Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo state has warned Igbos against reducing their stake in Nigeria with “action and activity”.
Uzodinma who spoke in Owerri as he welcomed his counterparts from other states in the South-East and stakeholders of the region to its first security summit last Sunday, claimed that those creating the erroneous impression that Igbos want to leave Nigeria are either naive or mischievous.
He also asked Igbos to jettison every action and activity that would reduce their chances of producing the next President of Nigeria.
He said;
“Jettison every action and activity that would reduce the high stake (their) region has in the country so as to produce the next president of Nigeria.
“Igbo are major stakeholders in Nigeria as they constitute the second largest population of every city in Nigeria.
“Igbo are major stakeholders in Nigeria as they constitute the second largest population of every city in Nigeria.
“We, the Igbo are more united than any other ethnic nationality in Nigeria, through our shared struggle, our chequered history and our deep-rooted extended family traditions and brotherhood makes our values, beliefs, commitment to a united Nigeria, beyond reproach.
“What Ndigbo wants is justice, equity and fairness. A Nigeria that provides a level playing ground for all citizens. That is what we want, not Biafra. And we believe we can get what we want through constructive and tenacious engagement with fellow Nationals and relevant institutions, not by violence or war. Igbo have seen war, not in storybooks or in movies but real war. No right-thinking Igbo, who experienced the excruciating and devastating effects of the civil war on Igboland and our people, will vote for another war. The young and inexperienced may zealously want to beat the drumbeat of war, but it is our duty, as their parents and elders to talk them out of it.
“Those creating the erroneous impression that Igbo want to leave Nigeria are either naive or mischievous. Igbos need Nigeria just like Nigeria and Nigerians need Igbo.”