Igbos living in the 19 Northern states, under the auspices of the Igbo Delegate Assembly and Northern Igbo Chiefs, have vowed not to leave the North on the October 1 deadline given by some Northern groups.
The groups, comprising stakeholders from the South-East, visited Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai, on Tuesday and declared that Igbos would remain in the north.
According to the President-General of Igbo traditional rulers in the northern states and Abuja, Chief Chikezie Nwogwu, the Igbos would not leave the North because they have contributed immensely to the development of the region.
While expressing appreciation to the governor for his support, Nwogwu said Nigeria is better off as one indivisible country.
“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,” he said.
“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.
“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 are complaints, it is also good to restructure in a way that will benefit everyone.
“We are not in support of division. We are saying that things should be done right.”
Responding, El-Rufai said the state has no room for hate speeches and will ensure that those who perpetrated such acts are brought to book.
He also vowed that no matter how long it takes, the state government will arrest and prosecute leaders of the Coalition of Northern youths insisting that the state, which had been affected by different crises, would not tolerate sensitive comments that could incite and cause disaffection among the people.
“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,” he said.
“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.”