The National Leader of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mr. John Nwodo, has called on Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion or region to live in peace, saying the country does not need war again.
Mr. Nwodo spoke yesterday in Gombe when he led Igbo leaders from across the 19 northern states and the FCT on a courtesy visit to Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo.
He warned that the prevailing unusual situation in the country was reminiscent of the 1960s when the country experienced a civil war as a result of which over three million people lost their lives.
He said people like them who witnessed the Biafra war would not allow the crisis to open up and lead to another catastrophe.
According to him, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo conceived the idea of reaching out to northerners even before the 19 northern states governors’ decision to visit the Southeast.
“The governors visited us and now we are here, which shows that we are on the same train and dream the same dream,” he said.
He assured non Igbos resident in the South east of adequate protection, conveying the decision of governors in the region to guarantee their safety.
“Our governors are saying that any Igbo man that wants to kill a northerner let such person first kill them. As the leader of the Igbo cultural organization, I am also saying let such person first kill me,” Mr. Nwodo said.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo leader described the ongoing secessionist agitation as the handiwork of enemies of Nigeria who are envious of the country’s potentials.
He appealed to Governor Dankwambo to communicate the message of peace from the Igbo leadership to the people of the state and the entire Northeast region.
Responding, the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Mr. Charles Iliya, who represented Governor Dankwambo, assured that state is home to all, adding that adequate arrangements had been put in place to ensure peace.
He disclosed that a meeting was recently held with political, traditional and religious leaders in the state on the unity of the country.
“The message has already been given to the people of the state to always stay above sentiments and rumours,” he said.
He described other ethnic groups resident in Gombe as ingenious whose contributions would be needed to further develop the state. Mr. Nwodo and the delegation also met with the Igbo community in the state.
