The Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has asked for the urgent change of the name of Nigeria to a better and positive one.
Ohanaeze said the change became necessary “as the name, Nigeria, connotes lack of progress, corruption, and darkness.”
The call was made by the deputy spokesman of Ohanaeze, Comrade Chuks Ibegbu in a statement on Monday.
He said that the name “Nigeria was given to us by a lover of Lord Lugard who later became his wife and was given at the heat of passion.
“Many countries in Africa, Asia, and even Europe changed their colonial names after independence but we foolishly stuck to the name with all its attendant minuses.”
Ohanaeze further called for an immediate conference where different indigenous names could be agreed upon as the new name of the country.
It maintained that “unless we change our name, our numerous problems may have no solution because there is something in a name.”
“Though the name Igbo was not given to us by anybody if any day we find out any question mark on it we shall change it. We are not Ibo but Igbo and Ndigbo. All colonial vestiges should be expunged by the indigenous African people.”
