Ihuoma Chiedozie , Olaleye Aluko , Toluwani Eniola and Godwin Isenyo

The coalition of northern groups , including the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum , which gave Igbo residents in the North three -month ultimatum to leave the region , has written to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to facilitate the process of allowing Igbo to leave Nigeria .
One of the leaders of the coalition and National President, AYCF, Alhaji Shettima Yerima , confirmed this on the telephone to The PUNCH in Kaduna on Monday .
In the open letter, signed by five of the leaders of the groups , the coalition urged the Acting President to ease the exit of the Igbo from Nigeria so that they could have their dream country , Biafra .
This, they said , should not be through violent means but in a peaceful manner through a referendum.
Those who signed the letter are Yerima ; Joshua Viashman ( Northern Youth Vanguard ); Aminu Adam ( Arewa Youth Development Foundation); Abdul- Azeez Suleiman ( Northern Emancipation Network) and Nastura Ashir Sharif ( Arewa Citizens Action for Change) .
According to the groups , the Acting President should take steps to facilitate the actualisation of the Biafran nation in line with the principle of self- determination as an integral part of contemporary international law .
They added, “We feel that it is risky for the rest of the country , particularly the North, to go on pretending that it is safe for us to co -exist with the Igbo given how deeply they are entrenched in our societies . ”
They added that since the principle of self -determination became one of the Charters of the UN, after the World War ll, it was better for the Igbo to go without bloodletting .
The group argued that as the Igbo agitations persisted and assumed threatening dimensions, “ we submit that there is the need to ensure that they are given the opportunity to exercise the right to self -determination as entrenched in the aforementioned international statutes to which Nigeria is a signatory. ”
They insisted that they were not waging war or calling anyone to violence , but noted that “ we nevertheless are also not willing to continue tolerating the malicious campaign and threats of war that the Igbo have continued to wage against us . ”
The youth leaders stated , “ Neither can we afford to continue giving the keys to our cities to a people whose utterances, plans and arrangements are clearly geared towards war and anarchy .
“We therefore demand that the only enduring solution to this scourge that is being visited on the nation is complete separation of the states presently agitating for Biafra from the Federal Republic of Nigeria through a peaceful political process by taking steps to facilitate the actualisation of the Biafran nation in line with the principle of self -determination as an integral part of contemporary customary international law .
“We submit that this protocol envisages that people of any nation have the right to self -determination, and although the Charter did not categorically impose direct legal obligations on member states , it implies that member states allow agitating or minority groups to self -govern as much as possible .”
The coalition continued in the letter that past experience had shown that the Igbo of Eastern Nigeria manifested their hatred for Nigeria ’s unity barely five years after the country ’s independence from the British “when on January 15 , 1966 , their army officers carried out the first - ever mutiny that marked the beginning of a series of crises which has profoundly altered the course of Nigeria ’s history. ”
They noted that even in recent times , the agitation for the Igbo to have the Republic of Biafra heightened with the activities of Kanu ’s IPOB and never opposed by majority of the Igbo .
The coalition added , “Kanu and IPOB have declared full allegiance to a ‘ Republic of Biafra ’ and continue to preach hatred and war virtually every day , and not for once did any Igbo leader caution them .
“Instead, many of the leaders , including Mr . Ike Ekweremadu , the Deputy Senate President, the most senior elected Igbo , pay Kanu courtesy calls to prove that he is speaking for the entire Igbo .
“Even the latest statement by the South- East Governors Forum, signed by Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, in a response to the northern reaction, did not condemn Kanu and Uwazuruike but characterised their action as peaceful .
“While we do not see this clamour for Biafra as an issue over which a single drop of blood should be shed , we, at the same time, insist that the Igbo be allowed to have their Biafra and for them to vacate our land peacefully so that our dear country Nigeria can finally enjoy lasting peace and stability .”

