WE will not leave the North, Igbo respond to Arewa youths

The Igbo living in Nothern Nigeria, represented by the Igbo Delegate Assembly and Nothern Igbo Chiefs on Tuesday formally responded to the quit notice issued to them by the Arewa Youth Forum by informing the group that they don’t have any intention of leaving the North.

The Igbo made their position Known when they visited Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El Rufai in Kaduna.

The President General of the Igbo Delegate Assembly, Chigozie Nwogu, who spoke for the group said that the Igbo believe in a united Nigeria and reject the call for division and commended the federal government and government of Kaduna, over the manner they handled the issue.

Nwogu said, “We are not happy with the call for division. We want Nigeria to remain as one so that all of us can benefit. Northern youth have been our brothers. The Igbo are not going anywhere, we will remain with our Arewa brothers in the north.”

“We are here in Kaduna to hold a meeting based on what has been happening in the north, especially with the Arewa Youth and the ultimatum given to Igbos and the agitations by IPOB.”

See also  Tinubu swears in seven new ministers

“We are not here to condemn anybody.We thank the governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and other northern governors, traditional rulers and the federal government for their interventions at the heat of the issue.”

‎”Let us look at the problem of the youths when there arcomplaintsns, it is also good to restructure in a way that will benefit everyone,” he stated.

Responding, Mallam El-Rufai reiterated his earlier call that those behind the quit notice must be arrested and that the state would not tolerate sensitive comments that could incite and cause disaffection among the people.

Elrufai said, “We are going to arrest the Arewa Youth and bring them to justice no matter how long it takes. Since the press conference was done in Kaduna,”

See also  ZLP sweeps Abia LG polls, wins 15 of 17 chairmanship seats

“If they had done it in any other place, we would have just condemned them but since it’s in Kaduna, we are going to arrest them.

“Kaduna used to be a home for all, but so much crises have left the divided across religious lines

“I have the mandate of the northern governors’ forum under the chairmanship of Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, to reassure the Igbo in the 19 northern states and Abuja that their lives and property are safe in the north,” he concluded.