The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Victor Umeh, at the weekend stated that Igbo are a legitimate part of Nigeria and are entitled to live and carry out their businesses in any part of the country.
He said the Igbo would resist any form of xenophobic attack on them from any quarter, describing them as indigenous people of Nigeria who are not migrants.
Umeh spoke during the 2023 Umunri Cultural Fiesta, a programme meant to bring together some communities in Anambra State, which was held at the weekend in the Enugu-Agidi community of Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.
He described the Igbo as peace lovers, promoters of national integration and inter-tribal relationship while maintaining that the Igbo believed in hard work and that there should be no reason they should be subjected to attacks.
The Senator was referring to recent rumours that Igbo people may be sacked from residing in Lagos State.
He said, “Igbo people didn’t come from a new place outside Nigeria to become Nigerians, rather, they are the aborigines of Nigeria, who have the rights to reside in any part of the country to do their business.
“Lagosians should allow Ndigbo to do their businesses because they pay their taxes to the Lagos State Government; anybody that is attacking the Igbo is drawing anarchy to themselves and Nigeria at large.
“Igbo people live everywhere in Nigeria. There is no village in Nigeria the Igbo people don’t live in, and do their businesses and also contribute to the development of those places, by building houses and becoming part of their host community.”