By Chinyere Nwaneri
Chief Emeka Diwe, National President, Association of South East Town Union (ASETU) has stated that repatriation of just 20% of Igbo wealth outside the region will leave no attraction for any Igbo man to live outside the enclave.
He made the remark in his office at an award ceremony at the weekend during which a media group, Imo Columnists and Editors Forum honoured him.
Diwe was celebrated for his outstanding character, transparency and integrity with which he has piloted the affairs of town unions at different levels.
The former Imo Town Union boss indicated Igbo parade the greatest number of individual wealthy Nigerians yet the reality is yet to reflect in the region, even as he commended Nnewi as pace setters in the think home philosophy.
In his address, the president stated lamented the economic backwardness of Igbo land which he said was a thing of serious concern to his group. He also regretted that in spite of the efforts they have made to get the South East governors enact laws to protect the region, “it is unfortunate that till this day, the laws have not been enacted’’
In his words, “the potentials of our land are underutilized and social miseries have become unbearable. Recently, Imo was designated as the unemployment capital of Nigeria. And in most indices of progress, Igbo land has not lived up to expectation.
“Consequently, we have launched ‘Aku ruo ulo investment initiative’, (Think home), which will catalyze and rev up the pace of development in Igbo land. The economic action plan aims at making our wealthy brothers and sisters who reside outside Igbo land to repatriate their wealth and investments home”, he stressed.
Earlier in his speech the chairman of the of the Imo Columnists and Editors Forum, Hon Chinedu Opara stressed that the reason for celebrating people like Diwe who has distinguished himself in service, standing tall to speak truth to power is to continually provide inspiration to others.
Speaking in the same vein, the Secretary of the group Ifeanyi Onyekachi mentioned that Diwe was picked after watching him through a carefully researched work which threw him up as a credible leader to be counted upon.
The President Imo Town Union, Hon Samson Ogbos expressed gratitude that honour is given to whom it is due and adding that the ASETU boss has remained a great inspiration to him, promising to walk in his footsteps.
