The Eze N’digbo ( traditional rulers) and leaders of Igbo socio -cultural associations in the North have vowed to resist any attempt by the Coalition of Northern Groups to chase them out of the region .
The coalition groups are : Arewa Citizens Action for Change , led by Nastura Ashir Sharif; Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, led by Shettima Yerima ; Arewa Youth Development Foundation, led by Aminu Adam ; and the Arewa Students Forum, led by Alfred Solomon .
Others are , Northern Emancipation Network, led by Abdul-azeez Suleiman; Northern Youth Vanguard , led by Joshua Viashman; Northern Youth Stakeholders Forum, led by Mohammad Mohammad; North-East Assembly , led by Mohammed Tasiupantami ; and North Central People’ s Front , led by Nathaniel Ajegenaadigizi .
Concerned by the outrage that greeted the declaration , Kaduna State Governor , Nasir el -Rufai , and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris , ordered the arrest of the signatories to the declaration , but none of the youths has been apprehended as of Saturday.
The tension generated by the declaration of the northern youths worsened on Friday afternoon , when a prominent member of the Northern Elders’ Forum , and former Ahmadu Bello University Vice Chancellor, Prof . Ango Abdullahi , threw his weight behind the coalition .
The group of northern elders also expressed “disappointment” with the Northern Governors’ Forum for disowning the coalition , insisting that it was hypocritical for the Igbo to continue to live in other parts of the country while agitating for Nigeria ’ s breakup .
Speaking with one of our correspondents , the Eze Ndigbo of Kano, Boniface Ibekwe , said the over three million Igbo indigenes in Kano would not leave the city with all their investments acquired over several decades .
He said, “ We have advised our people to remain calm and that nobody should travel . The lives and property Igbo are secure . As far as I am concerned, no Igbo man has relocated with his family to the East . We are here and going about our normal business . The northern groups fanning the embers of war have never experienced the pains and after -effects of war because, if they had , they would always pray for the sustenance of peace, unity and stability.’’
Also, the Eze Ndigbo of Kaduna , Igwe Sylvanus Aneke, told one of our correspondents that his people were not afraid of the plans of the Arewa youths, especially when the Federal Government had stepped into the matter .
He said, “The youths have asked us to leave, but their parents , the police, the state government and the Federal Government have asked us to ignore the threat. We will rather listen to the elders and the government.
“Ango Abdullahi merely expressed his opinion. We are not taking him seriously because we are used to his antics. We are watching the events for now . We will take our decisions after we have watched , prayed and discovered that nothing has changed.”
The President General of the Igbo Community Welfare Association in Kaduna State , Chris Nnoli , also urged Igbo in the North to stay still .
He said, “It (the ultimatum) is a serious issue that should naturally be taken seriously. We are concerned, but since the Kaduna State Government has assured us of safety, we want to hold on to this assurance . I am greatly worried that up till this moment, nobody has been apprehended over the issue. We are watching events and we believe that government will intensify action and get the youths arrested. It is when we have seen that the government and the IG’ s assurances are not effective that we will start to think of other means of seeking protection .”
The Eze Igbo III, Jos South in Plateau State , Lawrence Onwudinjo , who is also the President, Igbo Cultural Association , said no Igbo person would leave the North on account of any threat from any northern youth .
He said, “ Igbo people in Plateau State are going nowhere . There is no right -thinking human being that will ask people to leave where they are living. This is one Nigeria where we are living. Nigeria belongs to all of us. I believe that if any part of the country needs anything , they should sit down together to discuss it . Everybody should come to a roundtable to discuss it. ”
Another Igbo leader in Lantang , James Abraham , said no Igbo would relocate and that if they would have to move, northerners in the South -East should be waiting for their quit notice too .
He said, “If the Arewa youths tell us to leave the North, their kinsmen in the South -East should also be ready to leave. Do the Arewa youths have representatives in Plateau State ? They should not be taken seriously. ”
The President General of the Igbo community in Sokoto , Onyebuchi Uwaga , told SUNDAY PUNCH that, following the assurance from the government and the police, no Igbo would leave the North .
Also, the Ezeigbo I of Nasarawa State , Nathaniel Nduba , in calling for the immediate arrest of the Arewa youths in the interest of peace, pointed out that no Igbo person would leave the region , despite the threat given by the northern coalition .
A yam seller in Nasarawa, Mrs. Amaka Chukwudi, also said, “The threat by the AYCF was an empty threat. They forget that they have their brothers and sisters spread across other states. Has anybody asked them to leave ? Why should the northerners give such an ultimatum?”
Igbo in Bauchi State , in reaction to the ultimatum, also stated that they would not leave the North.


