The Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi has on Saturday asked igbo agitators in the South-East region of the country to have a good understanding with their leaders and drop their grievances.
Speaking on Saturday during the conclusion of an eight-day prayer organised by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Ebonyi, Umahi said it is better for the country to stay united.
Gov. Dave, who also serves as the leader of the Governors Forum in the zone, says he is certain that whatever grievances the agitators have, they can be addressed within six months.
Umahi declared his belief in a united Nigeria and condemned calls for secession by some groups in the country.
He said he believed in a country where oneness, freedom, equity, justice, fairness among other virtues prevailed.
“I do not believe in second-class citizenship where a section of the country is being seen to be superior to others,” said Umahi
“We are all created by God and no one should talk of disintegrating the country.”
On the several groups seeking disintegration, including the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the agitators for the actualization of Yoruba Nation, Umahi admitted that the groups’ agitations were genuine.
But he went on to ask the Igbo agitators to submit their grievances to the leaders of the South-East, promising to take their grievances up to the Federal Government.
In his words: “I want Igbos to submit these agitations and I would lead the governors and leaders of the zone to the centre to address these grievances.
“The groups can then do what they like if after six months, we fail to address these grievances.”
He added: “We would tell the authorities in Abuja that our people are aggrieved but such cannot be addressed by insulting the president, governors and leaders from other regions of the country.”
