The Coalition of Northern Elders for Peace and Development (CNEEPD) says Ndigbo has been unfairly treated in the Nigerian federation.
CNEEPD stated this in a Wednesday statement jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Zana Goni, and National Women Leader, Hajiya Mario Bichi.
The coalition vowed to support the South-East geopolitical zone in future political endeavours.
However, it appealed to the region to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and be law-abiding.
The northern elders said, “As elders, we must clearly state that the country has not been fair to Igbo in all ramifications and we must admit this fact as true Muslims.
“We therefore call on our Igbo brothers to support the government of President Muhamamadu Buhari to enable him succeed.
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“President Buhari is doing a lot in terms of projects in the South East. The facts are there to see, except for people who want to deliberately distort facts. Igbo must believe and work for the unity of Nigeria to enable other parts of Nigerians to speak up for them. In solidarity, we shall continue to speak for peace, justice and equity for every region of the country, because Nigeria belongs to all of us.
“We wish to sincerely thank President Muhammadu Buhari, for his wisdom in handling the youths uprising that resulted in killings, looting, stealing, and burning down of both private and public properties in some states of the federation. These actions by some misguided youths and criminal elements who were out to deliberately instigate religious and ethnic tensions in Nigeria were unfortunate.
“But we thank the president for the civil approaches he used in dousing the tension. We thank northern youths for exercising restraint despite the high level of provocative comments and videos on social media during the violent protest which were intended to provoke the north into reaction.
“They were smart enough not to allow themselves to be used by crisis entrepreneurs who are out to destabilize our country. They have proven that they have outgrown the antics of the agents of destabilisation.”
Also, the northern elders hailed Ohanaeze Ndigbo for condemning divisive comments made by Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, saying it showed Kanu does not represent the Igbo race and cannot speak for the region.