BIAFRA NEWS

Igbos in north defy ultimatum, vow to continue with their business
Igbo traditional rulers in the north urged their people to ignore the quit notice issued to them - Some Igbo business owners also rejected the threats - They insisted they have the assurance of Northern governors and elders Igbo traditional in the north have reacted to the quit notice issued to them by northern youths insisting they will not leave after years of investment. The northern youths’ ultimatum had stirred nationwide reaction with some Igbo groups calling on Igbos to vacate the north to avoid violence - Presidency The Punch however reports that Igbo traditional rulers urged their people not to leave the north and not listen to the supposed threat. The Eze Ndigbo of Kano, Boniface Ibekwe, said Igbos have invested in the north for more than 10 years and that they would not leave. He said: “The youths have asked us to leave, but their parents, the police, the state government and the Federal Government have asked us to ignore the threat. We will rather listen to the elders and the government. “Ango Abdullahi merely expressed his opinion. We are not taking him seriously because we are used to his antics. We are watching the events for now. We will take our decisions after we have watched, prayed and discovered that nothing has changed.” Chris Nnoli who is the president-general of the Igbo Community Welfare Association in Kaduna State urged them to be calm. He said: “It (the ultimatum) is a serious issue that should naturally be taken seriously. We are concerned, but since the Kaduna State Government has assured us of safety, we want to hold on to this assurance. I am greatly worried that up till this moment, nobody has been apprehended over the issue. We are watching events and we believe that government will intensify action and get the youths arrested. It is when we have seen that the government and the IG’s assurances are not effective that we will start to think of other means of seeking protection.” The Eze Igbo III, Jos South in Plateau State, Lawrence Onwudinjo also gave a similar advice urging Igbos not to bother about the ultimatum. “Igbo people in Plateau State are going nowhere. There is no right-thinking human being that will ask people to leave where they are living. This is one Nigeria where we are living. Nigeria belongs to all of us. I believe that if any part of the country needs anything, they should sit down together to discuss it. Everybody should come to a roundtable to discuss it.” Mrs. Amaka Chukwudi who is a yam seller in Nasarawa described the threat as empty saying she was not going anywhere. She said: “The threat by the AYCF was an empty threat. They forget that they have their brothers and sisters spread across other states. Has anybody asked them to leave? Why should the northerners give such an ultimatum?” Jude Eze who resides in Katsina described the ultimatum as ranting of rascals. He said: “How can I listen to the rantings of those rascals? You should know they don’t know the consequences of what they are saying. It took our leaders and elders years of sweat, and some even paid with their lives, to get Nigeria to this stage and some boys who have never gone beyond their villages are saying we should pack our belongings and go. We are not going anywhere.” Joshua Chukwu, said also said: ‘’For me, I will not take laws into my hands but will remain law-abiding, as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees everyone, irrespective of tribe or origin, the right to reside in whatever part of the country he deems fit to pursue his legitimate business.” Felix Irojiogu who resides in Minna said the youths were wasting their time. He said: “They are seeking recognition or attention which they don’t deserve. They are wasting their time; government should arrest them for trying to cause problem in the country.”