Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has described the Igbos as peaceful people.
This is even as he revealed that from the inception of his administration, no Igbo person had been apprehended either directly or indirectly, or being linked to any insecurity activities in the state.
He stated this when he paid a visit to his Abia State counterpart, Okezie Ikpeazu in Umuahia.
Bello was in the state for the burial of mother in-law of Chief Ikechi Emenike, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Bello said: “Let me report to you sir, ever since I assumed office in Kogi State, we have been fighting crimes and criminality, we have not apprehended any criminal that is either directly or indirectly linked or referred to as Igbo by extraction.”
Bello expressed hope that Nigeria will never break up irrespective of ploys by some people to stir problems using religious and ethnic divides.
“We can have differences, skirmishes here and there which by the grace of God, we shall overcome them and Nigeria will remain together,” Bello said.
He also commended Ikpeazu for the warm reception offered him and his entourage, saying, the Abia governor had been a very good friend.
He said that even though, he was not of the same party, region and faith with Governor Ikpeazu; that they had continued to enjoy mutual friendship and cordiality over the years, saying, that should be the right spirit all Nigerians must imbibe.
“We in Kogi look at everyone as a Nigerian first before we talk about where you come from or even your religion.
“Though tongues may differ, but we are one. In Kogi, we don’t emphasise on what divides us but we emphasis more on what unites us.
“I want each and every one of us to continue to preach peace, unity and togetherness.
“Yes, some sections of this country may be agitated due to one thing or the other but it is only on roundtable such agitations can be best resolved.
“I call on all my brothers that feel aggrieved about the state of this country to sit on the table and pass through the proper channels to resolve them,” Bello said.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in his remarks maintained that Igbos have shown great faith in the unity of Nigeria more than any other ethnic group and then called on other ethnicities to emulate the same spirit to foster a more united Nigeria.
Ikpeazu said Igbos had shown unity of Nigeria through their peaceful co-ex-istence and habitation with their host communities.
He pointed out said the Igbo man lives and does business in every part of the country as well as contributes to the socioeconomic development of his host community, warning against the temptation of wholesome profiling of any ethnic group in Nigeria.
The Abia State governor appreciated Governor Bello for appointing youths in his cabinet including Igbo people and described him as his friend and strong pillar of support.
