South East Governors Hold Emergency Meeting Over Igbo Quit Notice

South East Governors Hold Emergency Meeting Over Igbo Quit Notice

The governors of the south east held an emergency session following the issuance of a quit notice by northern youths to Igbos in the north. The youths had called on Igbos in the north to vacate their land in 90 days on Tuesday, June 6 which stirred nationwide condemnation.

Vanguard reports that south east governors help an emergency meeting on Wednesday, June 7 to address the issue. Chief Nnia Nwodo who is the president-general of the Ohaneze Ndigbo made this revelation during a night of tributes in honour of the late Ohanaeze chieftain and veteran Biafra soldier, ‎Prof. Ben Obumselu. Nwodo said it was the intervention of Governor Nasir El-Rufai that stopped the south east governors from sending luxurious buses and trucks to the north to evacuate the Igbos there.

He applauded El-Rufai for ordering the arrest of the youths whom he said were fanning the ember of war. Meanwhile, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum expressed disappointment over Governor Nasiru El-Rufai’s statement condemning them and ordering for their arrest. Newsmen had reported that a group named, the Coalition of Northern Youths (CNY) on Tuesday, June 6, issued a statement ordering Igbo people in the north to vacate Northern Nigeria within 3 months. In response, Governor El-Rufai on Wednesday, June 7 ordered the arrest and prosecution of the signatories of the quit notice.

“The Kaduna state government takes exception to the fact that the “northern youths” did their irresponsible press conference in Kaduna. This government has been consistent in taking action to punish hate speech and incitement. People who may feel unhappy about irresponsible comments or actions that have taken place in other states must know that two wrongs cannot make a right, and they cannot use our state to do or say things that threaten the peace.”