Make collective interests major priority – Gov Otti tells Igbos

Abia State Governor Alex Otti has urged the Igbo people to prioritize the collective welfare of their tribe over individual differences, in order to secure a prosperous future for the Igbo nation. He made this appeal during the Igbo Day celebration in Umuahia on Tuesday, under the theme "Ohanaeze: History and the Dreams of Tomorrow."

Governor Otti highlighted the courage, resilience, enterprise and communal values passed down through Igbo ancestors as essential to the progress of the people. He emphasized that disagreements among Ndigbo on certain issues should not prevent them from remaining committed to their common objectives.

"Unity does not mean unanimity of opinion on every issue, but a consciousness that our individual desires cannot be superior to the aspirations of the majority," Otti stated.

John Azuta-Mbata, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, echoed this sentiment, stating that Ndigbo must define and envision the future they want for themselves and Nigeria. He stressed the need for a unified front for Ndigbo to claim their rightful place in Nigeria and the world.

"Ngbo people must bind together. We must deliberately move together so that we can take our rightful place in Nigeria and the world," Mbata said, while laying a wreath in memory of the over three million Igbos who perished during the 1967-1970 Civil War.