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Tag: north

  • North’s threat to Igbo: Nigeria’s unity not negotiable – Senate

    North’s threat to Igbo: Nigeria’s unity not negotiable – Senate

    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 breakage of the country.

    The lawmakers made their position known at the valedictory session marking the second year anniversary of the 8th Senate.

    In his remarks, Senator George Akume (Benue North-West) urged the Senate to take a firm stand against “irredentist movements” in different parts of the country.

    “Whether it is Biafra, Arewa or those of Yorubaland, we must rise as a legislature to make a statement on what is happening. We will be failing as a major arm (of government) not to say something that will reassure the people. We are greater being together than going our separate ways,” he said.

    Also, Senator Shehu Sani urged the Senate to take a firm decision on the growing regional agitations across the country.

  • APC chieftain calls on Northern leaders to caution youths

    APC chieftain calls on Northern leaders to caution youths

    A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Timi Frank, has appealed to Northern region leaders, Governors, Emirs and political leaders to advise youths of the region against making inflammatory statements.

    Frank in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja while reacting to a call by Northern youths to Igbos to leave the region, said such call could build tensions across the country.

    He, therefore, called on the Federal Government to take necessary steps to douse tension that may have been generated as a result of the threat.

    Frank also cautioned youths across the country not to give in to the antics of some politicians who may want the country divided at all cost.

    “I call on Nigerian youths from the South or North to drop whatever differences planted or being nurtured against each other and come together to build a more united and developed nation,” he said.

    He maintained that every section of the country was important, adding that youths across the regions were expected to play important roles in its development.

    He urged youths to preach peace and not to give in to sentiments, stressing that they were expected to right the wrongs of the past.

    This, Frank said, they could do by coming up with innovations that would ensure the country`s development in the interest of all, rather than fanning “the embers of disunity“.

    He, however, called on security agencies to ensure the protection of Northerners in the South and the Southerners in the North, and pleaded with Northern youths to give peace a chance.

    The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Arewa Youth Development Foundation, Arewa Students Forum and Northern Emancipation Network, recently at a news conference, gave Igbos in the North an ultimatum to leave the region.

    “As a prelude, we call on Igbos currently residing in any part of Northern Nigeria to relocate within two weeks and northerners in the East should do likewise,’’ the group had said.

     

  • BREAKING: El-Rufai orders arrest of youths who ordered Igbos out of region

    BREAKING: El-Rufai orders arrest of youths who ordered Igbos out of region

    Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has ordered the immediate arrest of all the signatory to the ‘Kaduna Declaration’ mandating all Igbos to leave the region before October 1.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that prominent Northern youth associations on Tuesday after a joint meeting tagged ‘Kaduna Declaration’ issued a serious threat to Igbos residing in the region to vacate on or before October 1 (Nigeria’s Independence Day) 2017 or face physical attacks.

    In a statement signed by his spokesman, Samuel Aruwan, El-Rufai strongly condemned, “the inciting, hate speech delivered by some self-appointed ‘northern youths.”

    El-Rufai said, ”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.”

    The Governor condemned the action of the groups, and assured every resident of the state that, “nobody can tamper with their freedom to reside where they choose.”

    The full statement reads: “The Kaduna State Government condemns in the strongest terms the press statement by some self-appointed “northern youths” that threatened the safety and property of our citizens of Igbo extraction. Government assures every resident of our state that their constitutional and human rights to live peacefully and own property wherever they choose is sacrosanct. Even people who may feel unhappy about irresponsible comments or actions that have taken place in other states must know that two wrongs cannot make a right.

    “The Kaduna State Government believes in and will uphold the right of every Nigerian to live safely and develop his/her full potentials within its territory.

    “Reckless disregard for the rights of other citizens drips through the press statement by these “northern youths” who have chosen to use the discourse around restructuring to promote their own agenda of hate, division and incitement. This sort of opportunists cannot be allowed to distort debate, or turn it into a pretext for a barely-disguised agenda of displacement and dispossession of some citizens.

    “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.

    “Preparatory to prosecution, the police have been directed to immediately arrest, interrogate the signatories to the statement and investigate all the circumstances and persons that may be implicated in the matter.

    “The Kaduna State Government urges all residents to ignore the threats from the “northern youths”. We are in contact with the leadership of the Igbo community in Kaduna, and we delighted to say that this community, like all our other communities, believes in the strength of the constitutional order to protect all citizens.

