From Magnus Eze, Enugu
The fraternal spirit of the Igbo (Onye aghana nwananne ya) has once again come to fore in Russia, where the Igbo Community, is doing exploits.
A child of necessity, Daily Sun gathered that the body was formed shortly before the COVID-19 pandemic which shattered the peace of families, forcing a total lockdown and bringing global economies to their knees.
At this point, it behoved on the new organisation to cater for several of its members and even non-members alike.
Vice President of Igbo Community Russia, Julius Ezeronye disclosed that they did not allow their empty purse to dampen their spirit: “Some of our members had no source of income and no food, while the young community along with its executive had only but an empty treasure.
“However, the executive committee under the leadership of Mazi John Ohachu rose up to the occasion in tandem with the ancient Igbo maxim that “Mberede nyiri dike, ma na obu kwa mberede ka eji ama dike” (emergency defines greatness).
He said that they appointed a COVID-19 Support Committee and established food bank, even “with no grain and food yet in stock.”
Ezeronye disclosed that the body distributed food items to at least 600 persons including other Nigerians and Russians, in two batches, with each recipient getting items worth about 1200 Rubles: “It will also interest you to know how we carried out the distribution when Russia was then in lockdown. The love of an Igbo man for his brother made Mazi John Ohachu and Mazi Ezenwafor to volunteer to go from house to house to deliver the food items to the recipients, knowing the risk and its attendant consequences.”
He paid glowing tribute to Dr. Ejike Festus for securing the requisite permission from the Moscow Government to make the life-saving project possible.
He also dispelled the notion that the Igbo do not love themselves.