Asagba Azinge Urges Igbo Lawyers To Unite For Growth At Otu Oka Iwu Dinner
By PAULINA NZERUBE
AT the Otu Oka Iwu Association’s Annual Dinner and Award Night in Lagos, the Asagba of Asaba, HRM Prof. Epiphany Azinge, SAN, urged Igbo legal practitioners to strengthen solidarity, support one another, and harness collective resources for growth. Speaking as Father of the Day, the monarch reminded the association that unity remains the strongest tool for progress, praying for continued success in its mission. He also toured the PAS World Centre, the six-storey law complex established by Chief Dr. Tony Idigbe.
Earlier, the Organising Committee Chairperson, Chief Mrs. Augustina Igbokwe, and the association’s president, Mazi Okechukwu Unegbu, welcomed members and highlighted the judiciary-related marginalisation faced by the Southeast. They encouraged those in need of legal support to seek assistance through the association and called on the government to address long-standing inequities.
But President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Senator John Azuka Mbata, argued that rather than focusing solely on marginalisation, Igbo stakeholders must embrace strategic political engagement ahead of 2027. Citing the post–civil war rise of Dr. Alex Ekwueme and Edwin Ume-Ezeoke to top national offices, he insisted that political organisation—not lamentation—is key to securing influence across the 13 states where Igbos reside.
Delivering the keynote address, Chief Dr. Anthony Idigbe examined Anioma–Southeast cultural ties, stressing that Anioma shares core Igbo values despite influences from Benin and Igala. He warned, however, that debates on Anioma State creation must avoid the pitfalls of annexation, political self-interest, or dominance of one Igbo subgroup over another. He urged stakeholders to define clearly whether the demand is about cultural liberation, territorial expansion, or Southeast’s quest for a sixth state, insisting that the process must be pursued with sensitivity and fairness.
The event drew several dignitaries, including Chief Emeka Ngige (SAN) and Abia State Attorney-General Ikechukwu Uwanna.
