Determined to douse the tensions arising from the
three-month quit notice to Igbo residents in the north and restore the country
back to path of peace, a coalition of ethnic nationalities have sued for calm
among Nigerian youths.
The nationalities also called on the Federal Government to
urgently convoke a national youth confab, which would have Acting President
Yemi Osinbajo in attendance. Rising from a meeting in Abuja Wednesday, the
groups also urged for a ceasefire among the various youth groups in the
country. In a communique raised at the end of the meeting, the groups said that
the constitution of Nigeria guarantees Nigerians the right to live in any part
of the country of their choice. They added that the confab would provide
Osinbajo an opportunity to hear directly the grievances of youth, stressing
that it would also calm frayed nerves and restore the country to the path of
unity.
According to the groups, their resolve to toe the path of
peace was hinged on the intervention of former Governor of Anambra State, Mr.
Peter Obi, who they said advised them to remain calm. The communique was signed
by Comrade Eric Oluwale of the Yoruba Youths Council Worldwide and Secretary
General, Ethnic National Youths Leaders; Comrade Emma Zompal of the Middle Belt
Youth Council Worldwide; Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth
Council; Barr. Oweilaemi Ereotubo of the Ijaw Youths Council; and Arewa
Northern Youths Assembly led by Alhaji Musa Abdulahi.
The communique reads in part: “Good citizens of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, we wish to express our concern over the quit notice to
Igbos by Arewa youths last week. Nigeria’s federal Constitution gives right to
citizens of Nigeria to freely move to any part of the land and choose where to
live without any form of discrimination and denial. We hereby declare the quit
notice unconstitutional and treasonable.
“We condemned the quit notice served by Arewa youths to
Igbos resident in the North and have resolved for peace to reign in all
quarters. The meeting has, however, instituted peace process of reconciling the
north and the south east
“We are still insisting on restructuring of the country so
as to guarantee an equitable federalism for peaceful co existence. For the
collective interest of Nigeria, we are calling for a ceasefire among all the
aggrieved youth groups in the country. Pushing this matter too far has grave
implication for Nigeria and by extension, the youths.
“We have resolved to toe the line of peace owing to the
fatherly advice from the former governor of Anambra State, Chief Peter Obi, the
Okwute Ndigbo. The youths, without hesitation, are ready to heed his advice
considering his towering reputation beyond the shores of Nigeria. He remains in
history as the best Governor Anambra has ever had and for that singular reason,
his intervention is welcome.
“Obi has made it clear to the youths that there is futility
in disunity and songs of war. He has convinced us that we are better off
together, united.
“In the light of the above, we call for immediate end to
further verbal exchanges on the above matter. This is the time for us to unite
and champion a common course for Nigeria’s unity. “However, the youths hereby
resolved that there will be a national Youth confab in other to address
fundamental problem confronting our dear country by July; date and venue will
be communicated in due course.
“The confab must have in attendance the Acting President of
Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. This shall be an opportunity for him to calm
frayed nerves and restore the country to the path of unity.”
(Vanguard)
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