Kanayo called for the abolishment of the state of origin, noting that it has made Igbos an endangered species to other tribes in the country.
Veteran Nollywood actor, Kanayo O. Kanayo, has stated that if an Igbo man becomes president of the country, the nation would witness massive economic growth.
The thespian made this known during an interview on the âThe Honest Bunchâ podcast.
The movie star spoke on what being an Igbo and a Nigerian means to him, stressing that the âIgbophobiaâ which has made some sections of the country blacklist the Igbos from the presidency was only a figment of imagination.
Kanayo called for the abolishment of the state of origin, noting that it has made Igbos an endangered species to other tribes in the country.
He said, âBeing an Igbo means that I come from a side of the country that speaks a dialect just like the Hausas, Fulani, and others.
âIt also means to me that Iâm a special person created that everything I touch prospers. When we [Igbos] are called the Jews of this part of the world, it means a lot. And to whom much is given, much is expected. A tree by the road is the one that receives the knife cut.
âWeâre in the market place always and we dance beautiful dances. Thatâs who the Igbos are. So we become the envy of other people.
âAn Igbo man starts his business with kiosk today, give him the next one year, he turns it to a shop. From a kiosk to a shop.
âItâs here. Spit into our hands by a force we call Chukwu Abiama. You canât take it away. So we would continue to be the envy of other people.
âI remember during the elections last year, some people said the Igbos want to take over Lagos. How can we take over Lagos? For what when we have an ancestral home we come from?
âBut then most of us donât want to go back. And itâs only in Nigeria that it happens. A New Yorker is a New Yorker regardless of where they come from.
âSo if we abolish state of origin in Nigeria, we will be better as a country. What has it got to do with state of origin when youâre employing somebody? Itâs the IQ weâre looking for.
âSo being Igbo has become an endangered specie. Because Iâm now judged by where I come from, not by what I have to offer.
âThe content is what should be looked at. So in the larger entity called Nigeria, there has been a division, nepotism orchestrated by many people for political, economic and religious purposes.
âBeing Igbo and being a Nigerian to me, is like running at opposite courses. It looks like the [civil] war never ended.
âFor instance, Prof Yusuf formerly of the NHIS granted an interview I watched on Arise TV a few months ago.
âHe said, âthese our Igbo brothers, why are they not talking? Why are they not joining the protest?â And I replied him the next day, I said, âProf, during the elections, you said we didnât have the capacity to be president, so we donât have the capacity to protest.
âYou said we canât be trusted with power.â I mean, these are statements that are on papers so Iâm not saying it out of context.
âWhen other Nigerians were protesting from region to region, I said, âIgbos, you are targets o!â Igbos are the only people who come to every community in Nigeria and build houses.
âWe are the only people. Give it to us because we call every place we come home. We are not looking for an Igbo president. We are looking for a president of Igbo extraction who will give Nigeria with what he has and what God has given him.
âThe fear of the Igbo man that âin 1967, Ojukwu declared a succession, if you give them that opportunity again they will secede,â is only imaginary.
âLike I said, we are the only people who own properties even in the remotest areas in Nigeria. So that fear is induced.
âThe day you give an Igbo man the presidency of this country, that is the day Nigeria will discover why it is Nigeria. Economically, people would begin to say Hallelujah.â
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