A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, has said that Igbo never mandated anybody to talk about breaking away from the country.

Iwuanyanwu said this in Abuja on Saturday during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

He expressed worry over agitations by some groups calling for the nation’s balkanization.

Iwuanyanwu, however, said that the call for restructuring was appropriate to address the numerous challenges confronting the country.

According to him, restructuring doesn’t mean division of the nation.

Iwuanyanwu said, ‘‘Let us forget about the talk of secession by some young people. I am an Igbo man and a leader.

‘‘I was the Chairman of Planning and Strategy of Ohaneze Ndigbo, so when you talk of any decision on the Igbo, it must have my consent.

‘‘Igbo have never mandated anybody to go and talk about secession.

‘‘We have heard that some youths reversed the call for the exit of the Igbo form the north.”

He added, ‘‘l am happy that Nigerian leaders as well as the governors are coming up to say that Igbo are safe in their places.

‘‘Iwuanyanwu assured Igbo of their safety in every part of the country.

‘‘Many Igbo in the north have been coming to me asking me of what to do; I want to assure them that nobody is going to hurt them.

‘‘We all stand for one Nigeria and in future if anybody makes a statement, nobody should generalise and say it is Igbo.’’