabling environment for brotherliness and exchange of trade and commerce among all ethnic groups in Nigeria.

Also, president of Egbe Omo Oduduwa in the state noted that the importance of the celebration was to recognize personalities that have contributed to the cultural and ethnic integration among the Yoruba and the Igbo of Anambra extraction.

He also thanked the Group Managing Director of Capital Oils Limited, Mr. Ifeanyi Ubah, for his assistance to the Yoruba community and display of brotherhood by averting what would have led to a bloody ethnic clash between the Yoruba and the Igbo in Nnewi commercial town.