Former Abia State governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, has condemned in strong terms a provocative song against Ndigbo trending online and offline.
The front-line politician said Nigeria’s ethnic, religious, cultural and political diversity should be seen as an advantage rather than a minus, and as such hate speeches should be discouraged at all levels.
He lambasted the sponsors of the hate song, adding, “Nigeria has come to stay as a heterogeneous nation and no amount of hate campaign can break the country.”
Kalu made the remarks yesterday at a meeting with a group of Igbo professionals in London.
He said: “The anti-Igbo song is another ploy to provoke Ndigbo. However, despite all these nonsensical theatricals, Igbo will remain calm, peace loving and law abiding. We shall continue to resist all temptations as patriotic Nigerians.
“Nigeria is a diverse country of different ethnic groups, and no single tribe can lay claim to the country. We are all stakeholders, be it Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, Tiv, Efik, Ijaw and many others.”
Kalu said: “Igbo will continue to play a significant role in national well being, regardless of these provocations, especially in the areas of employment generation, wealth creation and industrialisation.”
The former governor, who expressed optimism at the level of condemnation of the song from different quarters, added that the unity of Nigeria is not negotiable.
He called on Nigerians to embrace love, brotherhood and selflessness in their daily pursuits, adding that the nation can only be great in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.
