By Tony Adibe
Some prominent Nigerians are scheduled to be in Enugu on Friday (today) for the second edition of a meeting aimed at fostering national unity. The meeting is tagged, “Handshake Across Nigeria.”
NewsBits recalls that such a meeting was held in the past in Enugu, precisely at the Base Event Centre during which, Femi Fani-Kayode, one of the delegates from the southwest then used the occasion to showcase his Igbo wife and also said certain ear-pleasing things about the Igbo people.
However, it’s not certain to what extent that so-called “Handshake Across Nigeria” meeting went in achieving its objective at the time to warrant another edition of similar outing. It’s believed that the current meeting would not end up as an ego-trip for certain individuals (elites) within and outside the southeast zone of Nigeria.
At any rate, Chairman of Southeast Governors’ Forum (SEGF), Chief David Umahi of Ebonyi State would lead his colleagues from the zone; Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Chukwuma Soludo (Anambra), Hope Uzodimma (Imo) and the chief host, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), to the programme.
Details from Chairman, Nzuko Umunna Handshake Across Nigeria Planning Committee, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu stated that eminent lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome will deliver the keynote on the theme: “Building bridges for a new Nigeria,” while the guest speakers are Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed, spokesman of Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Dr Regina Amadi Njoku, Sen. Shehu Sani and Iba Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of the Yoruba Nation.
The information further stated that the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ adu Abubakar, Igwe Lawrence Agubuzu, Chairman, Southeast Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ooni of Ife, and Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Obi of Onitsha, are royal fathers of the day.
According to the organisers, the “Handshake Across Nigeria” project is dedicated to expanding friendships and cementing bonds between Ndigbo and other nationalities of Nigeria.