You can ’t drive us out of Nigeria, Ohanaeze tells North

But in its reaction, the apex umbrella for the Igbo , the Ohanaeze Ndigbo , said the North could not drive Ndigbo out of Nigeria .
The Deputy Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo , Mr. Chuks Ibegbu, who spoke to one of our correspondents in Enugu , said Ohanaeze insisted on the restructuring of the country , and not secession .
Stressing that the northern youths lacked the mandate to speak for the Igbo , Ibegbu noted that the Arewa groups were trying to provoke another war in the country .
Ibegbu stated , “In the first place , I want to thank the Acting President for the role he is playing in this situation . He is a peacemaker and he has shown himself to be conversant with the dynamics of leadership .
“The Acting President has told all the parties to allow peace to reign . Igbo are peaceful people ; so, we will abide by what he said .
“We are conscious of what the Acting President told the Igbo leaders and the traditional rulers when they visited the Presidential Villa. Therefore, we will not be drawn into taking issue with these northern youths ; they are people who have shown themselves to be lawbreakers and warmongers .
“The activities of these Arewa youths have shown that there is more than meets the eye to the ultimatum they gave the Igbo in the North. They simply want to drag the country into another war .”
Ibegbu stressed that agitation for separation was not peculiar to the Igbo , as claimed by the Arewa youths.
The Ohanaeze spokesman observed that the agitation in the South-East was largely a protest against marginalisation , rather than a wish for secession .
Ibegbu added , “ That some individuals are pushing for self -determination in the South- East does not mean that the Igbo want to secede . The real situation is a protest against marginalisation .
“We should not forget that even now , as we speak, the Boko Haram sect is still canvassing Islamic rule in the North, using violent means – that is a form of agitation for secession .
“So why should the northern youths ignore the log in their eyes to bother about the speck in another person ’s eyes; why the venom against the Igbo ?”

Afenifere berates northern youths , reinstates call for their arrest


Reacting to the letter, the Yoruba socio- cultural group , Afenifere , slammed the youth for their position .
The spokesperson for the group , Yinka Odumakin , in an interview with one of our correspondents, asked Osinbajo to tell the Inspector-General of Police , Ibrahim Idris, to arrest leaders of the northern groups .
Odumakin argued that the letter signified danger to the southerners in the North.
He stated , “This is a confirmation of what we have said so far . For almost 12 days after their inciting comments, none of them has been arrested by the police .
“That they are giving it back to the Acting President shows that they have an assignment they are carrying out for their sponsors. It also shows that the elders have failed to caution their youths .”

Northern elders split on youths call for referendum

Meanwhile, the Northern Elders Forum and the Northern Elders Council have disagreed on the call by the coalition of northern youths to the acting President to organise a “ referendum that will ease out the Igbo out of the country . ”
The Chairman of the NEC , Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, said the referendum would be unconstitutional.
He added that “any secession could only be actualised by war .”
But the Secretary of the NEF , Prof Ango Abdullahi , believed that the northern youths had made a workable recommendation since both warring parties had not shifted their grounds.
Yakasai stated , “ You know that in the Nigerian constitution, there is no place where there is a national referendum for secession . If they ( the youths ) don ’ t know what they are doing , you should know what you are doing .
“Only the Independent National Electoral Commission can organise a referendum. That is all. Nobody has the power to organise a referendum. The acting President has no power to organise a national referendum. We are governed by our constitution.
“The only way for any group to secede is through war. There is no provision for any part to secede legally .”
Abbdullahi , on the other hand , said , “ The fact that there has been a contact with the elders by the acting President has not yet brought out any resolution to the position taken by both sides.
“So , it looks like there is still a lot more work to do. I believe that what the youths have done is to raise a suggestion . They are emphasing that whatever happens in Nigeria should happen peacefully, and this includes the possibility of separation .
“So , I do not know what the worry is all about. What the boys are doing is to more or less make a suggestion .”


http://punchng.com/ohanaeze-reacts-as-arewa-youths-ask-osinbajo-to-facilitate-igbo-exit/


cc lalasticlala

No one should take Igbos for bumpkins. They are trying to say igbo Land is just South East. So our kin outside the South East, what tribe are they?

Port Harcourt (Igwe Ocha) and Opobo-Bonny (Igwe Ngaa) and other Igbo areas of the South South are part and parcel of Igbo Land. No one should think they can erase these facts from reality.

