The Northern Elders Forum has backed calls by a coalition of Northern youths for the Igbos to quit the region before October 1 this year. The spokesma
The Northern Elders Forum has backed calls by a coalition of Northern youths for the Igbos to quit the region before October 1 this year. The spokesman for the NEF, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, said he supported the youths, who asked the Igbos to quit the North before October 1. He also condemned the position of Northern Governors’ Forum on the matter saying that he was disappointed by the NGF’s stance on the matter. According to him, it was hypocritical for the Igbos to continue to live in other parts of the country and still agitate for Nigeria’s disintegration.
“I am disappointed in the decision taken by NGF disowning and condemning the agitation by this young agile and progressive youth groups. Let me ask, these Northern governors, whom are they representing, are they representing spirits, ghost or people of the North? Recently, people from eastern part of this country, specifically Igbo, were busy calling for the Sovereign State of Biafra and from all indication, their leaders, including governors are behind them.”
However in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, the Coalition of Northern Politicians, Academics, Professionals and Businessmen, as well as the Arewa Consultative Forum on Friday, disagreed. The Convener of the CNPAPB, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, described the three months’ ultimatum given to Igbo to leave the North as youthful exuberance.
He noted that youths in northern Nigeria, perhaps more than anywhere else in the country, were disappointed and frustrated by the level of incompetence displayed by the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration. Junaid said, “I know that this country as is it now is a hell of a difficult place to dissemble. I think all Nigerians need Nigeria and anybody who thinks that somehow others need Nigeria more than they do or that somehow, they imagine that they can blackmail the country into making certain political, economic and other concessions, are making a very serious mistake.
“I am not endorsing what the youths have done; I put it down to youthful exuberance and the reality of the frustration of the North with this government and its economic policies, which are clearly hostile to the North and the incompetence which permeates the government at all levels. We have a government of invalids, imbeciles and incompetent cabals, who are mostly members of Buhari’s family, cronies and friends. This is the least competent government in Nigeria.”
On its part, the ACF said it had not changed its position on appealing for caution over unguarded statements that threaten the unity of Nigeria.” The ACF National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Muhammad Ibrahim, said on Friday that the ACF had nothing more to say on the matter than to stand by its earlier position, which was that it is better to settle grievances in court rather than to breach law and order.
The Senate on Friday stated that Nigeria’s unity as a country is not negotiable. It vowed to move against those who are pushing for the country’s break-up. The lawmakers made their position known at the valedictory session marking the second year anniversary of the 8th Senate. President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, in his closing remarks, stated that Nigeria’s unity was not negotiable.
He said, “This Senate must act clearly on the fact that there is only one Nigeria, which is non-negotiable and against division of this country. We must live by example and I want to commend all of us for the roles we have played in this area. The next two years will be more challenging and we must show leadership clearly to every part of this country. Anybody that toys with that is somebody that we will fight and defend the unity of this country.
Also, members of the House of Representatives from the North disagreed with their South-West colleagues over the calls for the inclusion of a provision for referendum in the 1999 Constitution in reaction to a demand for a referendum by lawmakers from the South-East after the House rejected a bill seeking to establish the South-East Development Commission.
A member from Adamawa State, Mr. Adamu Kamale, said he would not support a referendum because those behind it were seeking the break-up of Nigeria. Kamale argued that Nigerians needed to be more united than ever as their strength lied in their unity. He added that it was the same reason he believed that the Federal Government should have long arrested and prosecuted the 16 northern youth groups which gave the Igbo a notice to quit the North by October 1.
