Anambra state Assembly majority Leader Hon. Ofodeme Ikenna receives Igbo diaspora Honour in Philippines

The Member of the Anambra State House of Assembly representing the Ekwusigo State Constituency, Hon. Ofodeme Ikenna, who also serves as Majority Leader and Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security and Boundary, was on Saturday conferred with a special honour by the Ohaneze Ndi Igbo community in the Philippines during the group’s Cultural Day celebration held at the Villar Foundation Complex, C-5 Extension, Pulanglupa Uno, Las Piñas City.

The ceremony, themed “Celebrating the Beauty of Igbo Culture,” drew Igbo sons and daughters from across all states of the Southeast, living, studying and working in the Philippines. The Anambra lawmaker was presented as a Special Guest of Honour in recognition of what organisers described as his outstanding legislative contributions to security and governance in Igboland.

Speaking at the event, Hon. Ofodeme said the honour was a charge to do more, declaring that Anambra State and the broader Southeast are no longer territories defined by fear and uncertainty.

“The time of agitation is over, When you want to take what belongs to you, it does not give birth to separation. For you to get what belongs to you, you have to go for it politically, we cannot divide ourselves.” – He said

The lawmaker used the occasion to deliver a pointed message to Igbo indigenes in the Philippines, urging them to resist the fear of returning home and to begin channelling their investments back into the East.

“Let Ndi Igbo try to come back home. Let them understand the importance of akulu ulo (bringing your wealth home ) to develop our land, remember the popular Flavour song Abu m Onye Igbo, it should be a rallying call for diaspora pride and homeward investment. – Hon. Ofodeme stated

On the security situation in Anambra State, Hon. Ofodeme spoke with legislative authority, noting that the House of Assembly had deployed the Anambra State Homeland Security Law as a tool to systematically dismantle the criminal networks responsible for the wave of attacks that had plagued the state.

“The fears of insecurity are already being tackled squarely. Anambra State stands very tall to say it is an exception, The Anambra State House of Assembly has done a great job by legislation and oversight using the homeland security law to checkmate the crime rate. Every activity that has been causing all these crimes has been duly checkmated.” – he said. “

He further reiterated Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo’s repositioning of Anambra as an investment destination in south East.

“Mr. Governor has said it — Anambra State is no longer going to be a departure lounge. Now it is a destination lounge. People are coming into Anambra to invest.”

The cultural event saw a strong turnout of Igbo professionals and entrepreneurs based in the Philippines, including the Chief Executive Officer of Pineleaf Estate and properties, Archbishop Dr Onyeka Nzekwesi ( Chinakaribeya), who was among several business leaders present while Hon. Ofodeme described the event as evidence of the resilience and unity of the Igbo diaspora.

Receiving the award, the Ekwusigo lawmaker said it added “more feathers to his cap” and reinforced the responsibility that comes with public trust.

“My prayer to our people in the Philippines is that they will be prosperous, and in due time, they will come back home to replicate that thing that gives them joy in Anambra State and the eastern zones.”