IKPEAZU ENDORSES NZUKO UMUNNA’S HANDSHAKE ACROSS THE NIGER, CALLS FOR IGBO UNITY

Abia State Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has stressed the need for the Igbo to forge a united front aimed at bettering their lot as a people. Ikpeazu’s admonition came during a courtesy visit on him at Government House, Umuahia, on Wednesday, by the local organising committee (LOC) of Nzuko Umunna for the Handshake across the Niger (HATN). Nzuko Umunna, NU for short, is a pan-Igbo intellectual and policy advocacy group. Receiving the NU delegation, Ikpeazu charged: “We must hold our hands and push forward as a people…the time to have a rethink as a people is now. Waxing stronger, he said: “We must do everything to change our narrative…we are at a brink, the leadership and the lead of Ndigbo, people from the rising sun, must think in the same direction. “I am pleased with Nzuko Umunna”. Led by Ambassador Humphrey Orjiako, the group was at Government House Umuahia as part of its sensitization tour to brief and elicit the support of stakeholder groups for the forthcoming Handshake across the Niger (HATN), an event that is envisioned to strengthen relations between the Igbo and their Yoruba compatriots, as part of ongoing effort to stabilize the Nigerian Nation-State. Other members of the team include Ambassador Ozo Nwobu, Ambassador Izuchukwu Adichie, Dr. Uju Agomoh, Obiora Okoye, Kenneth Onyekaonwu, Bede Okoye and Pearl Okoro. Highlight of the event will be a special post-humous honour to be bestowed on the late military governor of the defunct western region, Brigadier General Adekunle Fajuyi who was killed alongside his guest, late head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces of Nigeria, General J. T. U. Aguiyi-Ironsi.