Ha! So this Northerners and Easterners issue have simply turn to Kí Ọbìnrin to àtòrìn,Kí Ọkùnrin to àtòrìn,ká wo ẹni tí ó ma lómi léyìn ẹsẹ̀ ju ara won lo. I won't blame the northerns much because the elders in the east,failed to caution Kanu when he was issuing out his own threat,some elders over there even gave him full support,not knowing that Words are like eggs dropped from great heights, once it drops, it cant be withdrawn.

Now that we have another Nmadi kanu's type from the north,this issue shouldn't be treated with kid gloves o,all these dangerous words and speeches can lead to war,i think we should just sit down and settle our differences.

And I want to call on those low thinkers who called themselves Ipod, that yorubas are now the ones defending their mess, I watch Afenfire spokesperson on TV, He said " An attack on igbos is an attack on the entire south including the yorubas"

You keep calling yorubas cowards while they treat issues diplomatically.

Leaders from the North and East have failed to caution their youths.

very sad situation.

Nnamdi Kanu is never a solution to the igbo struggle.

all we ever wanted was restructuring and not secession. the sharp edged wood does not strike a man twice in the eyes.

IPOB has been so undiplomatic in their use of words and the northern youths spoke without wisdom - and sadly the elders from both divide are not speaking like elders.

its time Nigeria realize that if their is any kind of war again, its going to be the end of west africa and possibly africa as we know it.

this situation has become that of odudu biri na amu - it needs serious caution. elders should stop sitting on the fence and doing the job of elders!


some words of caution for the North - if they make the mistake of braking Nigeria, their situation will be worst than Afghanistan - there will be massive uprising from the various ethnic groups in the North who are already feed up with the oppression by the northern hausa-fulanis. these ethnic groups will no longer be deceived into being used to fight any war ever again.

Confused people, sebi you want to leave, now the door is opened, you are talking rhetorics. Yeye people, clueless and confused-non-focused set! Na the northern youth say make una principal Jonathan loose election?

I am still wondering why people don't learn from history! The last civil war in Nigeria claimed the lives of 3million Igbos. Here is somebody who was not born during the time championing another war and the elder and nairaland chest beaters are hailing him!

They obviously never know what war is . If they ever know what war is they would have use their heads more

Let it be clear, wars are not won with guns and bombs, wars are won with strategy and diplomacy! This two, all the agitators of the the Igbo agenda lacked

Igbos are cowards. Bunch of irritating cowards whose only obsession is to criminally dominate the lands of other tribes but have no real interest in their own.

The coalition added , “Kanu and IPOB have declared full allegiance to a ‘ Republic of Biafra ’ and continue to preach hatred and war virtually every day , and not for once did any Igbo leader caution them .

“Instead, many of the leaders , including Mr . Ike Ekweremadu , the Deputy Senate President, the most senior elected Igbo , pay Kanu courtesy calls to prove that he is speaking for the entire Igbo .

#Fact.

I'm with the Arewa youths on this but don't wanna say much before the mod who's always been on my trail trying to silence me finds another reason to..

What exactly do this Igbos want?

Henryyy:
What exactly do this Igbos want?

Biafra
Forget those confuse idiots called Ohaneze
Our dream hope and faith is not in Restructuring or Presidency but Biafra

Give us Referendum to decide our faith

This issue is getting more complicated on day basis.

I condemn the ultimatum given by the arewa wings and the agitation by IPOB youths.

Even despite the call from acting president for each bodies to give peace a chance, yet they still grumble like kids.

Anyway IPOB shey be una don see una life. How do they expect the Igbos in the north to return home when they have large chunks of investment there?. How can a group of people be seeking referendum without proper plan yet heaping corrosive insults on their fellow Nigerians?.

HiddenShadow:
Ohanezes are mad.

We want Biafra

To hell with Restructuring and Presidency

Ohanezes are bloody traitors who must be killed once Biafra arise


We want Biafra

Biafra is our choice and hope


We want Referendum to decide our fate

The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn – Alvin Toffle.

