Spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, Professor Ango Abdullahi, has called on the Federal Government to deal with any group trying to cause problem for Nigeria under the guise of secession.
The don said this is in line with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution relating to the rule of law.
He claimed that historically, it was Igbos who attacked Nigeria as their leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, tried to pocket the rest of the country.
Abdullahi maintained that the renewed agitation for Biafra cannot be detached from the normal politicking in the country.
“Well, we should be mindful of the fact that the renewed agitation cannot be detached from the politics of Nigeria. It is not new and not different from normal politicking that has been taking place in Nigeria since independence.
“Biafra agitation arose from the Nigerian political process. It came from a power struggle in the First Republic, which culminated in the assassination of the First Republic leaders and the subsequent emergence of Ojukwu.
“Incidentally, it was Ojukwu, who suspected that the Igbo were being attacked whereas it was the Igbo who attacked Nigeria. It should be noted that Ojukwu, assisted by Igbo intellectuals, thought they should pocket the rest of Nigeria.
“Thus, the so-called Biafra agitation is rooted in the 1966 coup and I want to say that if people are still asking for Biafra almost 50 years after the civil war, then it is necessary for us to sit down and ask ourselves how we want the nation to be.
“In dealing with the renewed Biafran agitation, the Federal Government should adhere strictly to the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution relating to the rule of law.
“Accordingly, the Federal Government should be firm in dealing with any individual or group trying to create problems for the rest of Nigeria under any guise”, he told Vanguard.
