Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, head of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Council of Elders, has branded a court lawsuit brought by a Northern group to deport Igbos from Nigeria as provocative and demeaning.
Nobody will compel Ndigbo to leave Nigeria if I am still alive, since Nigeria is our birthright, and we completely support a united Nigeria.
In a statement made available to Leadership and signed by his media aide, Ben Osuagwu, Chief Iwuanyanwu stated that the Northern group's actions should be deemed treasonous and inimical to the Federal Republic of Nigeria's unity, peace, and stability.
The senior statesman encouraged Nigerians to take the situation seriously.
Iwuanyanwu stated that the examination indicated that the group's actions do not reflect the views of the Arewa and Northern Elders leadership.
He recalled how, at a meeting in Kaduna state a few years ago, some Northern officials published a statement calling for the expulsion of Igbos from Nigeria.
He also mentioned that some Northern youths and women staged a protest a few months ago, demanding that Igbos leave Nigeria.
He described the situation as humiliating not just to Ndigbo but also to all patriotic Nigerians, claiming that the northerners' actions were treason against the country in a bigger sense.
No group in Nigeria can claim greater ownership of the country than the Igbos, according to Chief Iwuanyanwu, who also stated that Igbos have played key roles in all activities that determine Nigeria's future since 1914.
He noted that Igbos led the campaign for Nigeria's independence during the struggle. He further mentioned that Igbos have continued to play important roles and make significant contributions in various areas as as the economy, education, industry, sports, and so on.
He said: “Igbos will therefore want to make it abundantly clear to all and sundry that if anybody plans to expel Igbos from Nigeria and dispossess them of their hard earned assets they have all over the country, Igbos will never accept that.”
“For avoidance of doubt, the name Nigeria is derived from one of the biggest rivers in Africa – River Nigeria. In Nigeria, this river transverses through substantial part of Igbo land. It is important to note that most of the people who want to expel Igbos and seize their assets do not have their States anywhere near the River Nigeria.”
Igbos, according to Chief Iwuanyanwu, own a significant portion of Nigeria.
He claimed that extremists, Boko Haram, and killer herdsmen were acting dangerously in various geographical zones, many innocent people were killed by them.
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