The president-general of Ohanaeze-Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has said the organisation will continue to protect the interests of Igbos across the world.
Iwuanyanwu, who stated this yesterday when he addressed newsmen in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, however, said the socio-cultural organisation will not come to the aid of any Igbo who engages in criminal activities.
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He said no ethnic group in Nigeria contributes more to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well as to the internally generated revenue (IGR) of governments than Igbos.
Describing Igbo as adventurers, the Ohanaeze-Ndigbo president said they are found in all the local government areas in the country.
Iwuanyanwu said, “Igbos are adventurous in nature. They travel a lot. Their businesses are spread all over the country. In fact, it is well known that all over the country, there is hardly any local government in Nigeria where you don’t have Igbos. Igbos are living everywhere, and wherever they live, they pursue their occupation, they pursue their business.
“They are very loyal and faithful people. They are honest in their interactions with people and that is why they are staying there. People who are dishonest cannot be able to survive in foreign places. Igbos prosper wherever they go.
“They establish businesses, they build schools, they build churches, they build hospitals, they build so many things. They contribute to the gross domestic product of the area. Even, the internally generated revenue of the government, they contribute to it.
“It is clear from the record I have in my office that no ethnic group in Nigeria contributes more to the internally generated revenue of various governments than Igbos. No ethnic group contributes to the GDP of the country than Igbos. Wherever they go, they stay there and develop there. We are people who are faithful to Nigeria.
“Ohanaeze is that structure which the Igbos established to defend our people when they face any serious hostility or aggression, which most of the time is due to their successes. Ohanaeze is there to protect anybody who is being attacked unjustly. If anybody commits an offence, Ohanaeze has not business with that. We believe in the rule of law; the law must take its course. But, if any Igbo person is unjustly being treated anywhere, Ohanaeze will rise to his defence,” he said.