TheCable

Leaders of the northern coalition groups and representatives of the Igbo people resident in the north held a meeting in Kano state on Friday.

During the meeting, a 10-man committee was set up to look into the quit notice which Arewa youth issued to the Igbo in the north.

The meeting was attended by Igbo leaders from the 19 northern states and Abuja as well as leaders of the coalition of northern groups.

The committee, made up of five northern and south-eastern representatives each, was given 72 hours to produce an acceptable position on the quit notice.

Members of the committee include Boniface Ibekwe, Chi Nwogu, Chris Nnoli, Ngozi Nwaiwe and Magnus Ihejirika, representing the Igbo, while the northern representatives are Abdullahi Utoro, Abba Bukar, Dauda Shamakari and Ado Mohammed.

Isa Tijjani, facilitator of the meeting, said the committee had the mandate to issue a roadmap towards addressing the quit notice within the 72-hour time frame.

Shettima Yerima, leader of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, said the quit notice was triggered by the continued agitation by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

He also blamed the Igbo leaders for “keeping mute” since the agitation started and accused Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, of abusing northern elders in the course of his agitations.

Ngozi Nwaiwe, eze ndi Igbo of Minna, Niger state, said the level of cohesion and unity among the various segments that constitute Nigeria makes the country indivisible.

He said the majority of the Igbo residing in the north have “economic, marital and social relationship” with their host.

“We only travel back home during festival, marriage and burial ceremonies. We are at home here in the north.” he said.

Boniface Ibekwe, president of eze ndi Igbo in diaspora, described the Igbo as “apostles of peace”.

“I and majority of our people are igbo people of northern extraction. You are asking us to go, where do you want us to go to? Who among us here is an IPOB member?” he asked.

As of Thursday, Yerima said the quit notice was still in force.

“We stand by our notice to Igbo but those who are interested in Nigeria can stay. But for those who are not interested, you can go,” he had said.