Some youth groups in the Niger Delta region, particularly the Urhobo and Ijaw youths have condemned the three-month ultimatum given by a section of Northern youths to Igbo people in the North.
President of Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, Eric Omare and national press secretary of youth wing of Urhobo Progress Union, UPU, Kelly Efemena Umukoro, warned the northern youths to trade with caution.
They noted that their actions were capable of throwing Nigeria into unimaginable crisis.
The groups also reminded the northern youths that evicting the Igbos from the region was the same as asking all South southerners living in the area to go.
IYC Preaident described the demand by the northern youths as baseless and senseless.
He added that there was nothing wrong for the Igbo people to demand or agitate for self-determination.
He said, “The right to self-determination is a universal right recognized even under the UN charter. Therefore, the Igbo agitation for Biafra cannot justify the demand to move Igbos out of northern Nigeria.
“We believe it is criminally minded people who want to hide under the umbrella of speaking for the north to loot properties belonging to Igbos in the north that are making this demand.
“We call on security agencies to as a matter of urgency move against the brains behind the ultimatum to Igbos in the north.
“The security agencies must be proactive and not allow the deed to be done before acting.
“It is the forces who do not want the factors mitigating against the development of Nigeria that are sponsoring those threats.”
Umukoro on his own said, “It should be noted that despite the fact that some of them never experienced the civil war, they should learn from the history of the civil war of 1967 to 1970 in Nigeria, how the war devastated Nigeria and the economy of the nation.
“Asking the Igbos to leave is indirectly asking all the Niger Delta people to leave the north, including the Urhobo nation. The action could lead to disintegration of Nigeria.
“It is also important to note that the Urhobos are not part of Biafra. We want a united Nigeria, where fairness, equality and justice are given preeminence.
“The Northern elders’ forum, northern governors should quickly intervene in this matter and arrest every signatory to the statement made. This is to save Nigeria for the future generation.”
