The Coalition of Igbo Unions has issued 48 hours ultimatum to the Governor of Abia state, Alex Otti, to immediately rescind his ethnically motivated outbursts against northerners doing business at the Umunneochi Cattle Market.
The coalition in a statement issued Friday and jointly signed by its Chairman, Obinna Okoroafor, Secretary, Udoka Onwuka and its Public Relations Officer, Maduabuchi Madu, also called on the governor to stop the prosecution of northerners in the state.
It said its intervention was necessitated by the ongoing crisis at the Abia Cattle market situated in Umunneochi LGA of Abia State.
The coalition added that the plight of northern traders in the cattle market if not handled satisfactorily would set a dangerous precedent which would ignite violence and clashes in various parts of Nigeria against Igbos.
It pointed out that while it acknowledged the importance of security of lives and property of all Nigerians living in every part of the country, it condemned and dissociated itself from the ethnic profiling being perpetrated by the governor against Northerners doing business at the Umunneochi Cattle Market.
It said: “We have observed with grave displeasure that Mr Alex Otti is selectively persecuting Northerners in the Market instead of taking a holistic approach that confronts the criminality going on in the Area.
“We have carefully observed that the ‘Vacate the Cattle Market’ ultimatum issued by Governor Alex Otti have greatly increased the already tensed socio- political atmosphere in the country.”
The coalition added that the thoughtless move by Otti to forcefully eject the northern businesses at the cattle market would have a negative boomerang effect on Igbo traders in the North and across Nigeria.
“To ensure stability and peace, we are giving Mr Alex Otti, 48 Hours to immediately rescind his ethnically motivated outbursts and apologize to the Northern Traders who have cohabitated peacefully with their host communities hitherto,” it noted.
The coalition further condemned the indiscriminate demolition of shops and residential homes and demand that alternatives be provided for northerners in the state without delay.
It added: “We remain Nigerians and are committed to the actualisation of a peaceful and just environment for all Nigerians irrespective of ethnicity, religion or tribe.
“We, therefore, wish to distance ourselves from the reckless utterances and thoughtless actions of Mr Alex Otti whom we believe is playing to the gallery for political gains.”