UNIEC: Let Unity, Wisdom and the Common Good Guide Ndigbo. Think-Home • Invest-Home • Build-Home

UNITED IGBO ELDERS COUNCIL (UNIEC) WORLDWIDE

ELDERLY COUNSEL ON IGBO UNITY, RESPONSIBLE LEADERSHIP AND THE COMMON GOOD

The United Igbo Elders Council (UNIEC) Worldwide acknowledges and appreciates the message from Evang. Amb. Chuks Nwadavid, President-General, Umuigbo United Assembly Worldwide, calling upon Igbo elders and stakeholders to strengthen unity and collectively protect the interests of Ndigbo.

UNIEC shares the fundamental principle behind this appeal: the Igbo common good must remain greater than individual, sectional or temporary interests.

Our people have passed through difficult periods in history, and one enduring lesson is that a divided people become vulnerable, while a united people possess the strength to protect their heritage, dignity, economic interests and future.

THE VOICE OF THE ELDERS MUST BE A VOICE OF WISDOM

UNIEC believes that the voice of Igbo elders should not merely be loud; it should be wise, credible, constructive and courageous.

Our elders must speak when injustice occurs, but we must also speak responsibly.

We must defend truth without exaggeration, challenge wrongdoing without hatred, and demand accountability without condemning people before the facts are established.

As our elders would say:

«“When elders sit together, the fire that could consume the village is extinguished before it reaches the houses.”»

The responsibility of elders is therefore not to deepen divisions but to prevent them from becoming destructive.

PERSONAL INTEREST MUST NOT OVERRIDE THE IGBO COMMON GOOD

UNIEC agrees that no individual, group, organisation or political interest should be permitted to place personal ambition above the collective interests of Ndigbo.

Wherever such tendencies exist, they should be confronted through truth, evidence, constitutional processes, dialogue and legitimate institutional mechanisms.

We should distinguish between legitimate differences of opinion and conduct that genuinely undermines the common good.

UNITY DOES NOT MEAN SILENCE

Igbo unity must never mean that elders remain silent in the face of genuine concerns.

Rather, unity means that disagreements are handled through responsible dialogue, constitutional processes, consultation and peaceful resolution.

We encourage Igbo elders, traditional rulers, professionals, religious leaders, political stakeholders, youth and civil society organisations to develop stronger channels for consultation on matters affecting Alaigbo.

Our people need a united voice on matters of common interest, while preserving legitimate diversity of opinion.

LET US BUILD, NOT DESTROY

The future of Alaigbo cannot be secured through accusations, recriminations and internal conflicts alone.

We must direct our collective energy towards:

• economic development and investment;
• security and protection of lives and property;
• infrastructure and industrialisation;
• youth employment and human-capital development;
• restoration of confidence in our institutions;
• protection of Igbo culture, language and heritage;
• diaspora engagement;
• peaceful political participation; and
• the sustainable development of Alaigbo.

The philosophy must be simple:

Think-Home. Invest-Home. Build-Home.

FINAL COUNSEL OF THE ELDERS

UNIEC Worldwide therefore calls upon all Igbo stakeholders to lower unnecessary tensions, reject inflammatory rhetoric, avoid personal attacks and place the collective future of Ndigbo above individual interests.

Let us not wait until disagreements become crises.

Let elders intervene early.

Let facts be established before judgment.

Let constitutional institutions function.

Let grievances be heard.

Let justice prevail.

And let reconciliation remain possible even where serious differences exist.

Our elders have always understood that “onye aghana nwanne ya”—no one should abandon his brother.

The task before us is therefore not to destroy one another, but to build a stronger, wiser and more united Igbo nation capable of securing a prosperous future for generations yet unborn.

United Igbo Elders Council (UNIEC) Worldwide

Custodians of Heritage • Voices of Conscience • Advocates of Justice and Unity.