The pan-Northern socio-political organisation, Arewa Consultative Forum, on Thursday said that Indigenous People of Biafra’s  banning the singing of the National Anthem and the transportation of livestock to the South-East was a declaration of war.

The National Publicity Secretary of the ACF, Emmanuel Yawe, stated  this in an interview with one of our correspondents while commenting on the plan by   Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff  and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria to ban movement of foodstuffs from the North to the South-East.

But the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, appealed to the northern traders to shelve the plan.

There were reports on Monday that the secessionist group, IPOB had banned the slaughtering of Fulani cows and the recitation of the Nigerian national anthem in Biafraland -South-East.

According to the reports,  IPOB, in the New Year message by its  Director of State, Chika Edoziem, said only the Biafran anthem should be taught in schools.

The group also said only “native cows” would be permitted for consumption in Biafraland.

On Wednesday,  the  Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria  expressed its readiness to stop the transportation of livestock and foodstuffs to the South -East.

The  Chairman of Northern Traders, Muhammad Tahir, said members of the association would stop sales of cattle, grains, onions and other foodstuffs in the Southeast.

In a statement he signed, Tahir said, “For us, we would always support the indivisibility of Nigeria; but if IPOB wants to secede, then so be it.

“Bilateral trade between us and them is all about wealth creation for the two regions; the cattle we take to them is food and not poison.”

But on Thursday, the ACF said  the order by the IPOB was unnecessary as the Nigeria was not at war, urging well meaning Nigerians to call the Biafra agitators to order.

 Yawe  also said in an interview with The PUNCH in Kaduna that it would be difficult for the forum to appeal to the Union this time around.

The ACF noted that the fear and concerns of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff & Cattle Dealers of Nigeria were justified following the threat by the IPOB

The ACF’s spokesman said, “We have appealed to this union in the past when their members were attacked and some killed and their property destroyed due to no fault of theirs.

“At that time, they mounted a blockade and stopped the supply of foodstuffs to the East. Prices skyrocketed and there was an outcry. Due to appeals by the ACF, they lifted the blockade.

“The recent actions  by IPOB amount to a declaration of war. It is difficult for the ACF to appeal to the union to resume supplies to the East with the pronouncements of the IPOB.

“The concerns of the union and their fears are justified. Somebody should call IPOB to order. We are still one country and not at war. Their pronouncements amount to an open declaration of war.”

We'll soon showcase our achievements, says IPOB
But Ohanaeze Ndigbo regretted that Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria would issue a threat to stop transportation of livestock and foodstuffs to the South -East without getting its (Ohanaeze) position on IPOB’s directive.

Ohanaeze spokesman Chief Alex Ogbonnia, in an interview with The PUNCH said, “The Igbo are the most out-reaching and adventurous ethnic group in Nigeria. We are welcome in every state in Nigeria by all the ethnic groups and to that extent, we welcome other ethnic groups in Igboland. It is exchange of values; mutual reciprocity. The issue of banning goods for which an ethnic group is known is not acceptable. For example, we have goods for which the Igbo are known and are marketed in other zones in Nigeria, the same way we welcome goods for which other ethnic groups are known and marketed in Igboland.

“So, Ohanaeze Ndigbo philosophy is peace onto all. Is only when we identify any source of conflict we try to manage it but for Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in fact Igbo in general we welcome  goods anybody will sell in Igboland.

“Importantly, the people who are acting on what IPOB said, they should know that we have many aspirations in Igboland, but Ohanaeze Ndigbo is the umbrella associations of all the Igbo groups. So efforts should be made to listen to Ohanaeze Ndigbo before some final decisions will be taken on issues affecting entire Igbo.”

CNG bans Igbo goods in North

On its part, the Coalition of Northern Groups called for a total boycott of all businesses operated by the Igbo all over the North.

The CNG’s Spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, noted that IPOB’s order issued in a statement on Monday  amounted to a grave provocation and serious threat to northern commercial interests in the South- East and by extension to the physical well-being of northerners living as minorities among Igbo communities.

The CNG called for the total boycott of all businesses, goods and services operated by Igbo in the North effective from the same April 2022.

The CNG also called on northerners everywhere to decline support for any political party or formation or movement that had the active participation of South-East politicians.

Suleiman said, “For the avoidance of doubt, the North while maintaining its tradition of tolerance and accommodation, shall however no longer be disposed to condoning further acts of irresponsibility in the form of deliberate threats of intimidation or harassment targeted at Northerners living and doing legitimate businesses elsewhere in the country.

“Since such targeted utterances have in the past being preludes to physical attacks on northerners and destruction of their properties in particularly the South -East, we urge northern transporters and suppliers of goods to consider alternative trade routes to avoid the imminent risks that come with this IPOB threat.

“We warm that the North has had enough of the antagonism from the South- East and its attack dog, the IPOB and will no longer remain passive under such deliberate and sustained attacks and will henceforth be forced to react to every provocation and unwarranted abuse and violations.

“All those who have no other useful vocation other than attacking northerners under the slightest of pretexts, should know that our patience has reached its nadir.

“The North’s reticence in speaking out or taking action is not born of fear or ignorance of how to respond in kind.”

FreeStuffsNG:
Storm in a tea cup. People,whether in the SE or North, will eat and survive . It is not everyone in Nigeria that is into cannibalism like the terrorist group IPOB.
Punch can continue reporting only negative news and yield its bitterness against PMB for every terrorist group if they like.
All the enemies of Nigeria will lose las las. They always lose. God bless Nigeria.

helinues:
Banning of Nigeria national anthem in SE is actually a declaration of war indirectly..

Who are the miscreants Igbos to be given orders? On whose authority are they using?

helinues:
Banning of Nigeria national anthem in SE is actually a declaration of war indirectly..

Who are the miscreants Igbos to be given orders? On whose authority are they using?

richmond500:
Ipob no get single Brian I swear, I just wished north to completely ban food going to that region like it did in the civil war, e don tay weh I see kwashiorkor children

jeffizy:
The Ohaneze is being under appreciated by those it seeks to speak for.

This is because the majority in that region will rather obey the directives of some touts (who probably never witnessed the civil war) - with a knee jerk approach to secession than listen to their elders.

The problem is not IPOB , but the citizens who have loudly and boldly taken a stand with IPOB with their Silence. A pity.

ipobcannibals:
[s]Ohaneze and SE governors are the most useless set of people on the planet. How can they allow a bunch of jobless criminals in overseas to hijack their region from them? They’ve never for once condemn the Ipob terrorists causing havoc all over the place, but will always be quick to scream: “Igbo presidency”.
I don’t think Nigerians will be comfortable voting for an Igbo president after the political damage done by namadi cownu and his Ipob cannibals. Even I as an Igbo would rather vote for a northerner or Tinubu as my president. Ohaneze and all Igbo leaders, religious and celebrities of the SE are a disgrace for not condemning evil (Ipob terrorists and namadi cownu).
The north should retaliate against the SE economically also. Perhaps when the Igbo traders will start feeling the pinch in their bank a/c, then they will start killing any Ipob terrorist they know.[/s]

November1857:
we rather take a stand with our liberators than our oppressors