Professor Ango Abdullahi has said he threw his weight behind the ultimatum handed Igbos to leave the northern region because no one was reining in Nnamdi Kanu and other secessionists.
Abdullahi, a former vice chancellor and a chieftain of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) said his position on the issue is open and expressed surprise at the vitriol this has engendered.
He expressed his distress at the seemly silence of leaders of South East origin such as DSP Ike Ekweremadu, Emeka Anyaoku et al on the issue of Nnamdi Kanu.
This was disclosed while meeting with executive members of Oil and Solid Mineral Producing Communities Landlord Association of Nigeria (OMPALAN) in Zaria.
He said: “The North and Eastern Nigeria have come a long way in terms of building political bridges; starting from the first republic when Dr. Nnamdi Zik conceded the position of Prime Minister to Tafawa Balewa,” Vanguard quoted him as saying.
“And in second republic, Dr. Alex Ekwueme was supported by the North to become Vice President to Shehu Shagari.”
The NEF chieftain further pointed out that after the civil war, the North returned all abandoned Igbo properties and rents collected on their behalf by caretakers assigned to supervise the properties.
“This was a favour they (Igbo) could not get from their South-South neighbours who confiscated their properties in Port Harcourt and other South-South cities.
“Igbo should reciprocate the gesture of the North by supporting them politically rather than turning their back against them.”
