Arewa Youths That Gave Igbo Quit Notice Are Angry Youths Who Were Used And Abandoned By APC - Northern Youth Leaders’ Forum

Northern Youth Leaders’ Forum has again condemn the quit notice to Igbo by some sections of the Northern youth group. The leader of the group, Comrade Elliot Afiyo said the youths were angry members who felt they were used and abandoned by the All Progressives Congress (APC) politicians.

Hear him

“We consider the quit notice as ill advised, ill-timed and uncalled for. 

“We strongly believe the groups of northern youths were motivated, encouraged and sponsored by some individuals who felt cheated by both the federal government and some state governments controlled by the APC. 

“These individuals were used and dumped; no recognition or appreciation was extended to them. 

“They are, therefore, bent on destabilizing the government,” he said.

The forum also inferred that the coalition of northern youth’s reckless action might have been incited by “our Igbo brothers insult and abuse of other nationalities, especially the northerners, calling us cows and parasites.”

The statement further said:

“We condemn in strongest terms, the approach of our brothers in issuing an ultimatum to Igbo. No nation or ethnic nationality can survive on its own without the support and help of another. 

“Northerners need the Igbo, the Igbo need the Yoruba, and Yoruba need the Hausa. We are totally against the balkanisation of Nigeria. We know the price the North paid for the unity of this country. We are more determined, committed and willing to continue to pay the price to keep this country one; not because we are afraid of our brothers from the east, west and south, nor are we afraid of the future, but for the labour of our heroes past.”

The forum advised all groups to operate within the ambits of the rule of law and strongly condemned the use of violence and hate speech in the country.

It also called on the federal government and the Inspector General of Police to, “withdraw, forthwith, the directive to arrest the signatories of the Kaduna declaration.

“We believe our brothers in the South have said more than what our brothers said and were not arrested. There is, therefore, no justification for the arrest.”

The statement went on to appeal to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to call for a meeting of genuine leaders of the northern youths and southern youths to find a way forward for the country.