Senator Annie Okonkwo
By Anayo Okolie
The Igbo political horizon appears set for a radical awakening as a social-political group known as Committee 21, a.k.a C21, has been convoked to lead a frontal attack on the vices that have divided the Igbo people and denied them their full potential in the comity of the Nigerian state.
The group, which made its inaugural outing at the Imo Conference Centre, Owerri penultimate week through a power-packed prayer session, said it was its firm belief that the foundation for Igbo rediscovery must be anchored on God first.
President of the group, Senator Annie Okonkwo, in his welcome address, noted that the greatest weapon Ndigbo should have and must pursue is togetherness and unity of purpose.
The host, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who also doubles as the group’s director of mobilisation, stated that the Igbo nation with a proud pedigree of culture and tradition must reject being merely tolerated in the Nigerian scheme of affairs.
Urging all Igbos to sink their differences and pernicious individualism, the governor advised them to “please let us at this opportune moment remove our veil of shame and pride, and humble ourselves before God, because Nigeria is obviously waiting for the Igboman to lead her to true greatness.”
Coordinating the prayer intercession, Rev Uma Ukpai, who, led the entire Christian Association of Nigeria’s leadership in the five states of the South-east to the event, declared that “now is the hour for Igbos to rise and shine because when the spirit to God moves, nothing can stop it.”
Ukpai, who accepted to nurture and shepherd the group spiritually as the director of religious affairs, advised that the Igbo nation should reprioritise for selfless togetherness, saying a people rejected should not reject itself.
The C21 group which also has the All Progressives Grand Alliance national chairman, Chief Victor Umeh, as its director of publicity, and Barrister Ziggy Azike as director, legal services, has in its fold eminent sons and daughters of Igboland as committed apostles of Igbo oneness, unity and solidarity.