Igbos” in Benue pledges allegiance to Nigeria”s unity

The Igbo community in Benue State has pledged allegiance to Nigeria’s unity against the current threats by the Indigenous People of BIafra (IPOB) to secede out of the country. President General of the body, Chuks Albert, made the remark on Monday at a stakeholders meeting held with Governor Samuel Ortom and the Igbos, Hausa/Muslim community […]

The Igbo community in Benue State has pledged allegiance to Nigeria’s unity against the current threats by the Indigenous People of BIafra (IPOB) to secede out of the country.

President General of the body, Chuks Albert, made the remark on Monday at a stakeholders meeting held with Governor Samuel Ortom and the Igbos, Hausa/Muslim community and other tribes living in the state at the Government House in Makurdi.

"We are one Nigeria. We stand on one Nigeria. No group seeks for freedom anywhere with aggression, it is not done. On behalf of the Igbos’ in Benue State, I confirm and affirm that we are one Nigeria and we will not cause trouble anywhere," he said.

Earlier, Ortom who convened the meeting intimated that it became necessary to take proactive measure by assuring the Igbos, Hausas and other tribes living in the state that his administration would provide adequate and maximum protection for all of them.

The governor warned that he would not tolerate agitation from any group against the unity of the country as recently carried out in other some states where people were reportedly killed, stressing that the state is not part of the aimless various agitations across the nation.

He added: "As for us in Benue state, we are committed to one invisible Nigeria. We have no room for impunity in this government, we are not part of the various agitations across the country because some of the agitators don’t even know what they want.

"The meeting is meant to prevent any mischief makers who will capitalise on the killings in any part of the country to take laws into their hands. Any such persons or group identified in the state would be dealt with. I will personally go after such mischief makers." 

Also, the royal fathers, Tor Tiv, Prof. James Ayatse and his Idoma counterpart, Och’Idoma, Chief Elias Obekpa, threw their weight behind the governor’s declaration as the pledged to protect Igbos, Hausas and other tribes in their domain while ensuring that there would be no breakdown of law and order.

Other speakers from the South-South zone, South-West and the Hausa/Muslim community all pledged their allegiance to the supremacy of the country as one indivisible entity.