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‘Igbo have no reason to run from North, over polls’

By Bridget Chiedu Onochie, Abuja
13 February 2015   |   1:19 am
COORDINATOR, Igbo traditional rulers in 19 Northern States and Abuja, and the Igbo traditional ruler in Minna, Niger State, Eze (Dr.) Pampas N. Nwahiwe has urged Ndigbo who  have been moving away from the North for fear of election violence not to be afraid.   Speaking to The Guardian in a telephone interview, the Eze…

COORDINATOR, Igbo traditional rulers in 19 Northern States and Abuja, and the Igbo traditional ruler in Minna, Niger State, Eze (Dr.) Pampas N. Nwahiwe has urged Ndigbo who  have been moving away from the North for fear of election violence not to be afraid.

  Speaking to The Guardian in a telephone interview, the Eze Nwahiwe also called on those who had earlier relocated to the eastern part of the country to return to their places and states of residence without fear of intimidation.

  He however blamed the development where people had to move away from north on provocative statements by some politicians that the country would be chaotic if a certain political party does not win the election.

  He said: “We have been asking our people not to panic, not to have anxiety or apprehension over election violence.

  “But the truth is that provocative statements by politicians caused Igbo people to start traveling home. However, since election dates have been shifted, I think it is only necessary that those that have earlier traveled to their states of origin should start coming back”.

  The traditional ruler affirmed that governors  of states in the north have been cooperative and have given the Igbo an assurance that no evil shall befall them in their states of residence.

  “The 19 northern states’ governors have been asking us to stay. They have been encouraging us to continue to do our businesses where we live, that there would be no problem.

  “Even the Emir of Minna, Alhaji (Dr) Umar Farouk Bahago, raised the issue of mass movement of the Igbo and urged us to stay back as nothing will happen to us. The governors and other government agencies in the north such as National Orientation Agency, Chairmen of local government areas and others have been talking to us.

  “ This is aside the Police, who have been holding several meetings at the state and other levels. There was a strong warning from the Police that anybody caught perpetuating violence before, during and after elections would be arrested. They also warned parents to caution their children, as they would be equally arrested if they come to the station to demand release of their children. The same peace talks hold in churches and mosques in the north.

  “So, there is a high level of guarantee for the safety of non-indigenes residing in the north”, Eze  Nwahiwe said.

  He also frowned at the way Igbos residing in the north run home every four years for fear of attacks.

  “Has it become a culture that every four years, we run to the east for fear of attacks from our host states? This country belongs to all of us. I do not see any reason we should be running away. Even though there were provocative statements by politicians, we own this country together and we should not continue to suffer undue intimidation from our fellow countrymen.”

Eze Nwahiwe was reacting to a call by the State Security Service (SSS) on indigenes of other states of Nigeria who are leaving the north for fear of attacks to remain calm and go about their normal businesses without fear of harassment.

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