    “KDSG wishes to encourage all our people to celebrate the diversity with which the Almighty has blessed us, to continue to shun agents of division, and to stand firm in upholding a common humanity. Everyone has a right to live in peace and harmony.”

  • Quit Notice Saga: You just declared genocide, war in Nigeria, Ohanaeze Youths replies North

    Quit Notice Saga: You just declared genocide, war in Nigeria, Ohanaeze Youths replies North

    …Says Arewa Youths must tender unreserved apology

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, on Wednesday said the North was calling for war with its declaration that the Igbos should vacate their region on or before October 1st.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that prominent Northern youth associations on Tuesday after a joint meeting tagged ‘Kaduna Declaration’ issued a serious threat to Igbos residing in the region to vacate on or before October 1 (Nigeria’s Independence Day) 2017 or face physical attacks.

    The Youth Council described the development as a security threat and a crime against the Nigerian State.

    Addressing journalists after an emergency session tagged: “IGBO MANDATE AGAINST GENOCIDE”, the group called on Ndigbo to stay put wherever they were across the country.

    They, however, said Igbos resident in the North and other areas outside the South-East should get ready to defend themselves on the event of any provocation and attack from the Arewa Youths.

    Speaking on behalf of the group, the President of the OYC, Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro said the ultimatum was a call for war and should be treated as such by security agents.

    Declaring that Igbos are not cowards, he stated that “they are on it again and this is a sad reminder of the civil war. This is how it started as a joke and before we knew it, a coordinated and simultaneous attack was launched against the Igbos in the North.

    “This is a sad development considering efforts being made to unite this country; this is a sad commentary considering that sacrifices Igbos have made in this country.

    “We, however, wish to state unequivocally that Igbos are not cowards. We are not afraid of Alhaji AbdulAziz Suleiman, Yerima Shetimma and their cohorts.

    “Ndigbo want to make it categorically clear that we are ready for him; we are cannot be intimidated by his ranting. The era of taking properties belonging to Ndigbo by force is gone. We won’t let that happen again.

    “To this end, we are calling on our people in the North not to shift any ground; they should remain where they are; this country belongs to all of us. Any attack on our people shall receive commensurate reaction.”

    He, however, urged Northern Governors and the Northern Elders to dissociate themselves from the threat on the Igbos, stressing that “failure to do so, we will take it that they are all equal partners to this crime.

    “This is a drum of war coming from the North and should the Northern leaders fail to act accordingly, we shall be left with no option than to go beyond this stage.

    “We call on the Northern traditional and religious leaders headed by the Sultan of Sokoto to assure Igbos of their safety in the 19 Northern States.

    “We are calling on the President General Arewa Consultative Forum to call NORTHERN YOUTHS to order; they must be compelled to tender unreserved apology to Ndigbo‎ and stop fanning the embers of disunity among Nigerians.

    “‎We will not leave the north for the NORTHERN YOUTHS after developing the north with assets and business investment worth over N44trillion. If they are preparing ground for abandoned properties, they have failed.

    “May we all call on security agencies to provide protection to all the Igbos in the 19 Northern States and their properties. Anything on the contrary means giving a backing to this orchestrated genocidal plot against Igbos.

    “May we call on the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT to ASSURE Ndigbo that they are part of this country,by living up to expectations of their protecting lives and properties. Failure to do so, we shall be left with no option than to defend ourselves.

    “We also call for the immediate arrest of Yerima and his group; this is a crime against the State and it should not be treated with levity.

    “Rather than chase around un-armed Bifra agitators, the DSS should go after these men who have declared war on the Nigeria State.

    “In the meantime, our people should be careful and vigilant. They should not hesitate to report any assault on them. We are watching and waiting.”

  • ‘North is ready for break up of Nigeria,’ says Northern elders spokesman

    ‘North is ready for break up of Nigeria,’ says Northern elders spokesman

    Spokesman of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Prof. Ango Abdullahi has stated that the north is ready to go their way if Nigeria decides to break up.

    He was reacting to accusation by the South East leaders that the Northern Elders were sabotaging efforts to restructure the country.

    Abdullahi said the North is not aware of any sabotage, adding that there is nothing wrong in Igbo people asking to have a country of theirs.

    He further stated that if Nigerians are tired of staying as an entity, they should be ready to go their separate ways.

