Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe has described the Igbo as “the glue that holds Nigeria together”.
Abaribe (PDP – Abia South) stated this on Monday in Enugu at the inauguration of Igbonine, a new Igbo socio-cultural organisation.
He said Igbo people are the largest domestic investors in Nigeria today with investments scattered even to the remotest parts of the country.
The Senate Minority Leader stated that unequal treatment of various people and segments that made up the country remained the root of the present political challenge of the country.
Unfortunately, he said, Igbos were being erroneously cast as the only ones complaining and causing trouble.
“Luckily, it is not only the South-East or Igbos that feel alienated; but the cry of marginalisation is spread over the country.
“They are only painting Igbos as only those complaining and causing trouble.
“Our country is supposed to be an inclusive country, where fairness, equity and deliberate action to ensure every part of the country is duly represented and carried along,’’ he said.
According to him, inclusive governance is panacea to the marginalisation being registered by ethnic nationalities in the country.
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Abaribe reiterated that Igbos had invested in the unity, oneness and progress of the country more than any other ethnic nationality or people.
He said, “We are the largest domestic investors in Nigeria today and having our investment scattered all over the country even to the remotest parts.
“Igbos are the glue that holds Nigeria together.
“We are found everywhere; we interface and inter-cohabit with other tribes and ethnic nationalities in the country very peacefully and progressively.
“Igbos remained the most travelled ethnic nationality to other parts of the country to interact and understand them better.”
Igbonine is an apolitical association of all Igbos in Nigeria and worldwide regardless of dialect, religion, socio-economic class and political ideology.