Kanu’s action endangering Igbo living in North – Arewa youths

From: Sola Ojo, Kaduna
A Kaduna-based youth organisation, the
Arewa Youth Forum (AYF), on Thursday,
called on the leader of the Indigenous
People of Biafra, (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu,
and his supporters to stop endangering
the lives of their kinsmen resident in
other part of the country especially in
the North.
The group believed that the IPOB was
planning to plunge Nigeria into war,
insisting they refused to be provoked
with the latest provocative action by the
group.
The AYF also said time was now for
critical stakeholders to nip in the bud
possible escalation of news across
social media, especially as the October 1
earlier deadline by different groups
approach despite that the threats have
been withdrawn by promoters.
A statement by the group’ National
President, Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu titled,
“South-east time for reason to prevail”
noted that, the self-acclaimed IPOB
leader did not have the interest of the
Igbo at heart, saying his actions were
endangering the lives and property of
their kinsmen outside the of the south-
east.
The statement read in part, “We are
working to curtail any reprisal in the
north following the rising tension in the
South-east and North in particular
because of the sad news of the
destruction of human lives and property
in Abia and Rivers states, by IPOB
members allegedly targeted at Hausa/
Fulani and Northerners in that part of
the country.
“We wish to call on our people in the
North and all over the country to show
high level of maturity, intelligence and
patriotism, and avoid been provoked to
behave in the same manner like the
aggressors who have ulterior motive of
throwing the whole country into chaos.
Let us be different and show that we are
a people that are peace loving and
hospitable to those among us.
“As a group of youths devoted to the
properity of Nigeria as an indivisible
entity we refused to be provoked by a
semi illiterate loser from London, who
found his way back to Nigeria and
conned his gullible people into accepting
him as their so called freedom fighter
and hero and even Messiah to many.
“Nnamdi Kanu and the vast majority of
his senseless gullible followers were not
born when Nigeria fought the civil war to
keep us all as one. Millions lost their
lives. These ill informed persons do not
know the misery, death and destruction
that war brings. It is therefore too easy
for them to beat the drums of war.
“Let it be known that as the umbrella
organization of all youths in the north,
we are working to see that there is no
reprisal anywhere in the north to the
wicked and senseless activities of IPOB
terrorists who are oblivious of the fact
that if reprisal attacks were to happen in
the North, our Igbo brothers and sisters
living in the region will sustain far worse
losses than anybody else.
“However, we are not unaware of the
fact that the sanctity of the lives of
Nigerians and that of Igbo in the North in
particular and anywhere in the country
and the security of their properties have
never been Nnamdi Kanu’s concerns!
The man is busy basking in the delusion
that he will one day be the head of state
of a nation that he is fighting to install
and the wellbeing of the people is never
his concern.
“It is very important to alert well
meaning Nigerians that we must not
allow ourselves to be used as pawns to
achieve an agenda of balkanizing
Nigeria. We are committed to the
oneness of the country an believe that
the country is better off as one
indissoluble country.
“We must therefore avoid reprisals, and
remain calm and law abiding at all times
not to play into the hands of the
secessionist’s soldiers. We are
committed to make sure all Nigerians
happy and safe anywhere in the country
and in the North in particular.
“Going forward we want to align with our
Northern leaders and Northern Governors
that the north is totally committed to the
unity of the country and the oneness of
Nigeria is not negotiable. Let us be wise
and ignore the merchants of war.”