By Bashir Mohammed Kano
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano state has said that as leaders in Northern Nigeria, all governors in the region were solidly against “ethnic prejudice, as promoted by certain group of youth,” declaring that Igbo in the region “will stay forever.” “Even if you want to go on your own, we will not allow you to leave. Th ere is a diff erence between I will not go and there is no where I can go. You don’t have anywhere to go, this place is your home,” he said. Th e governor stated this Friday night when he received leaders of the Igbo Delegates Assembly (IDA), led by the PresidentGeneral, Chief Chi Nwogu, at the Government House in Kano. He said “even foreigners are residing comfortably in Kano and other parts of Northern Nigeria and are engaged in legitimate ventures,” adding that “there is no basis to threaten other Nigerians, who collectively fought for the nation’s independence.
” “Th ose advocating ethnic agitation from the East are not speaking for all Igbo. Th ose ofus, who as youth witnessed the Civil war, will never advocate secession.” Ganduje said the Northern youth that issued quit notice to Igbo had also been called to order by elders, civic and political leaders, including governors and the Sultan of Sokoto, “because all well-meaning people believe in one Nigeria.” “When you have youths who have no elders, they are similar to riding a horse without a bridle. It can behave anyhow and anything can happening. Th is is what is happening.” He, therefore, described the meeting reconciliatory between the IDA leadership and Coalition of Northern youths as timely, asserting that all ethnic groups in the country have advantages which if collectively harnessed would make the country greater. In his remarks, Nwogu said there were in Kano to meet the Coalition of Northern Youth Groups, in respect of the quit notice issued Igbo in the North by the youth. “Both of us have agreed to set up a committee to sort out things and ensure that there is peace,” he said.
