Connect with us

Metro

Count us out, we’re for one Nigeria, Itsekiri tells Biafra agitators

Published

on

Count us out, we're for one Nigeria, Itsekiri tells Biafra agitators

Groups in the South-East part of Nigeria demanding for Biafra independent from Nigeria, have been asked to leave the Itsekiri people of Delta State out of their demands.

This was contained in a statement Itsekiri’s apex socio-cultural group, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought, released on Thursday and signed by its chairman and secretary, Chief Edward Ekpoko, and Sir A. S. Mene, respectively.

In the statement, they called on Igbo leaders, especially the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to ask the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and other agitators of Biafra Republic to stop fermenting trouble in the country.

It further frowned at the agitators inclusion of Itsekiri people as part of Biafra Republic and warned against such.

The Itsekiri leaders however condemned the ultimatum issued against the Igbo people by a coalition of northern youth groups.

“The proposed Biafra Republic as claimed by the agitators includes the whole of the present Delta State. Itsekiri’s homeland of Warri is not part of that enterprise. We recall with pains the day the defunct Biafra Army invaded Warri and Benin in the then Midwestern Region on August 9, 1967 and say never again will the Itsekiri tolerate such an invasion.

Read also : Anarchy looms as Ohanaeze tells Ndigbo in north to defend themselves, Arewa youths insist Ndigbo must go

“The Itsekiri ethnic nationality is committed to the unity of Nigeria and will do all it can to promote and protect it as one and indivisible country. We can always sit and talk about our differences. As Major-General Phillip Effiong said on January 14, 1970 that the Republic of Biafra ceased to exist, so we the Itsekiri wish it to be eternally for the peace and development of our great Nation,” the statement read in part.

They also commended the Arewa Consultative Forum, Governor Nasir El – Rufai of Kaduna State and other northerners who boldly condemned the Hausa youths’ 90 days vacation ultimatum to Ndigbo living in the North.

 

 

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now