Iwuanyanwu blasts northern elders over calls for Igbo exit from Nigeria

Notable Igbo politician, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has slammed Northern elders over their recent call for a law to hasten the exit of Ndigbo from Nigeria.

The Chairman of the Elders’ Council of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, declared his position in a statement he released through his media aide, Ben Osuagwu, in Owerri on Thursday.

He maintained that the resolution of the Northern elders was hostile to the unity, peace and stability of the country and urged all patriotic Nigerians to view it with great concern.

According to him, the resolution of the Northern elders does not represent the opinion of the true leadership of northerners and true northern elites.

He recalled the meeting of President Muhammadu Buhari with South east leaders during his visit to Owerri, pointing out that it was a right move towards reconciling Igbos and other ethnic nationalities.

Iwuanyanwu said he made it clear to the president that Igbo are domiciled in virtually all communities in Nigeria, pursuing their businesses in peace.

He affirmed that no group in Nigeria can claim greater ownership of Nigeria today than the Igbo, adding that at every stage of the country’s history since 1914, Igbo have played a major role.

“In the struggle for independence, Igbo championed the crusade. In other areas, economy, education, industry, sports, etc, Igbo have continued to play their roles and make tremendous contributions,’ he said.

“Igbo will, therefore, want to make it abundantly clear to all and sundry that if anybody plans to expel Igbo from Nigeria and dispossess them of the hard-earned assets they have all over the country, Igbo will never accept that.

“It is important to note that most of the people who want to expel Igbo and seize their assets do not have their states anywhere near the River Niger where Nigeria derives its name from.

“We now want to tell Nigerians that Igbo are substantial owners of Nigeria. In some geopolitical zones, militants, Boko Haram and herdsmen are operating dangerously, killing many innocent people. These people are secessionists. They have even mounted their flags in some local governments and collected taxes. I want to point out the fact that the Nigerian flag is flying everywhere in Igbo land,” Iwuanyanwu said.

He appealed to all Igbo living outside Igboland to remain calm and peaceful and pursue their legitimate business without fear, assuring them that, as law-abiding citizens, they have nothing to fear.