Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Council to plan further meetings with Arewa Youth Council

OHANAEZE Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC) has decided to further its meetings with the Arewa Youth Council ahead of the latter's October 1 deadline which it gave to all Igbos living in northern Nigeria to leave the region.

Earlier this year,. the Arewa youths ordered all Igbos living in Northern Nigeria to leave in response to the growing agitation for the recreation of the defunct republic of Biafra. This widely condemned move has created panic across Nigeria, with Igbos in northern Nigeria apprehensive about what may happen come the deadline.

To address the crisis, the OYC recently met at Umudike in Abia State, to review its next move on the planned parley with Arewa youths, OYC, however, expressed regret that one Edozie Eyibo, whom they claimed is not an Igbo man and Chuks Ibegbu were allegedly working against peaceful resolution of the issue.

OYC publicity secretary Obinna Adibe, said: "We’re still talking with Arewa youths but  Nwodozi and Ibegbu are sabotaging the results achieved so far. Nwodozi is working against the interest of Ndigbo, playing a spoiler’s role because he is not an Igbo man, while Ibegbu, the national deputy publicity secretary is under a contract to destroy the on-going peace moves for selfish reasons.

“The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization met today and took far reaching decisions, which essentially border on the October 1 ultimatum given to Igbo resident in the North. We took time to review the steps we have taken so far towards initiating a peace process with the Arewa youths, to ensure that nothing untoward happened to any Igbo man or woman in the 19 Northern states.

He added that they are delighted with the results achieved so far and have the firm belief that this process shall finally reunite and ensure the safety of their people. According to Mr Adibe, they are focused and undaunted in Ohanaeze and no amount of pressure or attack in any form can derail or deform  their resolve to protect the views, interests and aspirations of Ndigbo.