From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Alhaji Iliyasu Yushau is the Seriki (Leader), Hausa Community in Onitsha and entire Anambra North Senatorial District. The leader who was born and brought up in Anambra, in this interview, shares his thoughts on the peaceful coexistence across all ethnic groups in Nigeria and also advised all to vote their conscience in the 2023 general election.
How is the relationship between the Arewa and Igbo people in Onitsha like?
We are living very peacefully with our neighbours without any problem. I was born in Onitsha 70 years ago and my father was a politician. He was a member of the NCNC together with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Owelle of Onitsha. Both of them attended the 1957/58 Constitutional Conference in London and he was also a member of the Eastern Nigerian House of Chiefs. I know politics from the grassroots. We live here peacefully in Onitsha and our parents came here as far back as 1890. I attended primary school in Onitsha, I was in secondary school at Christ the King College (CKC) back then when the crisis of the civil war started and I left. Immediately after the crisis, we came back and continued our normal life. We retained our house because it was not declared as abandoned property. The Obi of Onitsha then maintained the fact that no Northerner’s house should be seized. He ensured that we retained our properties including the mosque and burial ground. We have no problem with our Igbo brothers here. During Sallah time, I used to call my friends, to come and enjoy with us. During Christmas time, they also invite me and I used to go to their villages too. The Onitsha indigenes hold us very high and we have a very good relationship with the Obi of Onitsha. They don’t show us tribal sentiments and we just live like brothers and sisters here.
How is your relationship too with the government of Anambra State?
All the previous governments in Anambra State starting even from the military to the civilian have always accorded us hands of fellowship. My people have always been obedient because they don’t have problem with anybody. During elections as such, I used to warn my people that they should be law abiding citizens and should choose the political party of their own interest. I’m not forcing anybody because I’m a traditional title holder. All the political parties are my own and they used to come and I will bless them and wish them good luck. I am not partial and I don’t take sides among politicians. During elections, I also tell my people to stay here and cast their votes instead of moving to the North. Even in the North, Kano to be precise, the Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo is my friend and we used to have contacts with them and we share information because they live in my state-Kano peacefully and other Northern parts of the country. All the governors in Anambra have always tried to foster peace among everyone in the state. From Ngige, Obi, Obiano and even the present Governor Soludo, we support his administration and he has assured us that peace must reign in Anambra State.
There are some people making nasty comments on social media and also inciting hatred among Nigerians. One even said that the former governor, Mr Peter Obi who is now the Labour Party Presidential candidate once demolished a mosque as a governor. Is that true and what is your advice in this regard?
For Peter Obi and mosque issue, of course that is not true. We had a good relationship with him as governor but this interview is not about him. On a very good day, we shall address that. For fake news and hate speech, I advise people to avoid such because it is just embarrassing. We don’t want fake news or hate speech because that one can cause problem in this country. Those who are doing this, they should desist because we need peace in this country. Everyone should campaign for his own party or candidate instead of hating other parties.
Nigerian youths and even the elders know what is good and what we want. We need security, economy and infrastructure in Nigeria. Banditry, kidnapping and terrorism should stop and government should try more in this direction. People should be free to go to any part of this country without fear. I’m from Kano State but I’m free here in Onitsha. Where am I running to? I’m satisfied with my living here and this is my country Nigeria. I wish Anambra and Nigeria in general good luck.
What is your message to the Arewa people living in Anambra?
All the Northerners living here and the entire South East should live peacefully and obey the electoral law. Everybody has his own choice. I cannot tell them whom they should vote for but they should make their personal choices because all the presidential candidates are Nigerians. None of them is from a foreign country and there is no way for rigging this time. The election will be free, fair and credible this time.