As Igbo leaders meet Wike, Umahi calls for respect to host communities

By Ewa Nworie

The Chairman South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi has called on Igbos to always respect their host communities. 

Governor David Umahi made the call during a meeting of Igbo leaders with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state,held at government house,Port Harcourt.

Umahi who said, the meeting became imperative to ascertain the veracity of the report circulating on social media over alleged killing of Igbos living in Oyigbo area of Rivers State, and stated that their findings have proved otherwise.

"We thank the Governor of Rivers state,Nyesom Wike. What he said is exactly what he told us in our private meeting. We have heard the representatives of Igbos in Rivers State. We have your submission. 

"By the way, you did not send any SOS message to us. We read social media, that is why we came. It has to be on record. We came as your brothers. We came as your leaders. W came as your mothers.

"We will also go to Lagos. We will go to Kano. We will also go to FCT. We can claim here as your leaders back home that all we read in the social media on your account are all lies, because, we did not come to verify your claims. You did not report to us," Umahi said.

He warned Igbos to be wary of what they read in the social media, adding that those who want to instigate another civil war as such would not be accepted by the Igbos as he noted that Igbos were known for their entrepreneur, honesty and hard work.

He encouraged the Igbos to always identify with their leaders instead of discrediting them in the social media, stressing that it is only in Igbo land that leaders are brought out and discredited, still want the same leader to stand for them against other leaders from other region.

"It is only in our place that leaders are brought out and discredited. And you still want the same leader to stand for you against other leaders from other regions.
We are very wise people, very industrious people. When did we depart from our cultures, culture of of not forsaking your brothers (ONYE AHARA NWANNEYA), and went into social media. Let me tell you something as Ndigbo, we do not support criminalities".

Governor Nyesom Wike, in his remark described the Igbos as highly intrerpreneural, hardworking, and an integral part of his government stressing that the allegation against him on the ordering of soldiers to kill Igbos in Rivers State was false, malicious and from the pit of hell.


"I will not allow criminals to operate in my state,stressing that they can never be Nigeria without Igbos. Ndigbo, time has come, for you to resist certain things. Do you believe, I can give soldiers order? If you go and kill solders do you think they will not retaliate. We must stop this propaganda," Wike warned.

On his part, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, said, Ndigbo has come to re-enforce a creation of God, affinity of brotherhood, cordiality between not only Rivers State but, the entire Niger Delta region.


He called on Igbos not to be lured into criminal activities of separatist group of Igbo extraction who wants  to instigate war.

Present at the meeting included the  Chairman South East Governors forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Umahi, Governor Of Abia State, Okezie Ikpaezu, Anambra State Governor, Chief Willie Obiano, represented by his Deputy, Nkem Okeke, Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ukwuanyi represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, and the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, among other Igbo leaders.