Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Senator representing Abia South senatorial district in Abia State, has said that Igbos are the most disenfranchised and marginalized tribe in Nigeria.
Abaribe lamented that it’s unfair to allocate only five states to the Southeast.
The Senator stated this in Abuja on Saturday afternoon, December 14, during a public presentation of a book: “The power of Nothing: Triumph And Trump Of People’s Voice In Enugu.”
Abaribe was represented at the occasion by Hon Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, member representing Aba North/South Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA.
“I would like to say a few things about the Igbos. We Igbos believe in progressivism, and the concept of patriotism and nationalism.
“And this is why you will see an Igbo man pack up his bag and leave his village to Bauchi to set up shops, buy a piece of land, build a house, and become an employer of labour. That in itself, for me, is nationalism, patriotism and progressivism.
“That’s why the Igbo man has that enthusiasm in him to develop, to be progressive, and to remain optimistic. That’s why I said that optimism is a virtue every Nigerian and politician must embrace so that Nigeria will always be better.
“A lot of people might not like what I want to say, the Igbos, we are the most disenfranchised and marginalized. But all we try to do and encourage our brothers is to support one another because it’s highly needed,” the Senator said.