Mutfwang’s apology to Igbo courageous – Group

An Igbo socio-cultural organisation, the Izu Umunna Cultural Association (IUCA), has expressed solidarity with Plateau state governor, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang, over his recent apology to Ndigbo for the experiences of the Nigerian civil war, describing the gesture as courageous and timely.

Governor Mutfwang, during a courtesy visit by Igbo leaders drawn from the 17 local government areas of Plateau state last week, urged Ndigbo to put the painful events of the civil war behind them and continue to participate actively in the economic, social and political development of Nigeria.

The governor was quoted as saying: “I apologise to the Igbos so that we can put the past behind us and continue to foster unity. We have become one family because our people were deceived into going to war, and we regret it. We must close that chapter and move forward.

“We must unite. We want the Igbos to regard us as their brothers and sisters, and together we must create an enabling environment where everyone can prosper.”

However, Mutfwang’s remarks have generated mixed reactions. While some groups welcomed the apology, others criticised the governor over the statement.

Former Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, and former Plateau State Commissioner for Information, Dan Manjang, faulted the governor for what they described as attributing the burden of the civil war to the people of Plateau.

Similarly, the Hausa community called on Mutfwang to also apologise to them for what it described as the continued denial of indigene status to its members in the state.

But in a statement jointly signed by its President, Ichie Jerry Egede, and Secretary, Mazi Jude Owuamanam, and made available to journalists on Sunday, the Izu Umunna Cultural Association, a think tank and foremost affiliate of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, said the governor’s apology could not have come at a more appropriate time as Nigeria sought lasting peace and national reconciliation across ethnic divides.

The statement read: “Izu Umunna deeply appreciates and aligns with the Governor of Plateau State on his well-deserved apology to Ndigbo.

“The civil war was a watershed in the history of Nigeria and a scar in the psyche of every Igbo man, and since the end of that unfortunate episode, nobody has had the courage to accept the blames for this national tragedy.

“So it takes the courage of a pragmatic leader like Governor Caleb Mutfwang to do what elders couldn’t do.

“If they say it wasn’t his place to offer the apology, who else would, especially when it’s realized that the leadership and the crop of soldiers that fought the civil war were from the Middle Belt Region.

“We salute the courage and pragmatism of Governor Caleb Mutfwang and assure him of our unwavering support to his administration.”

The association also urged Ndigbo residing in Plateau state to continue to support the programmes and developmental initiatives of the Mutfwang administration and to refrain from any actions capable of undermining the cordial relationship between the Igbo community, the state government and the people of Plateau.