"I wish the numbers of these Igbos be reduced…. There are too
many of them in the North. They are like sardines and I think they are just too
dangerous to the Region."
Below is an extract from the proceedings of the
Northern Region House of Assembly between February and March 1964, less than
four years after Nigeria’s independence from the British.
Mallam
Muhammadu Mustapha Mande Gyan: On the allocation of plots to Ibos or
allocation of stalls, I would like to advise the Minister that these people
know how to make money, and we do not know the way and manner of getting about
this business. We do not want Ibos to be allocated with plots. I do not want
them to be given plots...
