The President General of the Igbo Welfare Association,in Borno State, Chief Maclaw Nwaogu, has condemned the agitation by the Idegenous People of Biafra, IPOB, stating that, the Igbo community are proud to be citizens of Borno,
Chief Maclaw Nwaogu stated this Saturday, during a meeting with the Borno deputy governor, Alhaji Usman Mamman Durkwa at the Maiduguri government house following the ongoing agitation for a state of Biafra by IPOB.
According to Chief Nwaogu, since time immemorial, Igbos have related with all the diverse people of Borno who are peace-loving, and have resolved not to engage in anything that will jeopardise the hard earned peace in the state.
He said, Borno state Government under the leadership of governor Shettima has played fatherly role to all in uniting the people in the state irrespective of ethnic and religious consideration.
He recalled that even when Coalition of Arewa Youths Forum issued an Ultimatum for Igbos to quit from the North by 1st October 2017, Governor Shettima who is the Chairman of Northern Governors Forum reacted and condemned such ‘quit notice’.
“We are really not happy with the unfortunate happenings in the South East, and we here in Borno, in as much as we condemned the agitations, we also stand with resolutions of our Governors in the South East”. Nwaogu stated.
Speaking earlier, the Borno state deputy governor, who represented governor Kashim Shettima at the meeting reaffirmed the commitment of the state government in maintaining peace in the state.
He said, the meeting with Igbo Communities in the state was at the instance of the governor who was out of the state for an official assignment.
According to Durkwa, inspite of the growing crisis in some South Eastern states of the country where some group of individuals were agitating for the creation of Biafra Nation, the Igbo community in Borno have demonstrated some level of maturity and resilience over the years in the state, adding that, even at the peak of insurgency, where many people fled out of the State, the Igbos remained as well as going about their normal businesses.
He noted that the cordial relationship that exists between the Igbos, government and diverse ethnic groups have given other people hope and confidence, as such, assured the Igbos of adequate protection of lives and property in the State.
He said, “Therefore, I want to use this opportunity to assure the Igbo community in Borno of your safety, inspite of growing tensions in some parts of this country, and i urge you to continue to go about your normal businesses in the state without fear.
“Government is working closely with our security agencies, ensure safety of all citizens, and i urge you to inform your people who were not here with us, that the unity and oneness of this country is very paramount for the progress and development.
“The people of Borno state have suffered a lot for the past eight years, and as such, we will not condone any bridge of law and order that will undermine the relative peace achieved.
“We equally use this Forum to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his political will to end the Boko Haram insurgency and the gallant effort of our Military Personnel, other security agencies and our Civilian JTF in the fight against insurgency in the state,”Durkwa stated.
Comments