You wonder why biafra struggle is not making any achievement? Is because you allowed someone who is not knowledgeable enough to lead your movement.

wristbangle:
This issue is getting more complicated on day basis.

I condemn the ultimatum given by the arewa wings and the agitation by IPOB youths.

Even despite the call from acting president for each bodies to give peace a chance, yet they still grumble like kids.

Anyway IPOB shey be una don see una life. How do they expect the Igbos in the north to return home when they have large chunks of investment there?. How can a group of people be seeking referendum without proper plan yet heaping corrosive insults on their fellow Nigerians?.

Those Igbos up North are free to convert to Islam to protect their investments

We want Referendum

alade112:



The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn – Alvin Toffle.

You wonder while biafra struggle is not making any achievement? Is because you allowed someone who is not knowledgeable enough to lead your movement.

We have heard you Afonjas


Now listen to us


Give us Referendum to decide our fate

We are fed up with Nigeria

omenkaLives:
#Fact.

I'm with the Arewa youths on this but don't wanna say much before the mod who's always been on my trail trying to silence me finds another reason to..

This kain-kian man, are you still staggering over Igbo threads on NL puking ur bile filled brains out?

The northern youths just realized they have been over rated and are about to learn a lesson or two about the fire and the stubborn child so they quickly reset their ringtones .

They are wiser now and may never be fooled by the real 'westgreensnake' who cheered them to their deaths in millions while busy sharing the national assets in Lagos.

Like you, I am with them too on this letter to the adopted Aisha breast suckling son Osinbande.

Ohaneze is very corrupt and their credibility will continue going down the drain. They have been talking about the same restructure for almost 3 decades and nothing came out of it.

Somebody please tell me what has ohaneze accomplished for ndigbo since they were established?

HiddenShadow:



We have heard you Afonjas


Now listen to us


Give us Referendum to decide our fate

We are fed up with Nigeria

Did you see referendum in my hands?
You have reps and senator who are in a better position to make the referendum possible.

Ohaneze should better mind themselves..Those stubborn ibos are free to die dere if they want..This golden opportunity must be utilized,
We want total break away not restructuring..

nwaanambra1:
very sad situation.

Nnamdi Kanu is never a solution to the igbo struggle.

all we ever wanted was restructuring and not secession. the sharp edged wood does not strike a man twice in the eyes.

IPOB has been so undiplomatic in their use of words and the northern youths spoke without wisdom - and sadly the elders from both divide are not speaking like elders.

its time Nigeria realize that if their is any kind of war again, its going to be the end of west africa and possibly africa as we know it.

this situation has become that of odudu biri na amu - it needs serious caution. elders should stop sitting on the fence and doing the job of elders!


some words of caution for the North - if they make the mistake of braking Nigeria, their situation will be worst than Afghanistan - there will be massive uprising from the various ethnic groups in the North who are already feed up with the oppression by the northern hausa-fulanis. these ethnic groups will no longer be deceived into being used to fight any war ever again.

Leave IPOB alone. " monkey no fine but I'm mama like am".

IPOB learned from the experiences of MASSOB.

MASSOB tried diplomacy for so many years but what did that get them. Touture, death and long jailing without trial.

IPOB dont need to be diplomatic. They need to focus their energy of spreading their message of freedom to every nook and cranny.

Henryyy:
What exactly do this Igbos want?

sorry Bro please rephrase ur statement 2 what exactly do this ipob group want
Not everyone is in support of biafra.....i do see all dis e warriors chanting biafra biafra....but dey don't know what it entails.....I bet u give Nnamdi Kanu a senatorial seat....He would deny ever being part of biafra.....he's just a wannabe godfather

CHIJIOKE1314:

wristbangle:
This issue is getting more complicated on day basis.

I condemn the ultimatum given by the arewa wings and the agitation by IPOB youths.

Even despite the call from acting president for each bodies to give peace a chance, yet they still grumble like kids.

Anyway IPOB shey be una don see una life. How do they expect the Igbos in the north to return home when they have large chunks of investment there?. How can a group of people be seeking referendum without proper plan yet heaping corrosive insults on their fellow Nigerians?.

There is no complications here.

