Former Abia State governor, Orji Kalu, on Tuesday received the leaders of the Coalition of Arewa Youths led by its chairman, Shettima Yerima.
The coalition had asked Igbos to vacate the nineteen states in the Northern part of Nigeria before October 1, 2017.
The meeting held at Kalu’s office in Abuja.
Kalu shared what was discussed on his Facebook page.
He wrote: “It is the same group that made the Kaduna declaration in which three months quit notice was given to the Igbo living in the North. The quit notice has actually been a source of worry to me because I knew the commitments of our people around the world not to talk more of being economic migrants in nature.
“The unnecessary uprising caused by the quit notice inundated me to call them to order as nothing is too much to be sacrificed for peace. I believe the actions of these youth were borne out of frustration and I am happy that they have promised me today that they will further consult to sheath their swords and denounce their declaration.
“Today, they have given me their word of embracing peace and maintaining that no harm shall befall any of our people in the North. I believe in a united Nigeria where fairness, equity and justice are instituted. I also believe that our lives are sacrosanct and no Igbo blood should be spilled at any slightest provocation again.”
Recall that the Northern Governors’ Forum at the weekend met with leaders of the coalition in a bid to douse tension caused by the ultimatum.
