The Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai Elkanemi has commended members of the Igbo Welfare Association (IWA ) under the auspices of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Borno State Chapter for celebrating the return of peace in the state.
He made the commendation yesterday when members of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by its president general, Chief Sunday Julian Okonkwo visited the monarch at his palace to seek royal blessing over their new yam festival coming up on the 18th of September, 2022.
The monarch who blessed the tubers of yams brought to him by the Ohanaeze group said the new yam festival about to be celebrated by the Igbos in the state is a signal that peace is back to the capital city of Maiduguri and the state in general.
He assured Igbo and all the non- indigenes living in the state that their safety is absolutely guaranteed where ever they are working, living and doing business.
“Borno has been having cordial relationship with the Igbos for a very long time and my joy is that the relationship is still on notwithstanding the Boko Haram insurgency that threatened the people of the state even though the crisis was imported into the state.
“I wish you happy celebration and I want to assure you that I will send delegation that will brace the festival, ” the Shehu said.
Earlier, the president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Borno State chapter, Chief Sunday Okonkwo, thanked the Shehu of Borno for the warn reception and commendation given by him.
Okonkwo said the new yam festival was designed by the Igbo in the state as a way of celebrating the return of peace in the state. He thanked the monarch for always accommodating visitors in the state irrespective of tribe or religion.
