President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu, has called upon Nigerians to invest in the Southeast.
He said such investments would reciprocate the gestures and investments Igbo have made in other parts of the country.
Iwuanyawu urged investors from other ethnic groups to contact Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide leadership if they have issues with acquiring land for such investments.
The Ohanaeze chieftain also called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to release the detained leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
He made the call in a press conference at Lagos during his official working visit to Lagos State.
Unveiling his transformation programme for the South East before Igbo stakeholders, Council Of Ndieze and Ohanaeze Ndigbo delegates from Southwest states, Iwuanyawu revealed that he would administer Ohanaeze Ndigbo through regional structure whereby a delegate system would be applied during conferences with Lagos residents having high number of representatives.
He also disclosed his intention to raise the bar by operating through the town unions in order to avoid misconceptions that Ohanaeze is a social club.
While explaining his programme for the industrial transformation of Igbo land, he noted that the Southeast has immense agricultural capacity and is yet to realize 20 per cent of its industrial potential. He said with huge deposits of glass in Aba, high quality coal deposits in Enugu, ceramics at Okigwe and Abakalike, raw materials for tyres, limestone in Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra States, Igbo land has no business depending on crude oil.
Blaming unemployment and hunger for the increased agitation by youths in the South East, Iwuanyawu projected a N70 billion development fund to be raised through a planned N1000 yearly levy on all Igbo to be paid online.
Iwuanyawu also announced the incorporation of Ohanaeze Investment and Development Company before the end of 2023 with support from five the Southeastern governors.
He said that he is also planning an asset base of not one billion naira for the headquarters of the organization and N100 million asset base for the state liason offices.
The Ezes, through the chairman Council of Ndieze Ndigbo in Lagos State, Eze Christopher Offia, welcomed the Iwuanyanwu on his visit.
Eze Offia campaigned for Igbo unity, amity and togetherness, appealed to Iwuanyawu to wade into the issues of ‘Igbophobia’ and crisis that led to factions of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos State.
He also expressed the determination of the Council Of Ndieze in Lagos State to work with the PG to achieve peace in the council.
He said: “Ahaejiagamba, your tireless efforts in advancing the cause of Ndigbo, preserving our rich cultural heritage and championing inclusivity has set a remarkable precedent within our community. We are immensely grateful for your steadfast leadership and unwavering dedication to the growth and progress of Ndigbo Worldwide.”
He enjoin Igbo people to be law-abiding and operate within the armpit of the rule of law and called on Igbo leaders to commence campaign on mobilization, education and reorientation of Ndigbo on the need to think homewards by investing more at home even as they also invest outside Igbo land.