Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has responded with amusement to claims about his alleged Igbo paternity, stating that the notion makes him laugh. He emphasized that no Nigerian should be driven away from any part of the country, underscoring the unity and shared ownership of Nigeria despite cultural differences.
Obasanjo made these remarks while hosting the leadership of the Ndigbo Amaka Progressive Market Association, a collective representing major markets in Lagos State, at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta on Thursday.
In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo briefly addressed the paternity claim, saying, “It just makes me laugh.”
The former president highlighted the group’s efforts to establish the Owerri Central Market, which is envisioned as a premier market in Nigeria. He noted that although the idea for the Central Market in Owerri had been proposed since the creation of Imo State, it had not been realized. However, he expressed optimism that the project would come to fruition this time, praising the governor’s support and involvement.
Obasanjo also reflected on the importance of unity in Nigeria, recalling how different ethnic groups, including Yorubas, Igbos, and Hausas, fought together for the nation’s unity during the civil war. He dismissed the idea of any group being forced to leave a particular region, stating, “If anybody says to me that somebody should leave any place, he will be the one to leave.”
In response, Emeka Emmanuel, the spokesperson for the Ndigbo Amaka Progressive Market Association, read a letter signed by the group’s leaders, Chinedu Ukatu and Iwuchukwu Ezenwafor. Emmanuel described the Owerri Central Market as a future hub for innovation and entrepreneurship and assured that the group is committed to contributing to the market’s development and the nation’s growth.
He also sought Obasanjo’s support in helping their members secure loans to purchase shops and spaces in the market, emphasizing that the success of this project would significantly reduce the number of people struggling on the streets.
