Some northern governors on peace mission to the South-east have returned the verdict that, contrary to claims in some quarters, Igbos are not marginalized in Nigeria.
Thus they dismissed the claim, saying it is not the main challenge Ndigbo are facing.
Led by Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum and governor of Borno State, Alhaji Kashim Shetimma, other governors on the trip included Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi State), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto State), Simon Lalong (Plateau State) and Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina State).
They reminded their hosts that Igbos had occupied top positions like Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senate President and several others, noting that those that occupied those positions failed to leverage on their offices to impact the South-east region.
The visiting governors spoke in Owerri, Imo State capital, during a meeting with Igbo and Hausa leaders at the Government House.
Indeed they decried the poor state of infrastructure in the Southeast, but regretted politicians from the zone “are only interested in pocketing the resources that would have been used in developing the zone .”
“You can take for instance the case of Nnamdi Kanu who is common criminal. When he was arrested, senators from the Southeast were falling head over heels to bail him for what they could gain at the detriment of national unity and peaceful coexistence.
“The problem of Nigeria is we the elite who are fanning the embers of hatred and disunity for selfish reasons. The country is passing through a grim and sober moment. It is only by coming together that we can get Nigeria to work again.
“We are here to thank our colleagues in the Southeast for standing on the part of peace and national unity. All we need is tolerance, justice and generosity of mind to move the country forward.
“Governor Okorocha has been dehumanized and branded all sorts of names for insisting on one indivisible Nigeria but he has remained unshaken in his faith in the unity of Nigeria. We salute his sense of patriotism and his style of leadership; he is the kind of leader that Nigeria needs.”
Tambuwal said: “Nigeria is not a mistake. Nigeria is a special creation we all must continue to strive to make it work. And for us to continue to coexist harmoniously, we must have respect for each other. We must respect each other’s culture because respect begets respect.”