Sam Philip
President-General of the Association of Ndi Eze Ndi Igbo in the Diaspora, Eze Gregory Iloerika, has charged Igbos residing outside Nigeria to ensure they portray the ethnic national and Nigeria in good light.
He made the charge while speaking on Tuesday in Akure, Ondo State capital, on the inauguration of the Senegal chapter of the association led by Fortune Obasi which held last weekend.
Iloerika urged them to remain united and take care of people of the Southeast geo-political zone living in the Senegal, assuring that under his leadership, efforts to cement peaceful and harmonious relationships with other ethnic groups across the country and even beyond would remain his focus..
The President General, who just returned from Senegal, reiterated the commitment of his administration to its promise to uniting and harmonizing every facet of relationships and ensure cordial relationships among various Igbo groups and other ethnic nationalities.
He declared that he would continue to sustain and improve on the existing unity among Igbos, their host communities, and other ethnic groups within and outside the Nigeria.
Iloehika, therefore, admonished the Igbo community to be law-abiding wherever they find themselves, noting that they are ambassadors of the Igbo nation in their various base.
He said: “I came back from Senegal at the end of November. I went to Senegal to install Eze Ndi. I advised them to be law-abiding citizens. At the same time, they are our ambassadors.
“They represent Nigeria very well over there. And I talked to them to live in peace and make peace with the host community. I cautioned them that they should not do anything that can bring shame to Igbos. And they should not do anything that can bring shame to Nigeria.”
In his reaction to the development, the Special Assistant to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Igbo matters, Hon Francis Belonwu said Eze Iloehika remains an outstanding figure when it comes to the Igbo community in the whole world, not only in the states.
He said: “Being the President General of Ndi Eze in the diaspora, it is only his authority that can install Eze anywhere outside Igbo land. This is still to portray the point that he remains the authentic Eze Ndigbo in those states. And the only recognized Eze Ndi in the diaspora. His journey to Senegal is not a surprise to us, because he remains the only person who can make that kind of journey.
“When he got there, he was able to meet the Nigerian Ambassador to Senegal. He was able to meet with him one-on-one and address him on the state of Igbos in Senegal. He promised to look into anything that affects the Igbos in Senegal.”
Commenting on the just concluded gubernatorial election in Ondo State, Belonwu declared that all the Igbo in Ondo State supported Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa because of the way he included them in his administration. He said the Ndigbo in the state would always give their best to their host communities.
According to him, “Irrespective of your affiliation with any political parties, I carry every other person along. Because when it comes to politics, what we are looking for is the way Igbo people can sell goods and services.
“Everybody is being carried along. Except someone who decides to put himself out of the circle. But my door is open to everybody to work with.”