Amidst the tension created by the quit notice given to Igbo community to leave the Northern part of the country on October 1, Northern Youth Groups sat with Igbo leaders from the 19 Northern states yesterday and raised a Reconciliation Committee of 10 men to find a lasting solution to the lingering debate.

The meeting was held at the Chinese Dragon Restaurant, Kano, under the chairmanship of Comrade Isah Tijjani, who was the Convener of the meeting. He said the Committee was given 72 hours to submit its report and urged members to take Nigeria first during their meetings.

Members of the Committee were drawn from all sides. The members from the Arewa Youths Coalition were Barrister Abdullahi Toro, Dr Abba Bukar Kagu, Dr Yima Sen, Dauda S. Shamakeri and Alhaji Ado Mohammed. From the Igbo leaders side were Chief Chi Nwogu, Eze Ngozi Nwaine Oso, Igwe Ibekwe and Magnus Ihejirika.

The Northern Youths came under the leadership of Shettima Yarima, while the Igbo leaders came under the leadership of Igwe Igbekwe. Tijjani advised that the Committee should come up with a position of understanding between the two groups for the peaceful coexistence and development of the country at large.

Heated debate ensued between the groups before an agreement was reached for raising a Committee.In his submission earlier, Yarima lamented that what led to their quit notice to the Igbos was the violent agitation by the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, noting that he was not called to order by the Igbo elders.

“Though we had a meeting with the Ohaneze Youth Council in Kaduna, who dissociated themselves from Nnamdi Kanu, and we got all sorts of condemnation from the South East. So we couldn’t understand what was really happening, “ Yarima said.

On his part, Ibekwe assured that they believe in peace and peaceful coexistence of the country, which would benefit all Nigerians. Asking the Northern Youths, he stated: “When you issued a quit notice, where do you want us to go? For your information none of us is a member of IPOB. Since the issuance of quit notice, you will notice that many things have gone differently. If you are a businessman you will understand what I am saying more clearly.”

Ibekwe then made suggestion for the raising of a reconciliation committee at the peace parley. He said: “Let us have a committee that will sit and discuss about all these issues. Let there be peace. We should all mellow down, please.”

The parley was attended by representatives of Igbo communities from all the19 Northern states, including Abuja. Participants at the meeting were seen exchanging banters after the meeting. (The Guardian)

•Igbo Leaders living in the North in a group photograph with leaders of Arewa Youths after their meeting in Kano, on Friday.

Update news