One of them, Joshua Chukwu , said, ‘’ For me , I will not take laws into my hands but will remain law -abiding , as the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees everyone , irrespective of tribe or origin , the right to reside in whatever part of the country he deems fit to pursue his legitimate business . ”
Similarly , Igbo in Niger State told SUNDAY PUNCH that they would ignore the threat and carry on with their legitimate activities without exercising any fear.
A businessman, Tochukwu Chikwem , said he had no plans to send his family back to the East .
Another Igbo man in Minna , Felix Irojiogu , said, “ They are seeking recognition or attention which they don ’t deserve. They are wasting their time; government should arrest them for trying to cause problem in the country .”
In Katsina State , the mood of defiance was also noticed when a businessman, Jude Eze , said, “How can I listen to the rantings of those rascals ? You should know they don ’t know the consequences of what they are saying . It took our leaders and elders years of sweat , and some even paid with their lives , to get Nigeria to this stage and some boys who have never gone beyond their villages are saying we should pack our belongings and go. We are not going anywhere. ”
Meanwhile , Katsina State Governor , Aminu Masari , has assured non-indigenes in the state of their safety.
But in Sokoto State , some Igbo men have made up their minds to leave, stressing that anyone who ignores the Arewa youths’ threat would do so at his peril.
One of them, Uchendu Sunday, a father of three , who operates a patent medicine store at Mabera , in Sokoto , said, “ I grew up in Kano. Sadly, my elder brother was killed there during a violent demonstration against the United States of America , when Osama bin Laden was declared wanted in 2001, after the bombing of the World Trade Centre .
“It was this sad memory that haunted me out of Kano to Sokoto . This is why I have decided to end my sojourn in the North and return to the East with my wife and three children . One thing I can assure you is that there will be an exodus of Igbo from the North, based on this ultimatum.”
In the East , various groups and associations said they had no intention of issuing a similar ultimatum to northerners living among them.
Speaking for Igbo youths, the President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, the youth wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo , Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said, “We will not ask northerners to leave . We will continue to show them love, as Igbo have done in the past .”
Reacting to the ultimatum, the leader of the northern community in Enugu State , Sarkin Hausawa , Idris Ado Suleiman, stated that they exercised no fear of any tit -for -tat response by their eastern hosts .
Suleiman said, “We have heard about the ultimatum. They said Igbo in the North should leave in three months . But we know it is not something that is possible .”

http://punchng.com/igbo-dare-arewa-we-wont-leave-north/

I support this. Arewa youths forum, yerima and co

I will continue to say this, chaos helps no one. The average northerner like myself is known for peace, honesty and diligence. Every quarters should calm their nerves please.

Let's give peace a chance. The country is difficult for many people, but I believe with hope and hardwork, things might turn-around. Some of us have childhood friends that are ibos. We laugh together, cry together and celebrate together.


Peace is golden. Like a hausa proverb said, "zaman lafiya yafi zama dan sarki"(peace is better than being a son of a king)

I'm a northerner, and am known to be hospitable, a lover of peace!!

If you have seen war and chaos you won't pray to be near it again. Be warned.

those arewa youths and their sponsors have failed, jobless nonentities, we are watching nd waiting, times have change, thread with caution.

Ibos to their masters: We want Biafra, but we won't leave the North

Northerners dare Ibos: We won't give you Biafra.

Yorubas to Nigerians: Planning our next party.

Celebrate and enjoy life. No time for nonsense

I think the #Arewayouthsquine cured the #Biafrathreatlaria...
Igbo must go, no be them called Nigeria as Zoo, it is now that they know what is called unity and even saying one Nigeria, Biafra my ass.

Nutase:
If you have seen war and chaos you won't pray to be near it again. Be warned.

This is going to be war between ibos and their masters. It doesn't concern Yorubas. I don't want to hear one flat head riffraff cry about Yorubas not intervening. Every relocating flat head dare not set foot on the SW soil. SE straight.

Ibos wan take style hide behind the Yoruba giant

Truth is these ediots can't get over their sickly president. It's God that gives power.

By the way, Biafra or no Biafra, these ppl have no right to chase anybody out of northern Nigeria. How many Nigerians were chased out of the UK and Europe after our independence in 1960? Worse case scenario, Igbos living in the north might apply for residency. There are international laws that guide procedures like this. If this shiit get real, Yorubas and middle belt (including southern kaduna ) will pull out of the union. Arewa will br like Chad or Niger. Northern oligarchs will lose their concess8in Niger Delta.

