From Obinna Odogwu, Awka
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, lamented the unwarranted attacks, persecution and ill treatment meted out to the Igbo in some parts of the country, saying that such were unjustifiable.
Obasanjo, who stated this at the one-year anniversary celebration of the Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, held at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Awka, said that those who indulged in such were suffering from Igbo phobia.
The former president described the Igbo as first class brains who contributed massively to the success of his administration while he presided over Nigeria’s affairs for eight years.
Obasanjo said that although some people were not comfortable with his appointment of two Igbo people – Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Prof. Soludo – into key positions in his administration, the duo turned out to be his best appointees.
“When I had Chukwuma working with me as my economic adviser, we worked very closely together. And he never one day missed advising me; not one day. And I was so happy with him that I decided to send him to the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“He was the second Nigerian who was not a commercial banker of some sort sent to the Central Bank and he performed so wonderfully well.
“But on one occasion, soon after I had appointed him, somebody came to me and said ‘wow, you have ruined the economy of Nigeria.’
“I said ‘how’. He said ‘an Igbo woman (Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala) Minister of Finance; an Igbo man Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. Then, you have really completed the task of ruining the economy of Nigeria.
“But then, for me, the appointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the appointment of Chukwuma Soludo were probably the best of the appointments that I made when I was president.
“I don’t know why he said that except for what I can call Igbo phobia. And don’t take that lightly. It remains, it persists and I like what Chief Iwuanyanwu said.
“I believe on the 13th of January, 1970 Biafra died and was buried; actually in the house of my friend here, Chief Simon Okeke in Amichi. Is that correct? But when you have this type of thing that was said to me and this type of thing that is going on, what I call Igbo phobia, what do we do with it?
“I believe that we have to go back to the scripture which says we must conquer evil with good. And whoever you are; wherever people are afraid of you, you must make yourself friendly to those who are afraid of you and earn their friendship by being good to them. And that is what we have to do.
“I have personally experienced that. And nothing wins friendship like you being friendly,” he said.
Obasanjo while congratulating Soludo over his achievements within one year in office said that he has a bigger position for him in the future as being a state governor was only an appetiser compared to what he plans for him.
Speaking earlier, Governor Soludo said that he was determined to transform the state and would stop at nothing until he achieves that.