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Witness to Glory: The Nigerian Project, USA Storm Boston, Massachusetts
The Nigerian Project, USA, is quietly making history as its progressive train caravan stops in cities across USA to pick up memberships and endorsements for their good work. This progressive train stopped in Boston on Saturday April 23, 2005 to inaugurate yet another chapter and the people haven’t stopped talking about it. It was a glorifying event inside this huge Ballroom at the Holiday Inn, Randolph, Massachusetts, just five miles from downtown Boston. The ballroom was filled to capacity and equal number packed the hallways and outside the reception area. “We have never seen this much crowed in fifteen years I have been here,” said the hotel manager.
Earlier in the day, The Nigerian Project, USA greats who flew in from all parts of the United States and some IBB representatives who came from Minna, Nigeria had a closed- door meeting. These include Dr. Lawrence Egbuchulam (National Chairman), Benjamin Usunobun (National Organizing Secretary), Ahmed Shuaibu (National Secretary), Mma Michaels (National Welfare Officer), Dr. Olusegun Afolabi (National Vice Chairman). And others are Eteng B. Eno (Deputy Chairman, South-south), Peter Maduabum (Chairman, New Jersey Chapter), Obi Okeke, Mahmud Abbas and Emmanuel Kalu Ukpai (Chairman, Florida Chapter) and many others who came from Michigan, Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Alabama, and Ohio. Conspicuously missing from the executive was E.J. Agbonayinma, the energetic and charismatic national publicity secretary. It was later confirmed that he was away on assignment in far away Angola. As the executive emerged from their closed-door meeting at about 3:45 PM the crowed hailed the group as they chanted the Nigerian Project slogan in approval of the movement. Boy, it was heavy!
The crowed was so over whelming that they hurriedly merged two ballrooms into one but still many more people were in the hallways. The inauguration ceremony opened when the Master of Ceremony (MC) Mr. Benson Emovon was introduced. He immediately went to work and meticulously followed the program. The MC introduced little Ms. Amaka Nwokeji who sang the Nigerian and American national anthems. With her golden voice she captivated the audience and impressed everyone. Sitting right in front of the first row was the great Massachusetts senator Mr. Bill Owens, on his left was Professor Basil Uli, the former Commissioner for Agriculture in Anambra State and sitting behind him was Professor Aisiku. All the national officers were called to the high table, but when the gorgeous, beautiful, lanky, the queen and Lolo Ndiigbo Ms. Mma Michaels was introduced the audience went wild with standing ovation.
The first speaker of the occasion was the inauguration committee chairman, Mr. Elias Eleyi who in his humorous styles urged Nigerians to embrace Ibrahim Babangida’s style of leadership, to help effect change in Nigeria, to work together and resign bigotry, tribalism, hatred to the back of our consciousness and instill in our ourselves and our children the beautiful word of love and good moral values. At this juncture the zonal chairman Mr. Ndamati Timothy introduced the national chairman Dr. Lawrence Egbuchulam to the podium.
Dr. Egbuchulam took the microphone and began to speak. He asked the audience to stand up and observed a two minutes silence in honor of General A. Adisa who died a few months ago in an automobile accident. He spoke eloquently about General Adisa and challenged the members to embrace the virtues, good work and ideals of General Adisa. He thanked the members of the Massachusetts chapter for their hard work in making sure that the inauguration today is a splendid success. He bared his heart and said:
quote:As Nigerians, we are living and witnessing a tremendously exciting political period. Even as we meet here today, a national dialogue rages on in our home country about the type of country we truly desire for ourselves and for our children. I believe I speak for many of you when I say that, regardless of how we Nigerians settle that important question of national identity, there can be no doubt in any objective observer's mind that the person who, by experience and deportment, is most suitable to captain or steer the ship of State with sure-footedness and vision in the turbulent waters of global politics is none other than our principal Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB).
His voice, sometimes riveting in thunderous denunciations, and sometimes echoing in softest sympathy as he argued for the need to give Ibrahim Babangida another chance to become the next president of Nigeria in 2007. He expressed deeply of his beliefs and said that at this stage in our maturity as a nation, and the high stakes involved:
quote:Nigeria and Nigerians he said, can ill-afford tribal, sectional leaders whose bona fides as truly national leaders, even as we are fast approaching 2007, is a matter of serious dispute, or presidential aspirants whose claim as "leaders" have largely been nurtured (or to use a common Nigerian vernacular "bread and buttered") by fostering divisiveness among Nigerians along tribal or sectarian lines. I also truly believe that Nigeria and Nigerians can ill-afford any leader who would be perceived on the world stage, regardless of the length of person's understudy, as our very own Dan Quayle of politics.
