KILL ANY OF OUR BROTHERS,WE WILL FIGHT BACK

A former Abia state governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, on Tuesday warned the coalition of Northern youths against carrying out any violent act against residents of Igbo origin.

Kalu was unequivocal in his promise of dire consequences if any harm comes to Igbo residents of states in the northern region.

Speaking on an AIT programme, the former governor reiterated his belief that Nigeria belongs to everybody and so, people of different tribes can settle wherever they wish to.

This was in reaction to the quit notice handed by northern youths and which asks all Igbo residents of the region to leave by October 1.

Kalu promised to be involved personally in any retributive action taken against anyone who perpetrates any act of violence against the Igbo.

He said: "Nobody can touch Igbos because this is our country. If anybody kills any of our brothers, we will go and fight back. We will not take it lightly that anybody kills any of us and then you will tell us to go and take it lightly again; no! We will not take that.

"Anybody that touches any Igbo man because of the quit notice; the country will go into war, and I will lead the war; if Igbos are touched.

"The quit notice means nothing; I know when northerners speak, I will see their hand when they speak, I was trained by them so I know when they are serious.

"No reasonable northern elder will do that; did Adamu Ciroma say so? Did Babangida say so? Did President Abdulsalam say so? Will Aliko support that? Only people who are looking for cheap popularity.

"When you say northern elders, I don't know whether Sultan, Emir of Kano and his likes are asking us to quit. If all these people come out and say we should quit; we will quit. We are not afraid of quitting. But Nigerian unity is more important."