The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, says Ndigbo are not at war with Nigeria, stressing that Ndigbo would continue to work for the development of the country.
The President-General of the association, Professor George Obiozor, made this known on Wednesday at a grand reception in his honour by Ndigbo Lagos, at the Civic Center, Victoria Island.
Obiozor asked the leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to stop making utterances that have tendencies to put Ndigbo in danger.
He, however, urged the secessionist to listen to the association and leaders of the South East region.
He said: “Everybody should stop utterances or actions that will or have the tendencies to put Ndigbo in present and immediate danger or on harm’s way. That is what my message is in this matter.
“Igbo are not at war with Nigeria. I want it to be noted very clearly. And we are not planning to have a separate existence from Nigeria. People should make no mistake about it.
“On the issue of Biafra, it is well beyond the capacity of young men to resolve. Biafra is a collective dilemma of Ndigbo and it is not a child’s play.
“Biafra is not a child’s play. It requires mature and experienced handling. Children should stop playing with fire and children shouldn’t play with fire. Nnamdi Kanu is one of us. He is our son and he must listen to some of us because he’s one of us.”
On his part, Ndigbo Lagos President, Major General Obi Umahi (rtd), asked Obiozor to collaborate with South Eastern governors to give considerations and attention to an urgent need for State Police, restructuring of the country and president of Igbo extraction come 2023.
“Ndigbo are not asking for too much. They are only asking for equity and fairness in a country they have contributed so much to it’s development”, he said.