Fighting Igbos won't make Arewa friends with south south . Even if south south does not support biafra. It's a loss loss for northerners .

Where is the president?

hian FEAR NORTH

Don't these flat heads want Biafra anymore? Why are they afraid of leaving their masters?

kn23h:


This is going to be war between ibos and their masters. It doesn't concern Yorubas. I don't want to here one flat head riffraff cry about Yorubas not intervening. Every relocating flat head shouldn't dare set foot on the SW soil. SE straight.

Ibos wan take style hide behind the Yoruba giant

I pity your type. Have you stayed in the north before?
Well in case you don't know, when Hausa's say Igbo they mean every southerner both Christian and Muslim and northern Christians inclusive. Afenifere understand how this things work that's why they asked Yorubas to leave the north. Go and read the parable of the mouse trap set in the farm and how it led to the death of every other animal in the farm except the mouse who was the primary target. Then I believe you will have sense.
I've witnessed this thing first hand so keep deceiving yourself.

Movic1 wrote

IF I hear? Forget about the "behafra" higihaga . An average igboman would rather die in the North than for him to go back to the East. Igbos can't do without Nigeria.


You want behafra, they gave you the opportunity, U re all over the social media shouting Dss, have u forgotten that this same Dss is a department in the zoo?

You guys want to eat your Akpu and still have it. It is not possible.

This guy sabi dz people , they are neither here nor there, they are confused. Pls I have one question for those ipod yoot, Who's the Unity beggar here?

This quit notice have exposed every thing about the sudden biafra outcry!

Jonathan lost in the last election is still fresh in their minds, the Ijaws have moved on the igbos should follow suit.

factory resetting, indeed it is only a master that knows how to call his slave to order when he goes wayward.

Igbos are known for being confused and disorganize with their strategy, so this display of idiocy comes as no surprise to the typical Nigerian.

Nutase:

I pity your type. Have you stayed in the north before?
Well in case you don't know, when Hausa's say Igbo they mean every southerner both Christian and Muslim and northern Christians inclusive. Afenifere understand how this things work that's why they asked Yorubas to leave the north. Go and read the parable of the mouse trap set in the farm and how it led to the death of every other animal in the farm except the mouse who was the primary target. Then I believe you will have sense.
I've witnessed this thing first hand so keep deceiving yourself.

Pity yourself.
Ohhh so you're now worried about the other Southerners. So thoughtful.
When did the flat head children of hate start caring about what happens to "afonjas" in the North.
Afenifere speaks for the PDP politicians and not for the Yoruba man. Swallow what Afenifere says at your own peril. Regardless of the fact that Even though Afenifere speaks for Ibos in this case, the nutcases in the SE will still brand them afonja because they [flat heads] don't understand political diplomacy. So if you must pity, pity yourself and the idiotic Afenifere speaking for flat heads that despises them.

K

mesoprogress:
Truth is these ediots can't get over their sickly president. It's God that gives power.

By the way, Biafra or no Biafra, these ppl have no right to chase anybody out of northern Nigeria. How many Nigerians were chased out of the UK and Europe after our independence in 1960? Worse case scenario, Igbos living in the north might apply for residency. There are international laws that guide procedures like this. If this shiit get real, Yorubas and middle belt (including southern kaduna ) will pull out of the union. Arewa will br like Chad or Niger. Northern oligarchs will lose their concess8in Niger Delta.

Fighting Igbos won't make Arewa friends with south south . Even if south south does not support biafra. It's a loss loss for northerners .

I agree. They're just like the ediots that couldn't get over GEJ's election failure. It's shuku shuku alambi's power.

The loudmouthed chestbeating developers don start again. Today they want Biafra, tomorrow they want to live with abokis.

kn23h:


Pity yourself.
Ohhh so you're now worried about the other Southerners. So thoughtful.
When did the flat head children of hate start caring about what happens to "afonjas" in the North.
Afenifere speaks for the PDP politicians and not for the Yoruba man. Swallow what Afenifere says at your own peril. Regardless of the fact that Even though Afenifere speaks for Ibos in this case, the nutcases in the SE will still brand them afonja because they [flat heads] don't understand political diplomacy. So if you must pity, pity yourself and the idiotic Afenifere speaking for flat heads that despises them.

it's obvious you are a boko Haram online member pretending to be Yoruba. You're trying to start a tribal war here but sorry you've failed.

mesoprogress:
Truth is these ediots can't get over their sickly president. It's God that gives power.

