PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
AN ADDRESS DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY,
SENATOR ANYIM PIUS ANYIM CON,
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
AT THE A OCCASION OF IGBO TRADERS ASSOCIATION
LAUNCHING OF APPEAL FUND FOR VICTIMS OF THE
FIRE DISASTER AT THE WUSE MARKET AS WELL AS
MASS TRANSIT SCHEME A HELD
AT OLD PARADE GROUND
AREA 10, ABUJA ON SATURDAY
MARCH 23RD 2002,
Represented by HON. FRANCIS ELEM
OF THE FEDERAL HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
Protocol
I am exceedingly grateful to the organisers of today’s event for inviting me to the occasion. My joy stems from two factors; firstly, that Ndigbo are increasingly and regularly mobilising themselves for positive endeavours wherever they sojourn.
Secondly, that a forum of this nature makes it easy for exchange of ideas and cross fertilization of knowledge and information on sundry matters.
In recent time I have had cause to interact with broad spectrum of Ndigbo at several occasion and places. At each such occasion I have most often asked myself, what is the best message for Ndigbo survival, progress and wellbeing in the present day Nigeria? With little effort, the answer always is unity and peace amongst us.
My dear brothers and sisters Ndigbo need peace and unity both at home and abroad to carry on their legitimate business in other to succeed. We need peace to preserve our businesses. We need peace to put in place a long time plan of investment and return. We need peace in our various villages to achieve meaningful and sustainable development.
To successfully pursue the agenda of peace, Ndigbo must strive at all times to present a united front, a united defence, a united aspiration and a united protestation when the need arises. With peace and unity, Ndigbo will become more cohesive and indeed more formidable in pursuit of their collective agenda and destiny in Nigeria.
Accordingly, I charge all of us as from today to bear as a cross the wise advises of our forefathers- Igwe bu ike and Onye aghala nwanne ya in whatever we do. These must be our collective resolve. It must be our motto. It must be our slogan in business, in commerce, in religion, in sports, in politics, during crisis and even in foreign lands where Ndigbo sojourn to improve their lots.
Ndigbo must do away with those tendencies that divide us at the slightest pressure. At the same time we must learn to accommodate our kits and kin’s from other areas. They are our neighbours. We must endeavour to love them and infact tolerate their differences. After all, our elders taught us that Agbata Obi onye bu wanne ya, One biri Ibeya ebiri.
At this juncture, let me reiterate my message to the Leaders of your association during the unfortunate fire incident late last year. I have on doubt that the message was delivered to you. At the time of the fire incident I was outside the Country on national assignment.
Nevertheless I was in spirit with you all. I sincerely identify with you on the unfortunate incident. But my Prayer is that the Almighty God will give you all the courage to overcome your losses and indeed grant you multiple blessings in the days ahead.
Finally, I urge you to always be law abiding as you go about you normal business. When dispute arises between your members and /or your member and an outsider please always use the mechanism of peaceful negotiation, consultation, compromise and consensus in achieving amicable settlement.
Ndigbo Ndewo nu O!
Senator Anyim Pius Anyim GCON
Abuja, March 23, 2002