ABUJA — The Igbo are not merely an ethnic group but a “decentralized, republican, entrepreneurial, migratory and innovative civilization,” Rep. Sir Sam Onuigbo declared yesterday at the inaugural stakeholders meeting of the Global Igbo Foundation Initiatives.
Delivering a keynote titled “Igbo Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow,” Onuigbo—a member of the North East Development Commission’s governing board—traced Igbo history from pre-colonial republican democracy through colonial resistance to post-war marginalization.
He highlighted iconic struggles, from King Jaja of Opobo’s economic defiance to the 1929 Aba Women’s Riot, as evidence of a deep-rooted culture of accountability mislabeled by colonial powers as “ungovernable.”
Today’s Reality
Despite the devastation of the civil war and what he called “structural marginalization”—including the South-East being the only zone with five states—Onuigbo praised the Igbo’s “unstoppable resurgence” through enterprise, the Igba Boi apprenticeship system, and global excellence in fields from literature to technology.
Tomorrow’s Demand
Looking ahead, Onuigbo issued a clear call to action: the Igbo future must be “negotiated.” He appealed for the creation of a sixth state in the South-East, equitable political representation, and deliberate investment in technology-driven manufacturing, language revitalization, and pan-Nigerian coalition-building.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for advancing the “3Rs” (Reconciliation, Rehabilitation, Reconstruction) via the South-East Development Commission but urged further action to correct “foundational imbalances.”
“Only through equity, dialogue and restructuring can the Igbo be fully integrated into the Nigeria project,” he concluded.
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Disclaimer: This article is a condensed report of a public address. Views expressed are those of the keynote speaker and have been summarized for clarity and brevity.
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