By Femi Anamelechi
Hon. Chief Chuks Ofodile Kolelo Ozo of Awka Kingdom in Amambra State was a one time interim Chairman of ndi Igbo, and now the Board of Trustees (BOT) Chairman ndi igbo Freight Forwarders Association a socio cultural Association that binds the Igbos together in the area where they ply their daily and legitimate trade. For the past 15 years he has been very active in the activities both in the maritime and aviation sectors of the economy. He has communicated message of hope, reconciliation and peace to Igbo Agents at the Airport and everywhere. Speaking during an interview with Upright Magazine editors, Chief Chuks averred that his mission essentially is to promote Igbo values and culture, build inter – ethnic cultural harmony with other tribes at the Airport and promote enabling business environment of mutual interest for common good. The BOT Chairman disclosed that the major aim is to make sure the Igbo’s that are doing their business at the Airport have a forum where they meet themselves and discuss, occasionally, for the welfare of the Igbo in the airport.
According to Chief Ofodile before now, we have been having a lot of issues on political commands at the Airport particularly on how to integrate and create a peaceful transition to leadership. He stated that Igbo Freight Forwarders at the Nation’s premier economic gateway are susceptible to the system.”We want to work out and have an understanding with other tribal groups, more especially between the major groups, Yoruba and Igbo”On the recent leadership tussles at the Airport, he pointed out that the Igbo cultural Association is working to promote an all inclusive leadership that will ensure peaceful transition such that after the turn of Yoruba, another tribe will come up to be the Chapter Chairman. “We acts as the parent’s body for all the tribal associations within the command. This underscores the importance that igbos have a very effective body. The challenges at the Airport largely is due to lack of coordination and visionary leadership.”
Talking about welfare he also said; “we have been working hard to make sure that our people are not lagging behind in any way even though the cultural Association have limited financial capabilities adding that the little it collects are shared amongst the less privileged members”.Chief Ofodile also stressed that the Igbo cultural Association is working assiduously with the Yoruba group and other ethnic nationalities at the Airport to foster harmonious business environment and also ensure peaceful resolution of issues as the case maybe.The Awka high Chief called on igbos at the Airport to eschew all tribal animosities and ethnic sentiments to ensure peace, and urged them to be united.”The moment we find our feet together as individuals, we are going to achieve whatever we set our minds on.One of the major problems we have is our igbo leaders Who don’t seem to have our interest at heart. We like joining others to defeat the interests of our own brother”. He declared.
He bemoaned such negative attitude saying that time has come for all and sundry to have a rethink saying that such behaviours are not acceptable to the development of Ideas and political leadership of any group or association.Ofodile pointed out that, the moment we come together and realize ourselves, we are going to achieve so much as a united front. He equally expressed reservation that for many years that, the igbos have not taken any leadership command at the chapter level as elected people at the gateway because of what he called selfish interests. He therefore called on igbos to come together as a united and frontal group,The BOT Chairman prayed that in the forth coming new year for God to spare the lives of his people and to also make them overcome what they have lost in the past.
“Am sure that whatever we lost last time we are going to get it in future by God’s grace”.He however appreciated the cooperation and collaboration with other ethnic tribes, at the Airport; Yoruba cultural Association, Arawas and the South- South amongst others.”We are in touch with them, we are discussing. You know, in political strategy, you don’t open up yourself until you get to where you are going.” He pointed further.
