Northern governors, leaders condemn Arewa Youths’ quit notice to Igbo in Northern Nigeria

*As el-Rufai orders arrest of issuers of quit notice

*Arewa Youths’ ultimatum caused by frustrations from Igbo agitations but condemnable – ACF

*Respondent wants condemnation done to Arewa Youths equally done to MASSOB, IPOB

The respondent, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said “That was a kind of irresponsible statement to come from a big beneficiary of Nigerian State like the Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu.  But nobody said anything. Or did you not see it reported in Vanguard that he said so?  Things like this are the imbalance we complained about in the marriage of Nigeria.  The Arewa youths should be more responsible by not joining in the bad attitude of causing disunity in Nigeria.  All Nigerians should be free to move around and live in any part of Nigeria,” he said.

Governors of the 19 northern states Wednesday disowned a coalition of Arewa youths who issued ultimatum to Igbo people to vacate the Northern part of Nigeria within three months.

The Borno State Governor and Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum, Kashim Shettima, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues in Maiduguri Wednesday, said the governors were in touch with heads of security agencies and had taken measures that would guarantee the rights of all Nigerians to live in the 19 states of the North.

The governors also called on security agencies to arrest the youths and probe the motive behind the call.

“On behalf of the governors of the 19 Northern states, we totally condemn such irresponsible pronouncements by those groups. 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,” Shettima said.

The Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai had earlier on Wednesday ordered the arrest of leaders of the Arewa groups that issued the Tuesday ultimatum in Kaduna.

El-Rufai, who spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Samuel Aruwan, said, “We will not tolerate such irresponsible statements and conduct in our state. The statement issued by the ‘northern youths’ violates the laws of Kaduna State. Therefore, the Kaduna State Government has directed that its Ministry of Justice should prepare charges and prosecute the signatories and anyone complicit in arranging this egregious assault on the rights of fellow citizens.”

ACF reacts

On its part, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), said in a statement issued also on Wednesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu that, “The attention of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has been drawn to the press statement issued by a Coalition of Northern Youth groups…. 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 actualization 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.

“ACF appreciates the frustrations of the Northern Youth Groups with the activities of MASSOB and IPOB members, but would not encourage any act that is not in conformity with the law by any group or individuals which will do no one any good. ACF therefore, appeals for caution over unguarded utterances or statements that are capable of jeopardizing the unity, peace and corporate existence of Nigeria.”

Reacting also, the Christian Association of Nigeria in the 19 northern states and the FCT described the utterances of the groups as evil and a threat to national security and unity; saying that both the leaders and sponsors of the groups should be arrested with immediate effect.

The Spokesperson of the Association, Reverend John Joseph Hayab said, “Which North do they claim to be speaking for and making this evil threat? What Nigeria needs today is unity for progress not threat from people.”

Also, the chairman, Council of Yoruba Obas and Chiefs in the 19 northern states and Abuja, Ambassador Mohammed Arigbabuwo, advised the Federal Government to call a meeting of responsible elders among the Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and other tribes to discuss the way out to avoid any form of mayhem.

“Nobody can go to anywhere because we do not have another country, we can only be proud of Nigeria,” he said.

Also speaking, the President of the Igbo in Kaduna, Barrister Chris Nnoli said there was no cause for alarm since Governor Nasir El-Rufai had ordered the arrest of the people who issued the threat.

The groups however insisted on their ultimatum.

Arewa Youths should be more responsible – Respondent

A respondent however blamed the MASSOB and IPOB for the Arewa youths’ ultimatum even as called on governments of Northern Nigeria to exercise caution and see whether the Igbo people of Nigeria have the monopoly of threat in the name of agitations that have caused serious hate and disunity among Nigerians under the guise of asking to break away as state of Biafra.

He said the recent state-at-home order by the MASSOB and IPOB should have elicited the kind of condemnations attracted to the Arewa youths’ ultimatum but was surprised that the only statement an Igbo leader could make at that time was by the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu making those Igbo groups so important by pleading that, “they should not be provoked into armed struggle.”

The respondent, who spoke under condition of anonymity, said “That was a kind of irresponsible statement to come from a big beneficiary of Nigerian State like the Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu.  But nobody said anything. Or did you not see it reported in Vanguard that he said so?  Things like this are the imbalance we complained about in the marriage of Nigeria.  The Arewa youths should be more responsible by not joining in the bad attitude of causing disunity in Nigeria.  All Nigerians should be free to move around and live in any part of Nigeria,” he said.