A coalition of Northern Youth groups under the aegis “The Kaduna Declaration” which had earlier declared a 3-month ultimatum for Igbos to vacate the north has reversed its threats.
Recall that the youth group had in a statement issued on June 6 through its spokesperson, AbdulAziz Suleiman said: “All northern civil society and pressure groups are by this declaration mandated to mobilize for sustained, coordinated campaigns at their respective State Government Houses, State Houses of Assembly, Local Government Council Secretariats and Traditional Palaces to mount pressure for steps to be taken to ensure enforcement of the directives contained herein.
“The North hereby openly calls on the authorities and other national and international stakeholders to acknowledge this declaration by taking steps to facilitate the final dissolution of this hopeless union that has never been convenient to any of the parties.
“From today, June 6, 2017, when this proclamation is signed, the North, a critical player in the Nigerian project, hereby declares that it will no longer be disposed to coexisting with the Igbos and shall take definite steps to end the partnership by pulling out of the current federal arrangement.”
Making a complete U-turn on its earlier decision, the President, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Comrade Yerima Shettima and the President, Arewa Consultative Forum Congress, Isaac Balami called on Nigerians to be calm.
The U-turn statement is contained in a video footage which surfaced online wherein Balami said the Northern groups had observed how the issue was “being discussed globally,” adding that “this is not the time for us to discuss separation. We need to come together. Arewa is know for peace.”
He continued: “It is obvious that the initial approach was not the best. We need to work together as a nation.
“I want to tell Nigerians living at home and in diaspora that there is hope. This nation is going no where.
“Shettima here wants to assure that everything that he has done was in good faith. This is one Nigeria and we are going nowhere.”
Watch video below:
https://youtu.be/NlYT079PNcg