Major Hamza Al Mustapha (rtd), former Chief Security Officer to the late military dictator, Sani Abacha, has slammed Arewa youth for their effrontery in issuing Igbos living in the north a quit notice.
Al-Mustapha also condemned those agitating for the secession of the eastern part of the country from Nigeria.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos, Al- Mustapha said he was embarking on a peace and reconciliation nationwide tour in order to get the warring parties in Nigeria back to seeing the country as one indivisible unit.
He said: “If we want to make progress in Nigeria, we should first have faith in God because He did not make mistake creating us as Nigerians. God could have created us as Asians, Europeans or Americans, but he chose to create us as Nigerians.
“Those who strive to keep Nigeria one find themselves as enemies of a certain category of Nigerians.
“I don’t see those who hate to see Nigeria as one as a group but a clique that exploits the country, a clique that mismanages the future, a clique that invests in disintegration, a clique that invests in misinformation and creating division among Nigerians, a clique that promotes hatred, a clique that distorts our history, so that when Nigerians are divided and can no longer think together, they can make gains and continue to steal from Nigeria’s commonwealth.
“But the moment you realize what they are doing and resolve to fight them, they will stop at nothing to destroy you.
“Agitators and need for restructure Greed for power, money and affluence does not make us great. However, dedication and service to the people should be our driving force.
“Any call to divide Nigeria is unacceptable. I have been playing a role to ensure a united Nigeria. I have been criss-crossing the North and the South-East, and to all parties concerned, soliciting for peace. I was recently in Owerri to sign a peace accord with some associations and the North.
“My understanding is that certain people are investing in these problems to promote themselves, but very soon the government would realize it. If Arewa youths had addressed IPOB as a group or their leader Nnamdi Kanu as an individual, it would have been a fair deal, but asking millions of Igbo that reside in the North to quit is not acceptable by law and the provisions of our Constitution.
“We have spoken to the Northern Leaders Forum as well as Ralph Uwazuruike because Nnamdi Kanu was his boy, he brought him up to be in the Radio House in London. The people creating tension in Nigeria are behind Kanu.
“What he is doing may not necessarily be to create tension but those behind him are investing in the tension to divide us as a nation. But our security agencies are doing a lot to identity them. All I am after is the creation of a platform that is sincere and that caters for indigent Nigerians.”