Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, successfully mediated a critical issue with the Northern Consensus Movement (NCM) after the group issued a 14-day ultimatum to Igbo residents in the North, instructing them to leave.
The ultimatum was a response to Governor Otti’s decision to convert the Lokpanta Cattle Market into a daily and non-residential facility, which was misinterpreted as a quit notice for northerners.
Following the meeting, the group has now withdrawn the ultimatum.
The NCM, a coalition of community-based socio-cultural and economically-oriented northern organizations, retracted their ultimatum following the meeting with the governor and the leadership of the Umuchieze Cattle Market.
Awwal Aliyu, the President of the NCM, who led the Umuchieze cattle dealers to the meeting at the governor’s residence on Tuesday, announced the decision to withdraw the quit notice.
Aliyu said that during the meeting, they realized that the state government’s decision was not driven by tribal sentiment. Aliyu commended Governor Otti for his commitment to the safety and security of the traders in the cattle market, dispelling the earlier allegation that the governor had asked northern residents to leave the state.
“I’m using this medium to say that we have cancelled that 14-day ultimatum that was given to easterners,” he declared.
He commended the governor for agreeing to assist the vulnerable members of the northern community in renting accommodation outside the market as well as holding periodic meetings with them on issues concerning their wellbeing.
Aliyu advised northerners in the state to be law-abiding, respect constituted authorities, and be good ambassadors of the Northern people, wherever they find themselves.
The governor, while receiving his guests, restated that his interest in making the Umuchieze Cattle Market a daily one is to end the killings, kidnappings and other criminal activities going on in the market.
The governor emphasised that he is a detribalized Nigerian, noting that he does not know about segregation and can never be associated with tribalism.
He stated that the government’s earlier directive was misunderstood and pointed out that the aim of making the market a daily one was to secure the place in the overall interest of traders and residents alike.
Otti said that the meeting convened at his instance was to explain the true position of the government, adding that without security, there would be no development.
“Anytime we allow religion and ethnicity to play a role in what we are doing, we are missing the point. What I have come to do in governance is to give service to the people. We want everyone living in Abia State to live in peace and harmony,” he said.
