We shouldn’t experience another civil war — Ohanaeze

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Sokoto —The apex Igbo socio-cultural group in Nigeria, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday stressed that the country should not be allowed to undergo another civil war. This came as the body also reinstated that Ndigbo are not interested in secession but equity and fairness from leaders of the country. This is even as Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State, yesterday,

told sponsors of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to have a rethink. Nnia Nwodo, President-General of Ohanaeze Speaking when he led leaders of Ohanaeze on a courtesy visit to Governor Aminu Waziri at the Government House, yesterday, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo, said although Nigeria was in trying times, the cohesion that existed over the years was worthy of being maintained. “Yes, our country is going through a trying period but we should not under any circumstances experience another civil war. We should not allow personal emotions to undermine our national unity,” he said. Nwodo who said the visit was at the instance of the South-East governors,

assured of their cooperation for peaceful coexistence among the ethnic nationalities in the country. He commended the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad, for portraying himself as a father in the ongoing ethnic tensions by stating that ‘whoever wants to attack the Igbo, should attack him first’. “In the same vein, I came with the assurances of South-East governors that any Igbo who wants to kill a northerner, should first kill them.” Responding, Governor Tambuwal observed that those looking for trouble lacked other ways of channelling their grievances.

He said: “The recent quagmire is an act of people that do not understand any other way of channelling their grievances other than the way they have chosen. “I assure you that we are at peace with each other and we shall continue to be because, you cannot worship God or do business without peace.

” We’re not interested in secession

Ohanaeze also visited a razed mosque at Ogurute, Enugu-Ezike in Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State to commiserate with the affected Muslim community in the area. Receiving a delegation of Northern Youths Assembly of Nigeria in Enugu, President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Enugu State, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, said Eastern Nigeria provides a wider market for northern produce just like the north does for Ndigbo. He urged the northern youths to tell president Muhammadu Buhari that Ndigbo are more interested in a restructured Nigeria based on

equity and justice but not secession. Making reference to the invasion of the zone by the army due to agitation for Biafra, Ogbonnia said: “President Buhari should have been a father under the circumstances but the truth is that he came up with unprecedented marginalisation of Ndigbo, which resulted to agitations like you have seen in Nnamdi Kanu.” Speaker of the Northern Youths Assembly, Ukkasha Hamza Rahema, who led the delegation, stated that despite religious and ethnic differences, both nationalities remain brothers and sisters.

He disclosed that it was the northern youths assembly that asked the Arewa youths leaders to withdraw the quit notice it gave to Ndigbo. “I’m here to tell you that Nigeria must be great again. Those creating violence are doing so because they don’t know what they are doing. I believe in one Nigeria and I would rather die a hero than a coward,” said Ukkasha.