The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, has called on Igbo leaders to seek ways of interfacing with the Federal Government to address their legitimate grievances.
Abbas spoke at the launch of the Peace in the South East Project, a brainchild of the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, in Bende, Abia State.
He noted that despite the economic strength of the Southeast, agitations in the region had caused it many losses.
The Speaker said the peace in the Southeast was invariably the peace and progress of the entire Nigeria.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Musa Krishi, Abbas lamented that the wave of insecurity “continues to cripple daily life and significantly paralyse socio-economic endeavours, in a region whose people are renowned for their resourcefulness and economic enterprise.”
Abbas said: “Between 1956 and 1965, the then Eastern region was regarded as the fastest-growing economy in Africa and Asia. Indeed, the South-East has remained an economic powerhouse in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, leading in trade and commerce.
“From Aba to Adamawa and Enugu to Europe, Igbo are known to be entrepreneurial, resourceful, peace-loving, savvy, tenacious and peace-loving. That is the character of the Igbo. That is who you are. Three of your cities, Aba, Onitsha and Nnewi, are among the most industrialised in Nigeria.
“A sizable chunk of the major investments in many parts of Nigeria are Igbo-owned. Your contributions to the Nigerian economy, either through imports, business investments, or Diaspora remittances, among others, are indisputable.
“The contributions of the Igbo are apparent not only with regard to the economy but also in all fields of human endeavour, including literature, academia, the creative industry and many more.”