    Abdullahi told The Sun, “You see the issue of restructuring is one of the fundamental issues that shape Nigerian history from 1914 up to 1960.

    “In fact, we are not aware of any sabotage, may be the South East leaders were working on assumption.

    “But if restructuring will save Nigeria, I think it is a matter that affects every Nigerian including those in the North and we are ready to engage in it to correct the anomalies in Nigeria starting from 1914.

    On the agitation by some Igbo groups for the creation of Biafra Republic, he added, “You see, the issue of Biafra is all part of the discussion of restructuring Nigeria.

    “Yes, if Biafra means negotiations, yes, it’s all a matter of discussion, if it means Igbo want to have a country of their own separate from Nigeria, it means a matter of discussion and we are prepared for the discussion.

    “This is all I have been saying that if Nigerians are tired of staying together, they should be prepared to accept divisions instead of remaining in agony and disappointment of one another.

    “You see, what I am saying is that every Nigerian should be able to speak his opinion about the state of the country, and the country has laws.

    “If it is discovered that the law of a country is violated, that some somebody has gone beyond his fundamental rights, the law is very clear on this.

    “What perhaps government is concerned about is that violence was part of Kanu’s agitation, to realize his dream by force, I think that is what government is trying to tackle to my understanding.

    “So if Kanu is talking about Biafra, he is free to talk about Biafra and everybody is free to talk about his understanding of the Nigerian state.

    “We are always talking that the Nigerian state is not working and how can we make it to work? And if the best option, is to call for separate countries, why not?

    “Well, if you read our communiqué in Kano recently, we categorically stated that the Northern Elders Forum is prepared to engage in any discussion with any group that is supporting restructuring of Nigeria, so, this means that we are fully supporting restructuring.”

  • Northern economy will rise with fall of Sambisa – Arewa Youths

    Northern economy will rise with fall of Sambisa – Arewa Youths

    The Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) has said the fall of Sambisa Forest and defeat of the Boko Haram terrorists will revive the economy in the north east, as investors who hitherto left will be encouraged to return.

    The youths also commended the army for its resillience and sacrifices that led to the victory over the insurgents.

    Speaking during a press conference in Kaduna, National President of NYLF, Alhaji Adadu Adadu, said the defeat of the terror group united Nigerians of conscience along religious and ethnic divide.

    He said the defeat of Boko Haram, is an event that has brought 2016 to a close on a positive note irrespective of any other unpleasant experiences we might have had as a people during the year.

    Adadu said, “The Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) heartily thanks the Nigerian Army, all the other military services, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt Gen Tukur Buratai and other military chiefs for defeating the enemies of Nigeria.

    “Boko Haram killed without thoughts for their victims ethnicity, creed or geographical origin, it was a thorn in our flesh collectively and the Army has therefore brought relief to us all and not just a particular location or people. The joy from this act of valour is across board.

    “It is remarkable that Boko Haram was defeated against all odds.
    NYLF had at some point in the past appealed to the Nigerian Army not to be distracted by those reading political meanings into its action. We had also in the past urged the COAS not to slow down in his zeal on account of propaganda mounted against him by Boko Haram sponsors and sympathisers.”

    Speaking further, he said, “There were other occasions when we acknowledged the progress being made in the war in spite of propaganda to the contrary. We are happy that our counsel was not in vain and the Army has gone on to demonstrate that the state is supreme above crises entrepreneurs.
    That the army and the COAS hearkened to our appeals and those of like minded Nigerians in the past to keep up the fight gives us great joy. It showed a leadership and institution that is responsive to the populace its is securing. For this we say thank you the Nigerian Army and the COAS.”

    He lamented that the Boko Haram insurgency killed of economic activities same way it killed many enterprising young minds, sating incidence of unemployment and poverty became more acute in the north as the madness of this murderous group drove off existing investors while making it impossible to attract new one.

    He said, “youths that were not killed in attacks were forced to flee to other parts of the country for safety before considering how to eke out living. General Buratai has restored the hope that Nigeria but particularly the north in this case can again return to being an investment hub.

    “We realise that this cannot happen overnight but the defeat of Boko Haram terror group is a new beginning towards this goal.”

    Adadu however appealed to Nigerians to speak against any attempt by fleeing Boko Haram fighters who would still attempt to cause outrage if only to provide openings for their sponsors to start casting doubts on their group’s demise.