Former President Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed claims regarding his Igbo paternity, stating that the insinuations are laughable.
This reaction came during a meeting with the leadership of the Ndigbo Amaka Progressive Market Association, a coalition of major market stakeholders in Lagos State, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo said, “It just makes me laugh,” responding to rumors about his paternal roots.
A Call for Unity
The former president used the occasion to advocate for unity among Nigerians, stressing that no one should be alienated from any part of the country. He asserted, “We own this country together.”
Obasanjo recalled his efforts in ensuring national unity during his presidency, stating, “Having ensured that the Yorubas, Igbos, and Hausas all came together to fight the war of unity in Nigeria, and not to fight the Igbos to go, but to come.
So if anybody says to me that somebody should leave any place, he will be the one to leave.”
Support for Owerri Central Market
The meeting was centered around the Ndigbo Amaka Progressive Market Association’s plans to establish the Owerri Central Market, envisioned as the most advanced market of its kind in Nigeria.
The group sought Obasanjo’s support for the project, which has been under consideration since the creation of Imo State.
Obasanjo expressed his enthusiasm for the project, noting, “I am glad it is coming up again, and I hope this time, we are all going to make it real. It is going to be big, the first of its kind.”
He further commended the Imo State Governor for his interest and understanding, adding that the project’s success would significantly contribute to the state’s economic development.
Market to Boost Innovation and Entrepreneurship
In his remarks, the group’s spokesperson, Chief Emeka Dallas Emmanuel, highlighted the potential of the proposed market as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.
Reading a letter jointly signed by Comrade Chinedu Ukatu and Evangelist Iwuchukwu Ezenwafor, Emmanuel expressed the group’s commitment to the project and its potential impact on the national economy.
“The market will be a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship, and we are determined to play our role in the growth of the market and the nation,” Emmanuel said.
Appeal for Assistance
The group also appealed to Obasanjo for assistance in facilitating loans for their members to purchase shops and spaces within the market.
Emmanuel emphasized that the former president’s support would be crucial in helping many off the streets and into productive economic activities.
“Your assistance will go a long way in helping our members to obtain loans to purchase shops and spaces at the market.
We believe this market will significantly reduce unemployment and contribute to the nation’s economy,” he added.
A Vision for the Future
The meeting ended on a hopeful note, with Obasanjo reaffirming his commitment to the project and the broader goal of fostering unity and economic development across Nigeria.