By the way, Biafra or no Biafra, these ppl have no right to chase anybody out of northern Nigeria. How many Nigerians were chased out of the UK and Europe after our independence in 1960? Worse case scenario, Igbos living in the north might apply for residency. There are international laws that guide procedures like this. If this shiit get real, Yorubas and middle belt (including southern kaduna ) will pull out of the union. Arewa will br like Chad or Niger. Northern oligarchs will lose their concess8in Niger Delta.

Fighting Igbos won't make Arewa friends with south south . Even if south south does not support biafra. It's a loss loss for northerners .

Hope you know that the authority to grant residency to a foreign national is strictly at the discretion of the host country, you cannot force anyone to grant you residency.

I support the entire Biafra thing, the noise is getting too much and the Igbos are making it sound like they're being enslaved in Nigeria. If the majority of Igbos can vote to leave, then let every man go his way. Enough of the noise, it is irritating.

Nutase:
it's obvious you are a boko Haram online member pretending to be Yoruba. You're trying to start a tribal war here but sorry you've failed.

As I thought..... an IQ of negative digits.
I guess you were trying to start a kumbaya.

mesoprogress:
Truth is these ediots can't get over their sickly president. It's God that gives power.

By the way, Biafra or no Biafra, these ppl have no right to chase anybody out of northern Nigeria. How many Nigerians were chased out of the UK and Europe after our independence in 1960? Worse case scenario, Igbos living in the north might apply for residency. There are international laws that guide procedures like this. If this shiit get real, Yorubas and middle belt (including southern kaduna ) will pull out of the union. Arewa will br like Chad or Niger. Northern oligarchs will lose their concess8in Niger Delta.

Fighting Igbos won't make Arewa friends with south south . Even if south south does not support biafra. It's a loss loss for northerners .

so what are you insisting? you want to have biafra and still remain in Nigeria? and it will be win win for you guys, eating your cake and still want to have it, now i think that's ridiculous and a joke of a century.

Why forcing yourself on us we are backward people and we don't want you guys to become backward that's why we are setting you free.

biafra or not each and every igbo must leave our land, let me see how the southeast will accommodate millions of igbos from the north.

farouk0403:


so what are you insisting? you want to have biafra and still remain in Nigeria? and it will be win win for you guys, eating your cake and still want to have it, now i think that's ridiculous and a joke of a century.

Why forcing yourself on us we are backward people and we don't want you guys to become backward that's why we are setting you free.

biafra or not each and every igbo must leave our land, let me see how the southeast will accommodate millions of igbos from the north.

Eboes: The North is backwards and dirty

Aboki: Leave the North

Eboes: We will not leave the backwards and dirty North

kn23h:


Eboes: The North is backwards and dirty

Aboki: Leave the North

Eboes: We will not leave the backwards and dirty North

Lol are they not contradicting theirselves, confused fellows

Nutase:

I pity your type. Have you stayed in the north before?
Well in case you don't know, when Hausa's say Igbo they mean every southerner both Christian and Muslim and northern Christians inclusive. Afenifere understand how this things work that's why they asked Yorubas to leave the north. Go and read the parable of the mouse trap set in the farm and how it led to the death of every other animal in the farm except the mouse who was the primary target. Then I believe you will have sense.
I've witnessed this thing first hand so keep deceiving yourself.

Ogbeni face ur warrant, I think u ve got wat u want, for months u be been drumming for war, cursing, and insulting the Northerners, they ignore u, now they just cough, u all shivering.

You and d Albino brought this upon urself. ..

These Biafrauds are seriously confused. This whole scenario just point to the fact that the igbos are politically naive and unwit.

Where the northern ezes not aware of that flat headed fraudster called Kanu's persistent drumming for secession?

Dont they understand that one of the repercussions of such venture is for all igbos to move back to their over populated gully eroded and land locked enclave?

U got all you want so swiftly leave the North and go turn your land into hell on earth for yourselves cos igbos will alwats be igbos.

Lol one ibo man will come and preach how the northerners can't tell an ibo man from a yoruba man now....Abeg cry your cry mk I cry my own.

Igbos are Nigerians, so it is illegal to threaten 18% of Nigerians to scamper. Prof. Ango, Yerima, Kanu, Asari Dokubo etcetra should be deported out of Nigeria for various gross misdemeanour.

Ojukwu's time was uncivilised. This Kanu's Time is Computer Israelis' Time. Ango, please beware 'cos The Israelis are coming.

The smart northern youths wants to help them leave (i. e. help yourselves by yourselves), but the ibos are now saying they would resist any move to make them leave and are shouting one naijeriya.

Does that mean the ibos in the north do not want biafra; why are they afraid of going home to the land of the rising sun