Fayose urges the Igbos to embrace peace and unity

By; OLADELE ADEDAYO, Ado-Ekiti.
Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, on Saturday urged Igbo people and Nigerians at large to live in peace and foster unity.
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Governor Fayose made the appeal shortly after he was honoured with a chieftaincy title by the pan-Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo as the Nwannedinanba 1 of Ndigbo (Friend of the Igbo people) during the celebration of the 2016 Igbo Cultural Day held at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital.
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The governor who commended the Igbo people for their industry said among the various ethnic groups in the country, the Igbo stood out for their resilience.
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“You are wonderful people from a wonderful nation. Igbo are unique ‎people. God forbid bad thing, if Nigeria breaks, it is only the Igbo nation that can stand economically. ‎You are very industrious and widely travelled and take a lot of risks.
“If there is anything called Made in Nigeria, it is done by Igbo people‎. I don’t like chieftaincy titles, but for the love I have for you, I am taking this. Don’t be dismayed by what is happening in the country now. It‎ is only God that protects and today most leaders are over protecting themselves against the people who voted them into office. I am very accessible because there is nothing to hide,” he said.
In his speech, the President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Ekiti and the South-West, Chief Nathaniel Uzomah, said Fayose was recognised for being the voice of Igbo people and Nigerians at large.
“When many Nigerian leaders decide to keep quiet in the face of oppression of Igbo people, Governor Ayodele Fayose ‎is there to speak and serve as the voice of the voiceless. He is showing great love for us and has given opportunities to Igbo people‎ in his administration and with the permission of His Royal Majesty, HRM Eze Chukwuemeka Eri, the Akaji Ofor Igbo of Eri Kingdom, we are conferring the title of Nwannedinanba 1 of Ndigbo on Governor Ayodele Fayose today,” he said.
Uzomah said Igbo people were cont‎ributing politically and socially to the growth and development of Nigeria.
He solicited the support of the governor to his people’s efforts to buy the abandoned Oba Adejugbe Market along Polytechnic Road to serve as Igbo Market in the state.