Biafra: Igbos in Sokoto don’t want to go back to east – Islamic cleric

Renowned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has declared that some Igbos in Sokoto State are not ready for a new country called Biafra.

According to him, most of them in Sokoto are so comfortable that they don’t want to return to eastern part of the country.

Gumi was reacting to the ongoing agitations in some quarters for the breakup of Nigeria.

While the Igbos led by Nnamdi Kanu are calling for the rebirth of the defunct Biafra, Sunday Igboho is also leading a group of young men in the southwest region, clamouring for the birth of Oduduwa Republic for the Yoruba nation.

Some people in the north want Arewa republic.

But Gumi believes those agitating for Biafra and Oduduwa republics as miscreants akin to the Boko Haram sect terrorising the country.

On Biafra, the Islamic cleric said, “I’m in Sokoto now, there are still many Igbo traders here who don’t want to go back home, so why do you tell me they want Biafra? Biafra is a nuisance just like Boko Haram. You think every northerner is a Boko Haram? Most Nigerians don’t want these ethnic or religious groups. They simply want peace and to live together as nation. If truly the Yorubas are agitating for Oduduwa, why are their leaders not talking about it? Why are Igbo leaders also not talking about Biafra?”

On the way forward, Gumi called on Yoruba and Igbo leaders to dialogue with those fuelling tension in their regions, adding that similar efforts are already ongoing in the North.

“What we expect is for Yoruba leaders and Igbo leaders to take care of their miscreants as we are handling herdsmen and Boko Haram which are miscreants in the North. Every leader should take the words to their people. Only the miscreants are fuelling this,” he added.