Echezona Okafor 
A Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Chief Victor Umeh, has said that the Igbo are entitled to live and do their business in any part of Nigeria as aborigines.
He said as Aborigines of Nigeria, the Igbo would resist any form of xenophobic attack on them from any quarter.
Sen. Umeh spoke during the 2023 Umunri Cultural Fiesta (Oganiru Umunri) held over the weekend at Enugu-Agidi in the Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.
While describing Ndigbo as indigenous people of Nigeria, the Senator maintained that they were no migrants, adding, “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.”
He stated that Lagos State was one of those places in Nigeria the Igbo live, pointing out that without Ndigbo Lagos’s economy would collapse and become nothing.
He said, “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.
He said, “Igbo people live everywhere in Nigeria. There is no village in Nigeria the Igbo don’t live and do their business and contribute to the development of those places they live by building houses and becoming part of their host community.”
Describing the Igbo as peace lovers, promoters of national integration and inter-tribal relationship, Umeh maintained that the Igbo believed in hard work, stating that there should be no reason they should be subjected to xenophobic attacks.
He also commended the organizers of the Oganiru movement in the Umueri clan and expressed the hope that the event would foster unity, and promote communal spirit and relationship for peace to reign.
Speaking, the President-General of Enugu-Agidi, Chief Ebuka Onuorah, said the event was aimed at bringing Umunri, especially from Enugu-Ukwu, Enugu-Agidi, Nwafia, and Nri together for a better understanding of themselves, their culture, and traditions”, he said.
