Jos: A group under the name of Coalition of Arewa Dialogue Youth Forum, has condemned the ultimatum issued earlier by some 16 northern groups giving Igbos October 1 deadline to vacate the region.
The group said the ultimatum issued by the 16 northern groups was provocative and a grave threat to national security.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, under the title “Jos Declaration,” Muhammad Muntasir Adamu, the Co-Convener, who read the address, along with Abu-Maleek M.J. Coordinator, Maxwell Gowon, Co-Convener and Aliyu Mustapha, Deputy Coordinator, who all signed the statement, condemned the quit order in strong terms.
They added that Nigeria belongs to everybody and every Nigerian has the right to live in any part of the country without any fear of intimidation or harassment to lives and property, stressing that the statement issued in Kaduna does not reflect the opinions or views of every northern Nigerian youth, just as the actions of IPOB and MASSOB do not reflect the views and opinions of every person in the Southeast.
“We boldly say that two wrongs don’t make a right. We should not go down the same lane with some of our brothers in the Southeast. We have a duty, as young people, to re-write all the mistakes of the past and also to strengthen the unity of our country.
“Nigeria is more than just a geographical entity. It is more than just a creation of Britain for administrative convenience; it is a creation of God and we strongly believe He has great plans for us. The future of Nigeria is as bright as the promise of God,” they argued.
They further condemned statements by some political elite and elder statesmen capable of further heating up the polity, but commended the pro-active responses of Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and his Borno State counterpart, Kashim Shettima, to the so-called “Kaduna Declaration.”
The youths called on Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to convene a national dialogue to address all the grievances of the people, and political, religious and traditional leaders to encourage and preach unity to the citizens and strengthen belief in the Nigerian project.
They also urged government to caution and prosecute, when necessary, anybody found to be propagating or making inciting statements that constitute a threat to national unity.
