Some Igbo leaders under the aegis of the Igbo Delegate Assembly on Tuesday expressed their opposition to the division of the country, saying Nigeria is “better as one than in pieces”.

Instead, they called for the restructuring of the country and the massive provision of jobs for the disgruntled public.

The leaders also “pledged their loyalty” to Nasir el-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State.

According to tweets from the verified handle of el-Rufai, the Assembly, comprising of Igbo community leaders from the 19 northern states and the federal capital territory, made the statements during a courtesy visit to the governor.

The meeting held on the back of calls by some northern youth for Igbo to vacate the region, following rising pro-Biafra agitation.

On Tuesday, El-Rufai said the President of the Igbo Delegate Assembly thanked the federal government, the Kaduna State government and the northern governors for calming the situation after a group of northern youth gave an ultimatum for Igbo to leave the north.

“The President of the Igbo Delegate Association has stated that the Igbo leaders do not support the division of Nigeria,” he tweeted.

“The Igbo leaders have called for restructuring in the country and to look into the level of unemployment in the country.

“The President of the IDA has also said that Nigeria is better as one than in pieces. The Igbo leaders have also commended Gov. @elrufai for his leadership qualities and have pledged their loyalty to Governor el-Rufai.”

Responding to his visitors, El-Rufai branded those calling for war and division in Nigeria as “uneducated, unexposed and are short-sighted”.

He appealed to the Igbo leaders to use their positions to preach unity in the country, and promised to make an example of those who gave the ultimatum for Igbo to leave the North.

“I have the mandate of the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ forum to assure you that everyone is safe in the north,” he said.

The President of the IDA has also said that Nigeria is better as One than in Pieces. pic.twitter.com/FEYCAefkUF

— Governor Kaduna (@GovKaduna) June 20, 2017

/ The President of the Igbo Delegate Association has stated that the Igbo leaders do not support the division of Nigeria.

— Governor Kaduna (@GovKaduna) June 20, 2017

The Igbo leaders have called for restructuring in the Country and to look into the level of unemployment in the Country.

— Governor Kaduna (@GovKaduna) June 20, 2017