Otti Urges Ndigbo To Put Collective Interest Above Differences

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has urged Ndigbo to place collective interest above individual differences to build a more prosperous future for the Igbo nation.

Otti made the call on Tuesday in Umuahia at the 2026 World Igbo Day celebration hosted by Abia State, with the theme, “Ohaneze: History and the Dreams of Tomorrow.”

He said the courage, resilience, enterprise and communal values inherited from Igbo ancestors remained critical to the progress of the people.

The governor said unity did not require uniformity of opinion, stressing that Ndigbo could disagree on politics, religion and strategy while remaining committed to shared aspirations. Otti said, “Unity does not mean unanimity of opinion on every issue, but a consciousness that our individual desires cannot be superior to the aspirations of the majority.”

He urged Ndigbo to replace discord and acrimony with peace, understanding, sincerity and cooperation.

Otti also identified education, apprenticeship and the traditional Omugwo system as important channels for transferring knowledge, skills and values across generations.

The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Senator John Azuta-Mbata, said Ndigbo must define the future they want for themselves and Nigeria, noting that the Igbo Charter provided a roadmap for maximising their potential.

He said unity remained the spirit of “Njiko Ka,” the theme of the 2026 Igbo Day, and called for a cohesive front to enable Ndigbo take their rightful place in Nigeria and the world.

Azuta-Mbata said, “Our people must bind together. We must deliberately move together so that we can take our rightful place in Nigeria and the world.”

He added that despite differences in politics, religion, strategy and interpretation of history, Ndigbo shared a common identity and responsibility to future generations.

He commended Governor Otti for hosting Ohanaeze Ndigbo and supporting the celebration.

The Chairman of the occasion, retired General Ike Nwachukwu, urged Igbo sons and daughters at home and abroad to recognise their responsibility in building the Igbo nation.

He described enterprise as a major strength of Ndigbo and called for greater investment in young people, inculcation of the fear of God and recognition of youths as leaders of today, rather than only leaders of tomorrow.

Earlier, during an interdenominational church service, the Archbishop of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Umuahia, Most Rev. Chibuzor Opoko, described Ndigbo as a chosen generation and urged Igbo leaders to unite for the development of the people irrespective of political affiliation.

He noted that Ndigbo were known for enterprise, ingenuity and hard work wherever they lived.

The celebration featured a wreath-laying ceremony at the Aguiyi Ironsi Cenotaph in honour of eminent Igbo personalities.

The wreaths were laid by Governor Otti, Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa; Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe; Senator John Azuta-Mbata; Prof. Uche Azikiwe; General Ike Nwachukwu; Chief Mike Okiro; and Archbishop Sunday Onuoha.

The event attracted prominent Igbo leaders and stakeholders, including former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu.