“You can't call Yoruba fools” - Igbos in Oyo state warn Nnamdi Kanu

Igbos living in Oyo state has condemned the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu's statement where he allegedly referred to the Yoruba people as fools.

The group said it will not support hate speech or derogatory comments of the leader of IPOB.

They also commend the efforts of Arewa youths who recently revoke a quit notice issued to Igbos living in the north.

In a statement signed by Alex Anozie, the Ezendigbo of Ibadanland, the group said: “We Ndigbo residing in all parts of Yorubaland, hereby openly dissociate ourselves with such disappointing statement, Daily Post reports.

“We have listened with every delight, the outcome of the recent meeting of Arewa Consultative Forum and other ethnic groups of Nigeria, whereby the Arewa Forum announced the suspension of withdrawal of their earlier quit notice to Igbos residing in the North. That was a very good omen for our country, Nigeria.

“May we in that same manner, call on other ethnic groups who have issued such most unfortunate quit notices to any other groups in. Nigeria to please withdraw theirs as well.

“We believe that if Nigerians are given better Nigeria, nobody wants to leave Nigeria, Nigeria where justice, security of life and property reigns, Nigeria where there is no marginalization any more, no corruption, no kidnapping any longer, Nigeria where all Nigerians should have sense of belonging.

“The Federal government should take it up from there and summon a reconciliatory meeting of all ethnic groups of Nigeria, including personalities who can positively contribute to the oneness and progressive Nigeria. Those personalities must be detribalized Nigerians, and non political in their contributions.

“We suggest the federal government should not use force on these agitators in order not to allow the whole issue get out of hand. Note should be taken of the authorities statement, that they were being cautious of arresting the personalities involved in the quit notice given to Igbos to leave the North, because of security implications, that may be right.

“But that is how arresting any other ethnic group personalities who may have erred in that same manner goes with same security implications. So the best they FG should do now is to arrange without delay, a reconciliatory gathering of all these agitating group leaders in Abuja and sit with them.

“We condemn very seriously all the hate speeches from any quarter, because the consequences are always destructive. We seriously believe that one can even more easily achieve or get his argument or agitation sail through without the use of abusive, insulting and foul languages or violence. Let us all join hands together to build a better country where we shall all be proud."

Meanwhile, governors from Nigeria’s south-eastern states have declared that the only panacea to solve the agitation of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is dialogue and not confrontation.

The governors made their statement during a meeting with the IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu on Wednesday August 30.

At the meeting which held at the Government House, Enugu, the governors promised to engage in further dialogue with the pro-Biafra group, even as they told Kanu that IPOB’s demands "should not be absolute"