The general public said they want Biafra and obeyed the instructions of ONE Man to avoid the streets and also protested in front of brutal security forces with motives to kill and were murdered in large numbers, yet has remained unshakeable in their demands and you are happy to be confused with the saying of another man who cannot even ask 2 people from his immediate family to protest on the streets or leave their business for a day or even 4hours.

Don't pretend to be confused, their demands are clear and Arewa youths are apt.

Their (Arewa) letter to the Agt. President Osinbande is welcomed.

HiddenShadow:
Ohanezes are mad.

We want Biafra

To hell with Restructuring and Presidency

Ohanezes are bloody traitors who must be killed once Biafra arise


We want Biafra

Biafra is our choice and hope


We want Referendum to decide our fate

b4 quoting u
ow old are u
cos ur first statement was a turnoff

[s]

omenkaLives:
#Fact.

I'm with the Arewa youths on this but don't wanna say much before the mod who's always been on my trail trying to silence me finds another reason to..

[/s]
shatap

Victornezzar:

sorry Bro please rephrase ur statement 2 what exactly do this ipob group want
Not everyone is in support of biafra.....i do see all dis e warriors chanting biafra biafra....but dey don't know what it entails.....I bet u give Nnamdi Kanu a senatorial seat....He would deny ever being part of biafra.....he's just a wannabe godfather

See who is talking, what have you ever achieved in your miserable life yet you have the odacity to talk about Nnamdi Kanu I don't blame you.

CHIJIOKE1314:



There is no complications here.

The the general public said they want Biafra and obeyed the instruction of ONE Man to avoid the streets and protested in front of brutal security forces with motives to kill, yet has remained unshakeable in their demands and you are happy to be confused withe saying of another man who cannot even ask 2 people from his immediate family to protest on the streets or leave their business for a day.

Don't pretend to be confused, their demands are clear and Arewa youths are apt.

Their (Arewa) letter to the Agt. President Osinbande is welcomed.

Have you called your relatives in Kano to know if they actually want to return home bros?

divicode:
Confused people, sebi you want to leave, now the door is opened, you are talking rhetorics. Yeye people, clueless and confused-non-focused set! Na the northern youth say make una principal Jonathan loose election?

I am still wondering why people don't learn from history! The last civil war in Nigeria claimed the lives of 3million Igbos. Here is somebody who was not born during the time championing another war and the elder and nairaland chest beaters are hailing him!
They obviously never know what war is . If they ever know what war is they would have use their heads more

Let it be clear, wars are not won with guns and bombs, wars are won with strategy and diplomacy! This two, all the agitators of the the Igbo agenda lacked

Where is the open door na?

Referendum is the only open door my friend.

mormonslayer:


See who is talking, what have you ever achieved in your miserable life yet you have the odacity to talk about Nnamdi Kanu I don't blame you.

wat av achieved in 2 days....u can't achieve dat within 2 years
Btw are u Nnamdi Kanu mouth piece
y is he not talking now d whole situation is flamed up
he's dere blessing people.....and don't quote me again...

omenkaLives:
#Fact.

I'm with the Arewa youths on this but don't wanna say much before the mod who's always been on my trail trying to silence me finds another reason to..

But you were promoting biafra na. You sef nor sabi tok. Forming veteran.

HiddenShadow:


Those Igbos up North are free to convert to Islam to protect their investments

We want Referendum

So you will be comfortable with your brother converting to Islam all because of material wealth?

..Ohanaeze and their lame-duck/selfish ways....Who will give you restructuring?..the mallams or who??...You have been crying about marginalisation for years,what has come out of it?..we all know you are hoping to get appointments and oil your pockets alone,to the detriment of the lives of the average Igbo person.

..Everyone is hoping to get the so-called restructuring riding on the back of the agitatiions by IPOB. cos the average Nigerian is too cowardly to shake off an unfavourable situation and take what belongs to them..

...funny lots.

Pavore9:


So you will be comfortable with your brother converting to Islam all because of material wealth?

Their love for money can't stop our desire for Biafra

Since they love money more than freedom, they are free to convert to Islam to protect their love for money.

Biafra is our future