He reminded Nigerians about the need to entrust Nigeria’s political baton in the hands of IBB because he believes that IBB is a tested and disciplined leader who has consistently demonstrated the spirit of “One Nigeria” and who would
quote:instinctively recognize the enormity of the task at hand and still forge on, un-intimidated and undeterred, in pursuing and achieving Nigeria’s goal.
He expressed his optimism that in the coming months IBB will declare his candidacy for the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria:
quote: Even the last several months, the doubts that may have existed in some people's minds about whether IBB would really run or declare his candidacy for the presidency have steadily been erased. First was the "announcement" by President Obasanjo of what we all know or should have known, namely: there are no legal impediments to IBB running for any office in Nigeria, Second, IBB's more public alliance with PDP, whose membership he has enjoyed from the very beginning, and also his pronouncement that all pro-IBB supporters to work and ally with the PDP chapters in their respective Local Governments, and preferably to secure delegacy to the PDP National Convention. Third, his declaration in Bauchi on March 18th, 2004 that he will be involved in politics to the end.
He concluded his speech by urging Nigerians to be steadfast in their meaning as we work toward eventual emancipation of our people from the stranglehold of political gangsters, and he believes that Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida is the right man who will do the job without fear or favor. His speech was greeted with three standing ovations.
In his electrifying voice, the Massachusetts state senator Mr. Bill Owens narrated his first meeting with IBB in the early 1990s and the impression IBB left on him. He told the audience that IBB impressed him so much that he went back a year later to become a Nigerian citizen. The hall broke loose with standing ovation as the audience chanted his name and IBB’s name. He endorsed the good work of the Nigerian Project and Ibrahim Babangida for president calling him a good man who always is looking for ways to better the lives of his people: “Nigeria was and will be better in the hands of President Ibrahim Babangida.”
In her acceptance speech the newly appointed chairman of the Massachusetts chapter Ms. Yvonne Omo Omoruyi captivated the audience with her mellow and methodical speech style. She called Ibrahim Babangida the right man at the right time for Nigeria. She vehemently defended IBB’s right as a citizen in good standing to vote and be voted for in a democratic dispensation, and called him a detribalized Nigerian who believes in the unity of our great country. She also paid homage to Mrs. Maryam Babangida whom she described as articulate, vigorous, spontaneous and humane wife: “I accept to carry this cross of leadership to work in the vineyard of progressives.” She said.
In his closing remark, the zonal chairman Mr. Ndamati Timothy whose efforts and determination made it all possible to organize this event, narrated how he was called and charged with the duties to organize the Nigerian Project in the Northeast region. I was so nervous and overwhelmed by this important responsibility entrusted upon me, but I prayed to God to guide me through it. The success of today’s event is a true testament that God is on my side. He continued, “Tonight, we pause and give praise and honor to God for being good enough to allow us to be at this place, at this time. When I look out at this hall I see the faces of Nigeria: Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Ikwerre, Efik, Ibibio and Fulani – the real Nigerian project.” He asked Nigerians to think of Ibrahim Babangida as the tiny city of Jerusalem, the intersection where many trails met. A small village that became the birthplace for three religions – Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Why is IBB so blessed? Because he is a detribalized man who provides a crossroad where different people, different tribes, different languages could meet and found common ground. I know IBB close up.
quote:I have watched his good mind fast at work, with steel nerves, guiding his principles. I have watched his perspective grow as his environment has expanded. I have seen his toughness and tenacity close up. I know his commitment to public service and to Nigerians. I trust him to be the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Finally, he charged the newly appointed officers of the Nigerian Project, Massachusetts’s chapter to instill in themselves teamwork and help to elect Ibrahim Babangida president of Nigeria in 2007. He thanked the audience and recognized many who flew in from other states for their steadfast and belief in moving our country forward through the capable hands of Ibrahim Babangida. He asked them to join in the all night pomp and pageantry at his residence. At his residence it was all night food (Nigerian cuisines), drinks, dance, dance and dance all night long. It could not have been better.
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