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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Association of South East Town Unions (ASETU), has urged the Igbo in the Diaspora to bring their wealth home.
The plea was made by the National President of ASETU, Chief Emeka Diwe, during the 2022 Imo workshop, titled ‘Aku Ruo Ulo’, (repatriate wealth home), organized by the Association of Imo Indigenous Town Unions, Abia State chapter, in Aba.
Diwe stated that ASETU has initiated an economic action plan which will not only make wealthy Igbo people residing outside the area to bring their wealth home, but would make the South East an economic hub in the African sub continent.
ASETU noted that the Igbo have the highest number of individual wealthy Nigerians, adding that the repatriation of such wealth would bring development, provide jobs and reduce social vices in Igbo land.
Diwe explained that if Igbo people residing outside the area repatriate 20 percent of their wealth home, no Igbo man will think of residing and investing outside the South East.
Stressing that Igbo land was blessed with human and material resources, Diwe stated that the area needed a little push to become another Dubai of the world.
Insisting that oil money has taken Nigeria backwards, the ASETU President emphasized that the ‘Aku Ruo Ulo’ initiative is the ultimate economic restructuring of the country which will end the capital flight and brain drain in Igbo land and urged the Igbo to imbibe the action plan.
“The ‘Aku Ruo Ulo’ initiative is the ASETU economic action plan for making Igbo wealthy sons who reside outside Igbo land to begin to consciously, gradually and seamlessly repatriate their wealth to Igbo land. It is painful to note that the Igbo have the greatest number of individual wealthy Nigerians, yet this reality isn’t reflected in the existential conditions of the Igbo man.
“The aggregate wealth of our people is scattered across the globe and their businesses nestling everywhere. But with the repatriation of just 20 percent of Igbo wealth to Igbo land, no Igbo man will think of residing outside because such huge volume of wealth will attract development, create jobs and reduce social vices in Igbo land.
“We will be cheating ourselves if we fail to realize this. We are blessed with resources to become another Dubai of the world. We must end the ongoing capital flight and brain drain in Igbo land.
“We will become Africa’s attraction to the world. You saw the technological heights we attained even in a war situation under Biafra? You see what Innoson and Coscharis are doing? The Igbo man doesn’t believe in sharing other people’s resources and gunning for unearned wealth. That is the way to go. Igbo people perform best under excruciating conditions. We have the capacity and ingenuity to do it.
Earlier, President General of Ala Igbo Development Forum (ADF), Prof. Uzodinma Nwala, who was the guest speaker, urged Igbo people to think home and set up businesses in Igbo land.
Nwala, who was represented by E.C. Duru, noted that the federal government has abandoned Igbo land as there is no functional railway system and ports and good road network in Igbo land.
