Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has said that the conferment of Igbo traditional title on President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima will reinforce national cohesion and integration.
While congratulating President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima on their separate Igbo chieftaincy titles, the deputy speaker expressed confidence that the title will lead to the much desired peace in the southeast.
Both leaders were on Saturday conferred different traditional titles while attending the 32nd Ukpo Ofala celebration of His Royal Highness, Igwe Dr. Robert Chukwudilim Eze (Okofia VI), Igwe Ukpo and Clan Head of Dunuokofia Ancient Kingdom in Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government of Anambra State.
Represented by the Vice President, President Tinubu was conferred with the traditional title of “Eze Udo of Igbo Land” meaning “King of Peace in Igbo Land” while Shettima was decorated with the title “Enyi Ndigbo” meaning “A friend of Igbo people”.
Kalu who witnessed the conferment alongside Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Umar Abdullahi Ganduje, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of Atlas Oranto Petroleum, Prince Arthur Eze, and other prominent figures by Igwe Ukpo IV expressed his delight in the development.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Livinus Nwabughiogu, Kalu said that the traditional titles were both significant in Igbo traditions.
He commended the President Tinubu administration for giving the Igbo people a sense of belonging through his appointments, saying it will reinforce national cohesion and integration.
Kalu expressed joy that the traditional titles were coming at a time of a new peace initiative called Peace in South East Project (PISE-P), birthed to resolve the security challenges among others sociological issues in the region through non kinetic approaches and restore peace.
He was optimistic that the south east will receive unprecedented attention from the present APC government, urging the people to embrace peace and remain steadfast.
Earlier in his remarks after receiving the titles, the Vice President, Shettima said that the Tinubu led government understood the challenges of Ndi Igbo and will work assiduously to overcome them.
He said: “With our leaders like Senator Hope Uzodinma, Senator Dave Umahi, Hon. Ben Kalu, the process of integrating Ndi Igbo in the mainstream of Nigerian politics has commenced. Senator Ifeanyi Uba has just joined APC.
“Wherever you go in this country, if you do not see an Igbo man, you better run away from that place. Why won’t I identify with you? Be rest assured that Ndi Igbo are the heartbeat of the Nigeria nation. We will work assiduously to see that Ndi Igbo are well represented.”
