SAN FRANCISCO, 07, (THEWILL) – This last is yet to be heard of criticisms trailing Tuesday’s eviction notice handed the Igbo residing in the North by a coalition of Arewa youths as governors of the 19 northern states, Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, and the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, have joined in flaying the three months ultimatum given for south-easteners to vacate the North.
Disowning the coalition of Arewa Youths who threatened to forced the Igbo to leave the North after three months, the Northern States Governors Forum urged Igbo living in the North not to panic, assuring they were in touch with heads of their security agencies and have taken measures to guarantee the rights of all Nigerians to live in any of the 19 states.
The IYC Worldwide, on its part, reasoned that criminals hiding under the guise of activism masterminded the notice given by the Northern youth groups for Igbo people to leave their land, stressing that the Arewa youths and all those backing the group should also be apprehended and prosecuted.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues in Maiduguri on Wednesday evening, the Borno State governor, who chairs the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Kashim Shettima insisted that Nigeria is one nation tied to a common destiny.
They directed security agencies to arrest the youths and probe the motive behind the call, which they described as a suspicious act that falls in line with recent trend of arms catch, coup rumours that may not be coincidental.
The Borno governor said, “On behalf of the governors of the 19 Northern states, we totally condemn such irresponsible pronouncements by those groups. We condemn, we disown, and we are totally distancing ourselves from those faceless groups who don’t have the mandate of the people of Northern Nigeria to make such loud pronouncements.
“Section 41, Subsection 1 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is very explicit in safeguarding the rights of all Nigerians to reside in any part of the country with no hindrance whatsoever. But then, when you see a toad dancing in the broad daylight, the drummer is not far off from the main road. We wish to call on the security agencies to beam their lenses on these groups and unearth the faces behind the mask.
“Some months back, there were cases of importation of arms, illegal importation of arms intercepted at the ports. Then we started hearing rumours of a coup d’etat. Now, a group, or a bunch of groups that do not have the mandate of the people came up with remarks capable of destabilizing the north and the country as a whole.”
Assuring that Northern governors will take whatever measures that are necessary to safeguard the lives and properties of Nigerians living in any part of the North, he said, “I am in contact with most of my colleagues, and they are all talking to heads of security establishments in their respective domains because we cannot afford to take chances. We cannot afford to toil with the destiny of this country.
“The 19 Northern Governors wish to call on our brothers of Igbo descent to remain calm and go about their legitimate businesses. Nobody can dare to intimidate, harass or dehumanize them in any of the 19 Northern States, our Governors will not allow that.”
Factional President of the IYC Worldwide, Eric Omare, who held that there was nothing wrong with Igbo youths’ agitating for Biafra, described the Arewa youths who issued the ultimatum as retrogressive, insisting that such threats should be dealt with by the security agencies.
According to him, “The demand by some northern youth groups for Igbos in the north to move out is baseless and senseless. There is absolutely nothing wrong in the Igbo agitation for self-determination.
“The right to self determination is a universal right recognised even under the UN charter. Therefore, the Igbo agitation for Biafra cannot justify the demand to move out of northern Nigeria.”
In its own reaction to the quit notice by Arewa youths to Igbo to leave the Northern region within three months, ACF, which is the apex Northern socio-cultural organization, warned that it will not encourage any act that is not in conformity with the law by any group or individual in the Northern region.
It said although it appreciates the frustrations of the northern youth groups with the activities of Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB, and Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, members, certain divisive utterances will not do anybody or the country good.
ACF, in a statement issued by its spokesman, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, said the democratic system of government which is anchored on law guarantees free movement of all Nigerians to any part of the country and to also pursue their legitimate livelihood devoid of any hindrance or molestation by any group or individuals.
It noted further that the system of government allows settlement of all grievances through elected representatives in both the national and state assemblies and the law courts.
The statement reads: “The attention of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has been drawn to the press statement issued by a Coalition of Northern Youth groups calling on Igbos currently residing in the Northern part of Nigeria to relocate to the East within three (3) months, while Northerners in the East should do likewise.
“This position of the groups was as a result of the persistent agitations of some members of the Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for the actualisation of the Republic of Biafra, which have continued to threaten the unity, peace and corporate existence of Nigeria.
“ACF wishes to draw the attention of all concerned, to note, that our democratic system of government which is anchored on law guarantees free movement of all Nigerians to any part of the country and to also pursue their legitimate livelihood devoid of any hindrance or molestation by any group or individuals.
“Furthermore, the system allows settlement of all grievances through our elected representatives in both the National and States Assemblies and the Law courts. Any act to the contrary is, therefore, a breach of law and order that are not helpful.”
