By Auwal Mohammed
Gombe (Nigeria) — The National President of Ohaeneze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo cultural group, Chief John Nwodo has applied to Nigerians to promote peace and tolerance with one another, irrespective of differences in ethnicity, religion or region to enhance unity of the country.
Chief Nwodo made the call Friday in Gombe, northeast Nigeria, when he paid a visit on Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo of Gombe State.
He cautioned Nigerians that the prevailing unusual situation in the country is reminiscent of the 1960s when the country experienced the civil war, as a result of which over 3 million people lost their lives.
He said those who witnessed the war would not allowed the crisis to open up, because it would lead the country to another catastrophe.
“If people of our age can allow this to happen, then we have a question to answer before God,” he said.
According to him, Ohaeneze conceived the idea to reach out to northerners even before the decision of the 19 northern governors to visit the South east.
“They visited us and we are now here shows we are on the same bed and dreaming 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 guarantee the safety of all non Igbos.
“Our traditional and religious leaders are emulating what the Sultan of Sokoto said regarding the killing of any Igbo man in the north.
“Our governors are saying that any Igbo man that wants to kill a northerner let such person first kill them first.
“As the leader of the Igbo cultural organization, I am also saying let such person first kill me,” Nwodo said.
While stressing that enough is enough on the recent political impasse as a result of the conduct of a negligible number of unpatriotic Nigerians, calling on people not to take the laws into their hands.
He described the ongoing clamour for self-government as the handiwork of the enemies of Nigeria who are envious of the potentials of the country.
He described the country’s diversity and population as capable of taking Nigeria to greater heights.
He appealed to Dankwambo to communicate the message of peace from Ohaeneze to the people of not only the state but the entire north east.
He said Gombe is the hope of the political zone with a leader with national exposure who understands national politics.
Also speaking the State Governor Dankwambo assured that State is home to all, stressing that adequate arrangement has been put in place to ensure that Gombe is home to everyone.
The Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Charles Iliya, disclosed of an earlier meeting he held with political, traditional and religious across the state ,where he stressed on the unity of the country, reminding them of the devastating effect of civil war.
“The message has already been given to the people of Gombe, that people should 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.
