From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
Anambra State indigenes resident in Abuja have celebrated their Day with colourful display of their cultural heritage, as they were advised to live up to the ideals of Anambra people.
The former Chairman of Police Service Commission (PSC), Chief (Dr) Simon Okeke in his address said it had become a yearly event that the Anambra people would come together on a day like that, once a year to mark the end of the year.
He said the opportunity was to remind Anambra people that they were one people within one geographical area known as South East of the six geopolitical zones that constitute the country called Nigeria.
“This South East geopolitical zone itself is part of the over 50 million Igbo mostly dispersed all over the globe.
“This is the occasion during which we display some of our rich cultures which mark us out as a people. These cultural displays are some of what remind us of our home. If we don’t get the tunes or dance steps quite right, we can be forgiven for the reason that here is just home away from home. It is a call for us to remember who we are, no matter where we are.
“Anambra is known to be ‘The Light of the Nation’. Take note that there is something in a name and since we have chosen to answer ‘The Light of the Nation’, we are expected to live up to that name, otherwise it becomes derisive and a misnomer.
“Let us not become a laughing stock of the country but a shining example of what is expected from ideal men and women of the progressive and sometimes aggressive and restless people that we are.
“We, therefore, owe our state a duty to live up to our name by virtue of the way we compose ourselves both publicly and privately, in our businesses, our trade habits, our office manners, in our schools and colleges, even on our play grounds, we ought to let others say it that both in private and in public that, yes, we are The Light.
“I must say that in actual fact there are already good ambassadors of Anambra who distinguish themselves both in offices, in market places, and in the style of their politics. The very recent presidential gymnastics of only a few months ago speaks loudly of what I mean. The whole world is talking till today, loud and clear.
“One of the presidential candidates who happens to be of our stock, remain tall above his peers even now that the game is over! Undoubtedly, he demonstrates practically what it is to be The Light of the Nation.
“Being too loud. I am directing this specifically to our Anambra youths. Our people become known to conquer most physical, natural and man-made obstacles on their way to business pursuits. Our legendary swift moves to succeed where others have failed by the side should be something to be thankful to our God.
“But this should be without being arrogant and too loud. Some of our youths are known to be too loud in their victory over all odds of their business pursuits. Our being loud and arrogant attracts the envy and disgust of our neighbours and host communities. Such trends are alien to the core values of Ndigbo.
“Be your brother’s keeper. Let it be known that being our brother’s keeper is one of the core tenets of Onye Igbo(an Igbo man). This is what accelerated the Igbo catching up and even overtaking those ahead of them in the 30 years of 1930 – 1960. This is also the secret of the post-civil war rapid recovery of Ndigbo in the 30 years from 1970 to year 2000!
“Don’t relent on this. Be your brother’s keeper in businesses, trades, offices and in politics. Mark the old adage ‘Igwe bu ike’, that’s, united we stand, but divided we fall. Let us all unite to face our common foes and not fight ourselves,” Chief Okeke concluded.
