By Valentine Amanze
Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has called on Igbo leaders to unite irrespective of their political and religious affiliations for peace and progress in Igbo land. He lamented that for quite a long time now Igbo leaders have allowed sectional and political differences to divide them.
Okorocha spoke at the funeral service of the former Secretary to the Imo State Government (SSG), Nze Ignatius Umunna, at his compound, Mgbidi in Oru West Local Government Area on Friday, June 10, 2016. He attributed lack of unity among Igbo leaders to ignorance and selfishness. His words: “We must unite as a people. And there is no better time for us as a people to unite than now because what has united us is far bigger than the political parties or religious inclinations that divide us. We must all unite and sing a common song of unity. It is important that we must all learn to unite. I see it as ignorance at the highest level that we have allowed sectional differences to divide us and we have refused to come together as brothers.”
He described the late Nze Umunna as a worthy son of the state, stressing that a vacuum had been created with the death of the former SSG, and prayed that his children would fill the vacuum.
“Let us learn to appreciate people when they are alive and not when they are dead. It is important that we must all learn to appreciate good people when they are still alive. The children must step into their father’s shoes and must remain united to build on the legacies left behind by their father,” he said.
In his speech, first son of the late former SSG, Mr. Kelechi Umunna, described the father as a great manager of men and material and assured that they would build on the legacies left behind by their father.
Former Governor of the state, Chief Achike Udenwa, during whose tenure the later Umunna was SSG for seven years, described the deceased as a transparent public servant, whose wealth of experience helped him greatly when he held sway as governor, regretting that he died when his experience was much needed both by the state and the nation at large.
