By Amos Tauna
The Umbrella Organization of Youths in northern Nigeria, Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), says it is worried with recent threats to peaceful co-existence of the nation as occasioned by calls from various groups on restructuring the nation.
AYF notes that recently, it cautioned some youth in Northern part of the country, who issued ultimatum to people of South Eastern extraction to vacate the region before October.
Its National President, Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu in a statement said their concern lies in the fact that, “we believe in the oneness of Nigeria and the strength the country is getting and can still get from its diversity as a strong entity in the African continent and the world at large.”
Read Statement Below
2019 Elections, Nnamdi Kanu’s Call and the Danger of Igbo Leaders Silence
The Arewa Youth Forum, (AYF) the Umbrella Organization of Youths in the north is worried about the developing situation in the country and the threat to peace, unity and development of the country.
Recently AYF has cause to call for caution when some Northern Youths gave persons of South Eastern extraction in the north ultimatum to vacate the region before October.
This is because we believe in the oneness of Nigeria and the strength the country is getting and can still get from its diversity as a strong entity in the African continent and the world at large.
However truth be told, the Northern Youths were provoked by the unnecessary and persistent calls for disintegration by the Indegenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) and MASSOB. In the same vein Nnamdi Kanu has started calling on his people to boycott the November Governorship election in Anambra and the 2019 elections in the whole of the South East.
To our consternation, this is happening when the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is meeting with stakeholders across the country to strengthen the bond that binds us together as one a laudable effort. But it is unfortunate that the Federal Government and even leaders of thought and politicians especially those of Igbo extraction has not deem it necessary to condemn him or call him to order.
We also amused while the call for the arrest of Northern Youths is still on, nobody is saying anything about the provocation of Nnamdi Kanu. To add salt to injury this is someone that have severally and serially violated his bail conditions with reckless abandon and he is working free.
As a Stakeholder in the Nigerian project, it is our responsibility as the umbrella Organization of Youths in the north to rein in our members and advocate peaceful coexistence as a panacea for enduring peace and development of all. But a situation where those from other regions and the Federal government is not seen to be up and doing leaves much to be desired.
It is because of this that we are immediately calling on the Federal Government bring Nnamdi Kanu to book, because his call to disrupt the polls in the region is a threat to peace in the country. The court to also order for his re arrest as his has serially violated his bail conditions.
AYF is also calling on leaders from the South East to immediately call Nnamdi Kanu to order just as Patriotic Northern elders did when Igbos were given ultimatum in the north. A situation where the leaders from the zone are seen to be indirectly given Nnamdi Kanu support will further divide the country and alienate the South East from others in Nigeria.
Signed
Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu
National President,
Arewa Youth Forum
