The spokesman of Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Prof. Ango Abdullahi, has justified the order issued by a coalition of northern youths to the Igbo to vacate the northern region in three months.
Ango Abdullahi, a former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria told The Guardian on phone that the order by the northern youths was in response to the unpalatable behaviour of their guests.
He said the northern youths were venting their anger and frustration over what he described as the irresponsible behaviour of Igbo youths and elders.
According to Abdullahi: “The northern youths are voicing out their anger and frustration over the irresponsible behaviour of Igbo youths and elders. The Igbo elders cannot pretend or say that they do not know the history of this country. We all know how the first coup was hatched against the north. We know who masterminded that political coup and the aftermath.
“But we the northerners endured it and carried on as if nothing happened in the spirit of brotherhood. That was why in the Second Republic, an Igbo man, Chief Alex Ekwueme, became a deputy to President Shehu Shagari.
“I have never seen a country where there was a civil war and somebody from the part of the country that waged the war against the nation became a leader in the country so quickly. The Igbo should remember that politics of democracy is politics of election, not agitation.”
The northern elder said the arrogant and irresponsible actions of Igbo leaders and youths should stop immediately.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, has ordered the Commissioner of Police (CP) in Kaduna state to investigate and arrest members of the Coalition of Northern Youths for issuing ultimatum to South Easterners living in the North.
The I-G gave the order at a meeting with Commissioners of Police and other high ranking officers on Thursday in Abuja.
He warned that no individual or group of persons had the right to ask any individual to leave his or her place of residence in any part of the country.
He ordered other state commissioners of police in the North and Assistant Inspectors -General of Police in the various zonal commands to do same.
