Obi appeals to Igbo bizmen to develop homeland

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, has urged the Igbo to industrialise their home place by repatriating some of their wealth back home.

Speaking at a book presentation and inaugural conference of Ala Igbo Development Foundation (ADF) in Enugu on Thursday, Achebe said more than 70 per cent of the investments of the Igbo was scattered in other parts of the country.

He said that the success of the Igbo in other parts of the country often breeds envy from their host communities and sometimes leads to xenophobic attacks at any slight provocation.

“The more we take root in other lands, it generates envy from the host communities which often leads to xenophobic attacks on the Igbo.

“We must come back to Igbo land which is our base. We must begin to bring our investment back, rebuild and industrialise our land,’’ he said.

The traditional ruler noted that it was high time the Igbo began to translate the intentions of the various Igbo groups championing their wellbeing into action.

In his remark, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of ADF, Dr Dozie Ikedife, said the event was to compile the materials from its colloquium held in March 2014.

“We did not set out to write a book, rather we want to do self-examination which is an important exercise for any conscious organisation.

“ADF did not set out to compete with any Igbo group or replace any group rather it is to complement some of the existing organisations.

“We believe that there is room for everybody in the task of rebuilding the Igbo land and highlight the positive side of the Igbo person, spirit and image,” he said.

The organisation champions the development of Igbo land and the rebirth of the spirit of its culture and civilisation.