We’re not at war with Igbos, they’re our kinsmen – Northern group

As reactions continue to trail the ‘eviction’ ultimatum given to Igbos resident in northern Nigeria by a youth group, a Coalition of Northern Civil Society Organizations, NCSO, has said that the north is not at war with the Igbos and that Ndigbo are the kinsmen of the north. The group however described the eviction directive as a mere fallacy and a mission impossible.

Recall that a coalition of Northern Youth Groups tagged “The Kaduna Declaration” had given all Igbos residing in any part of Northern Nigeria three months to relocate to their places of origin.

The spokesman of the group, Alhaji Abdulaziz Suleiman, while briefing newsmen in Kaduna on Tuesday said, “With the effective date of this declaration, which is today, Tuesday, June 06, 2017, all Igbos currently residing in any part of Northern Nigeria are hereby served notice to relocate within three months and all northerners residing in the East are advised likewise.”

Reacting to the directive, NCSO said northern Nigeria is never at war with the Igbo counterpart and has no reason to eject them from their own country.

Comrade Guoana Gamji, National President of the group in a statement issued to newsmen described the order as a clear case of treason, saying that such declaration has no place in the constitution.

Gamji noted that the situation in the country is that several groups have been agitating for restructuring to accommodate fiscal federalism, resource control, equitable access to public offices among others and not the eviction of other ethnic group.

He noted that, “The ultimatum and directives of “The Kaduna Declaration” are as perverted as the wrong impression being given by secessionists that they enjoy widespread support. The declaration does not reflect the sentiments of the north or the northerners who as Nigerians are receptive to all ethnicities.

“We therefore strongly condemn the wrong impression being created to the effect that the north is at war with Igbos to warrant serving them quit notice. The north is not at war with any part of Nigeria as the region truly believes in the strength of a united Nigeria.

“We are not only happy to live with the Igbos but we are eagerly available to do business with them and everyone else that believes in one Nigeria,” Gamji said in the statement.

He noted that those issuing the statement are the true enemies of Nigeria.

While calling on all well meaning northern leaders to dissociate themselves from this meaningless call, the coalition said the groups that took part in the briefing should be blacklisted and ostracized in any way possible as they must not be provided the platform to further spread hatred.

 

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