The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has restated the bond of friendship and unity between Igbo and Yoruba, even as he charged Igbo investors to return home and develop the South East economy.
He insisted that Yoruba and Igbo have similarities in culture and cannot exist in isolation, stressing that the earlier the two races realise this, the better for their economic growth and prosperity.
He stressed that unless Igbo investors develop the South East, no other person, tribe or race would do it for them, adding that God has destined them (Igbo) for greatness.
He spoke during the 35th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Enugu, Ebonyi and Anambra states chapter held in Enugu.
Ooni said: “Maybe our ancestors at some point once lived together. The better we come together, the better our industrial base will continue to grow, the better a lot of things will continue to be better.
“Why are all these similarities? To me, little research will expose the hidden similarities existing between the Igbo and the Yoruba.
“Igbo means new dawn in Yoruba language. That’s why I think the Igbo do great things and when you touch business, a people with the hands of God. If you touch commerce, you’ve touched everything. They are the greatest entrepreneurs in our country.
“When you continue to talk about the MAN, this (Southeast) is the bedrock of it. A whole lot of things emerged from Igbo land”.
“I implore each and everyone of you, please come together for the betterment of the yet unborn generation. Come together to lift each other up. Do not desecrate your brothers. Irrespective of the ills you are bringing to the society, your brother is adding value to the society.
“Start working with your suppliers to build alliances so that they will build their manufacturing concerns and create manufacturing zones across the South East because charity begins at home.
“Insecurity and the solution to the insecurity are in your hands because you know your people. Nobody will come and do it for you. You have the good and the ugly.
“So, bring out all that is causing trouble and hand over security to them and see whether there will be any more problems or not. It might sound stupid but it works all over the world. If you do that, I believe Igbo land will be one of the most sought after all over the world.”
He commended the Chairman of the chapter, Mrs. Ada Chukwudozie, for bringing Igbo manufacturers together. Chukwudozie, in her speech, called on the Federal Government to create regional incentives to support manufacturers and attract national and foreign direct investments.
She added that the Eastern region needs to spearhead a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and integrate with other states.
She recommended that the government should look towards promoting tax harmonisation and other fiscal policies across the region, review taxation policies to make them more friendly, especially in the areas of haulage levies.
“They can introduce digitalised state toll gates with a uniform fee but with a deliberate intention to recognise, isolate, support and incentivise manufacturers by almost next to nothing fees.
“We want a complete elimination of the agberos on the roads in the eastern region as they are too extortive, disruptive and creates unnecessary harassment, intimidation, fear and frustration.
“This has gotten to an alarming state now and hampering grievously the ease of movement and doing business in our land,” she said. Chukwudozie further appealed to the states in the South East to find a way to end insecurity completely for the survival of the manufacturing sector.
Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, who spoke through his Deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, however enjoined manufacturers not to hesitate in expanding their investments and operations in the state in particular and South East in general. He, however, noted that there are several indices that favour manufacturing in the South East, which his administration has taken practical steps to improve.
Mbah added that his government was in the process of automating the Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) and streamlining revenue collection to eliminate multiple taxation and facilitate ease of payment in the state.
“We make bold to say that Enugu is indeed open for business. We are willing to do everything within our power to make doing business in Enugu a pleasure. We enjoin all manufacturers within the state to entertain no fears in expanding their operations within the state and indeed the South East as a whole,” Mbah said.