Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has described the threat issued out by some northern youths against Igbo resident in the North as ‘unlawful and unfortunate’.
In a statement signed by the director of press to the Yobe State governor, Abdullahi Bego, the governor said that progress of a nation could not be achieved through violence and threats, just as he assured Igbo living in the state that the state government would not allow anyone to intimidate or threaten them.
The statement reads in part: “Like other Nigerians, the Igbo have a right that is fully guaranteed by our constitution to live in any part of the country of their choice. As a multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural society, part of our nation’s strength lies in the diversity of its people. It is what has moved every successful nation forward.
“In Yobe State, the Igbo, like the people of other ethnicities, have lived and engaged peacefully with their neighbours and the government assures them that it will not allow anyone to intimidate or threaten them and will use the full resources of law enforcement to see to that.
“We believe in a Nigeria in which all its people live peacefully with one another, a country where political disagreements are settled not through threats and violent conduct but though dialogue. The political and community leaders in every part of the country have a responsibility as well, to guide the youths to responsible conduct and to speak against violence.”