An Igbo group, under the aegis of the Coalition of Igbo Unions of Nigeria (CIUN), has cautioned the governor of Abia State against alleged persecution of Northerners in the state.
The Igbo group warned that Governor Alex Otti’s move to forcefully eject the Northern businesses at the Cattle Market out of the state “will have a negative boomerang effect on Igbo traders in the North and across Nigeria.”
Some of the group’s leaders signed a statement released Friday in Abuja asking Governor Otti to “rescind his ethnically motivated outbursts and apologise to the Northern traders.”
They said the vacate ultimatum issued by Governor Alex Otti to the northern business owners has greatly increased the already tense socio-political atmosphere in the country.
The statement, signed by the group’s chairman, Obinna John Okoroafor, secretary Udoka Onwuka, and public relations officer Maduabuchi Ibe Madu, also condemned “the indiscriminate demolition of shops and residential homes and demanded that alternatives be provided for our Northern brothers without delay.”
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to the ongoing crisis at the Abia Cattle Market situated in Umunneochi LGA of Abia State.
“While we acknowledge the importance of the security of lives and property for all Nigerians living in every part of the country, we strongly condemn and dissociate ourselves from the ethnic profiling being perpetrated by Mr Alex Otti against our brothers from Northern Nigeria doing business at the Umunneochi Cattle Market.
“This is because the thoughtless move by Alex Otti to eject the Northern businesses at the cattle market forcefully will have a negative boomerang effect on Igbo traders in the North and across Nigeria.
“We have observed with grave displeasure that Mr. Alex Otti is selectively persecuting Northerners in the market instead of taking a holistic approach that confronts the criminality going on in the area.
“We have carefully observed that the ‘vacate the Cattle Market’ ultimatum issued by Governor Alex Otti has greatly increased the already tense socio-political atmosphere in the country.
“The plight of Northern traders in the cattle market, if not handled satisfactorily, will set a dangerous precedent that will ignite violence and clashes in various parts of Nigeria against Igbos.
“We, therefore, wish to distance ourselves from the reckless utterances and thoughtless actions of Mr Alex Otti, whom we believe is playing to the gallery for political gains.”
The statement urged security agencies to redouble their efforts in curbing the menace of kidnapping and criminality in Umunneochi, Abia State, and Nigeria in general. It added, “We remain Nigerians and are committed to actualising a peaceful and just environment for all Nigerians, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, or tribe.
“To ensure stability and peace, we are giving Mr Alex Otti 48 hours to immediately rescind his ethnically motivated outbursts and apologise to the Northern Traders who have cohabitated peacefully with their host communities hitherto.”
