PRESS STATEMENT BY THE
CHAIRMAN OF THE SOUTH EAST GOVERNORS FORUM, HIS EXCELLENCY, ENGR. DAVID NWEZE
UMAHI, IN RESPECT OF THE THREAT TO NDI IGBO BY AREWA YOUTHS
1.
The attention of the South East Governors Forum has been drawn to the widely
publicised ultimatum, credited to a coalition of 16 northern youth associations
or groups, demanding that Nd’Igbo resident in Northern Nigeria should vacate
the region within 90 days or before the 1st day of October, 2017; and equally
urging northerners resident in Igboland to return to the North within the same
time spectrum.
2. Typical of our
preferred modus operandi, we have carefully considered the contents of the
highly provocative statement and reflected on its implications for Nd’Igbo
specifically, and for the status of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a viable
and sovereign nation generally.
3. This public statement
is intended to accomplish a couple of objectives, one of which is the
expression of our deep appreciation to all Nigerians, including the Presidency;
the reputable socio-cultural group, Afenifere; the President of the Senate, His
Excellency, Dr Bukola Saraki; His Excellency, Alh. Atiku Abubakar; our brother
Governors particularly His Excellency, Alh. Kashim Shetimma (the Chairman of
Northern Governors Forum); Rtd. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau (the Honourable
Minister of Interior); His Excellency, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; the leadership of
Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF); the security agencies and many others who have
declaimed the dangerous threat by the misguided northern youth, and thus
underscored the unity and oneness of this nation.
4. The South East
Governors Forum has repeatedly reiterated its commitment to and preference for
the existence of a virile, united, prosperous and progressive Federal Republic
of Nigeria where justice, fairness, equity, mutual respect and equality of
opportunity to all citizens regardless of creed, ethnicity or gender will reign
supreme under the inflexible rule of law. We have had occasion recently to take
this position publicly in response to the agitative but peaceful actions of
some Igbo youth. We will continue to take a similar stance in response to any
action that might threaten the cohesiveness of this nation or designed to cause
its rupture.
5. The lives and property
of law-abiding citizens of Igbo extraction are as precious as the lives and
property of all Nigerians, irrespective of the region of their abode within
this Republic. These must be guaranteed and defended against all forms of
threat and aggression, both domestic and external, by the security
forces/agencies of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We the Governors of the
South East are collaborating effectively with the security agencies to ensure
that no harm of any description is visited upon any law-abiding Nigerian
citizen resident in the South East of Nigeria, including those from the North
of Nigeria.
6. We must call on all
serious minded patriots, particularly the religious leadership in Northern
Nigeria; the leadership of other socio-cultural groups in Northern Nigeria
apart from the aforementioned; the Nigerian Governors Forum; and all the
service branches to rise up with voices of peace and wisdom to counteract the
mischievousness and exuberant excesses of the northern youth. The ugly lessons
of history are too grim to be stoked with carelessness. As leaders, we must
exert the full measure of our powers and influence to forestall a repetition.
7. We call on all our Igbo
sons and daughters resident in Northern Nigeria to go about their lawful daily
engagements without fear of intimidation, hindrance or molestation.
8. The rumours being
peddled on conventional and social media platforms that we, the Governors of
the South East, have met and agreed to mobilize vehicles and cash for the
repatriation of Nd’Igbo resident in northern Nigeria must be disregarded, as
they are nothing but tissues of lies. No amount of provocation would lead us to
such a precipitate and irresponsible action at this time. Those exploiting such
vacuous tittle-tattle as a basis for divisive rhetoric in public spaces are
simply playing juvenile politics and we urge them to cease and desist.
9. Long live Ndi Igbo!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Signed:
Engr. David Nweze Umahi
Governor of Ebonyi State and
Chairman of South East Governors Forum
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