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With peace in mind, Igbo group storms Kano

• Visits Emir to seek mutual co-existence
Recently, the Igbo World Union, a socio cultural group stormed Kano as part of efforts to promote peace and cooperation among Ndigbo and their hosts. The delegation was led by its President-General, Chief Mishak Nnanta.
It was a day various men of means and might converged on the palace of Emir of Kano, Alhaji Lamido Sanusi Lamido, to assure him of their continuous support.  Among them were Chief Umezurike Peter, Chairman Igbo World Union Abuja chapter; Chief Augustine Nwosu, Chairman Lagos chapter; Rev. Uba Andrew, Coordinator Northern zone; Mrs Fidel Ifeoma Orji, Woman Coordinator, Northern zone among others.
According to Chief Nnanta, the visit of his association and Igbo leaders in Kano to the emir was in line with the cardinal objectives of the association to promote peace and understanding among Ndigbo and their host communities. He described Emir Sanusi as an astute administrator, whose reforms in the CBN spoke volumes, adding that the experience he acquired in the banking sector would help him to direct affairs in his Emirate.
Chief Nnanta described the association’s visit to Kano as a great moment for Ndigbo as it enabled them to speak out their mind and conveyed to the emir some of his group’s yearnings which included the restoration of Igbo Union School to its past glory.
According to him, in the 60s, the Ndigbo in Kano established chains of schools known as Igbo Union Schools. But with time, the names of those schools were changed. So the visit gave the Ndigbo the opportunity to seek for a return of the name to Igbo Union Schools.
In his remarks, Chief Nnanta commended Ndigbo for their peaceful existence with their hosts despite the spate of bombings that had been rocking the city and other Northern states. He said their determination to keep their cool despite the unprovoked attacks on their business interests showed their belief in the unity of the country.
Responding, the Emir assured of his support to the association, adding that he would look into their demands with the aim of addressing them.
Speaking on the frequent calls by some associations on Ndigbo in the Northern region to return to the South, Chief Nnanta described them as unrealistic. “How can you ask some one who has spent over 30 years in a community to suddenly abandon all his investments and relocate to the South where he is not known? Such calls will not work in modern Nigeria. So rather than fan the flame of division, our leaders should preach peace and unity and that is why we are here,” he said.
In his own contribution, Eze Igbo Kano, Eze Ibekwe Boniface, commended Chief Nnanta for his vision, which was centred on the unity of Nigerians and cooperation between Ndigbo and their hosts adding that such message was what Nigeria needed now to solve its numerous problems.
The Eze Igbo described Ndigbo in Kano as peaceful people who went about their business without rancour. He called on the Emir to listen to their yearnings so as to foster the existing bond of unity between them.
Similarly, Chief Augustine Nwosu described Ndigbo as entrepreneurs who had contributed to the development of their host communities to also think home by investing in their native states. He said such strategic investment could save them in rainy days.
Chief Umezurike in his remarks, called on Ndigbo to always speak with one voice so that it would be easy for them to attain their goals.