Ohaneze lauds Gov Lalong, says Igbo in Plateau are in safe hands
The President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, John Nwodo, has commended the swift response taken by Governor Simon Lalong to douse the tension that arose days back in the State as a result of the activities of those agitating for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the Southeast.
Speaking during a courtesy call to the governor at the Government House in Jos at the weekend, Nwodo said Lalong has demonstrated commitment to the unity of Nigeria by moving swiftly to arrest the ugly situation that would have thrown the entire country into unnecessary crisis.
The Ohaneze President General said, “Ndigbo are indeed grateful for your quick response in protecting lives and properties during last week tension in Jos and with this I bring you greetings from the five Eastern governors.
“They have sent me to you to tell you that we cannot afford to go into another civil war in which we lost 3.5 million people; and if elders like us do not speak out now to arrest the drum of war gathering momentum by the youths to plunge us into another round of civil war, posterity will not forgive us; no country has survived war twice in a generation.
The Ohaneze President called on all aggrieved party to shield their sword for the interest of a United Nigeria, adding that the lives of all northerners in the southeast are equally guaranteed for safety; “anybody who wants to kill a northerner in the Southeast will, first of all, kill me,” he said.
Responding, Governor Lalong praised the leadership of the Igbo apex body for finding time to visit Plateau in a time when words of wisdom are needed from elders.
Lalong said the recent tension was caused by hoodlums who want to take the State back into another round of crisis, adding that the Special Task Force (STF) has arrested two persons that masterminded the tension that would have escalated to a major crisis.
The governor said “during the quit notice, I have assured Ndigbo that Plateau is their home and that they are not going anywhere; I have vowed to protect the lives of every Nigeria living in Plateau; and with this I will not allow any security breach because if the lives of those I have promised to protect is lost, they will say is the government that told them to stay haven assured them of their safety”, Lalong said.
