OUTRAGE, condemnation, defiance, and tension have continued to trail the October 1 ultimatum issued by the Coalition of Northern Youth (CNY) to South-easterners living in the North to move out. Reacting to the order, yesterday, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC) said with over N44 trillion investments in the North, Igbo were going nowhere. It said Igbo must be ready to defend themselves, in the event of any provocation and attack. Speaking to newsmen after an emergency meeting, tagged: "Igbo mandate against genocide," OYC National President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the ultimatum was a declaration of war and should be treated as such by security agents.

"This is a sad development, considering efforts being made to unite this country; this is a sad commentary, considering the sacrifices Igbo have made in this country, W, however, wish to state unequivocally that Igbo are not cowards. We aren't afraid of Alhaji Abdulaziz Suleiman, Yerima Shettima, and their cohorts."

“They are used to vandalism and reaping where they did not sow over the years so we are not surprised. It is in their blood and fibre.

“It is regrettable that at this age when other Nations are going to the moon and advancing the well-being of their countries, these bunch of misled youths have joined their forebears to make Nigeria a laughing stock in the comity of nations. They and their forebears have never added any value to Nigeria than bloodshed, parasitism, and violence”.

They stated that Igbo youths were not afraid of their declaration that they will never be allowed to seize the properties that belong to the hard working Igbos which they said the northern youths were dangerously eying to convert forcibly.

“We call on Ndigbo in the North to be vigilant. Security agents in the country should now know those that want to cause violence in Nigeria.

“If their stupid anger is on the activities of IPOB and MASSOB which have been calling for self-determination, what do they have to say about Boko Haram that has killed thousands of Nigerians including Igbos and has been calling for an Islamic republic in Nigeria in the past ten years? Was it not the North that was at the forefront of secession before independence and even at the after math of the July 1966 counter-coup with their Araba mantra?

“All parts of Nigeria have been agitating for one thing or another including secession. Why should Igbos be singled out by these Arewa youth irredentists for their tantrums and threats?

“Without the Igbos, the North would not have been at even the present level it is. The Igbo Union schools, shops, markets, and industries made the North whatever it is today. These idle youths that have refused to develop their brains over the years and rather decided to tow the path of their forebears as parasites want to reap where they did not sow. It's unfortunate.

“We, therefore, insist that even if it will be “to your tents oh Israel,” which we are never afraid of, all assets belonging to Igbos in the North will be evaluated and repatriated back to Igbo land. Meanwhile, as civilized hosts, we assure all Arewas in the East of their safety and protection. We hope no attempt will be made on the life of any Igbo man in the North as such will be direful and mark the end of Nigeria. Enough of this barbaric utterances and behavior at the 21st century.”