•Ndigbo and Governor Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State
The Igbo Delegates Assembly (IDA), the umbrella body of Ndigbo in Northern Nigeria, has officially commended Plateau State governor, Caleb Mutfwang, for taking bold steps to correct historical narratives surrounding the 1966–1970 Nigerian Civil War.
The commendation was contained in a communiqué issued following the assembly’s third quarterly meeting, held in Kaduna from August 21 to August 22, 2026.
The document was jointly signed by IDA President-General Chief Ken Okeugo, JP, and Secretary-General Hon. Donatus Nwugo, reports Daily Independent.
According to the assembly, Governor Mutfwang’s rejection of the “erroneous attribution of blame” to the Igbo for the civil war has lifted a huge moral burden from Ndigbo and reassured Igbo residents of their security in the North.
The IDA called on other northern governors to emulate Mutfwang’s initiative to help heal historical wounds.
The meeting drew high-profile attendance, including members of the IDA Executive Committee, presidents of Igbo communities from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), alongside representatives of Ndieze Igbo in the northern region.
In the communiqué, the assembly praised Igbo residents in the North for their high turnout in the voters’ registration exercise, framing it as a testament to their desire for an equitable Nigeria.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the IDA stated that it would adopt a “measured approach” to assess its political options, particularly for the presidency, free from ethnic and religious sentiments.
The group also advised Ndigbo living in the North to maintain peaceful coexistence with host communities, urging members to exercise caution in public utterances to avoid unnecessary political tensions.
Addressing internal cultural matters, the IDA firmly rejected the nomenclature “Onyendu” for Igbo traditional rulers in Northern Nigeria, labeling recent interventions by the South East Traditional Rulers Council as a “distraction.”
The assembly insisted that matters regarding Igbo traditional institutions in the North are strictly within the purview of the local Igbo communities and their host traditional institutions.
Consequently, the IDA maintained that the title “Eze” must be preserved to keep Igbo leaders on equal footing with other non-indigenous traditional heads, such as the Sarkin Hausawa and Oba Yoruba.
The assembly concluded by expressing gratitude to the Kaduna State government, led by Governor Uba Sani, for providing a peaceful and conducive environment for the quarterly meeting and fostering a rancour-free atmosphere for Igbo residents in the state.
