June 12, 2007—A select leaders and members of the Igbo community in New York gathered on Sunday June 10 2007 and gave a dignified welcome to Madam Bessy Okiro who arrived just few days earlier.

Those present to welcome the elderly stateswoman include; Bonaventure Ezekwenna, the Executive Director of Africans In America, Inc. Prof. Chief Donatus Anusionwu, Chief Chuck Okanome, Ikenna Anokute, Mclord Obiora, Okechukwu Udogwu, Maxwell Okeke, Ugochukwu Ezeogu, and Maxi Ndukwe just to name only a few.

The leaders expressed condolence on the death of her older son, Late Chief Anthony Ozo Okiro, the traditional ruler of Egbema autonomous community, Egbema Local Government Area of River State, Nigeria who passed away in New York in November 2006.

They also congratulated Madam Okiro on the significant appointment of her son Mike Mabam Okiro, the Inspector-General of Police making him the first Igbo person to occupy the apex office and lead the Nigeria Police Force.

The Igbo leaders in New York picked holes in some comments in the Nigeria media credited to some local Igbo leaders in the homeland and few human rights leaders in Nigeria regarding the Igboness of Mike Okiro. The New York based leaders pleaded with elderly Madam Okiro to disregard those comments as mischievous and un-important.

Bonaventure Ezekwenna, the Executive Director of Africans In America, Inc. explained that the Igbo nation comprises of all those in the geographical region in the eastern parts of Nigeria, western parts of Nigeria, northern parts of Nigeria, southern parts of Nigeria, in various parts of Africa, in Europe, America, Asia and other parts of the world and none is more Igbo than the others.

The leaders expressed surprise that some leaders in the homeland are out of touch with modern realities and hinted that if the illiterate, semi-educated and misguided leaderships of the Igbo international community continue to misspeak and misrepresent the collective interest of the whole Igbos, then effort should be put in process to dethrone and dislodge them from leadership position one after another.

Madam Okiro while thanking everyone for their kindness and supportive gestures assured that God is in control of Nigeria. She expressed confidence that her son will not disappoint the country.