same formula we used at that time, in the First Republic where 50 per cent was shared to states that produced groundnut and cocoa and share the remaining 50 per cent to the rest. That will be fair, that will be justice.”
Diongoli stated: “It is rather an unfortunate and sickening situation. It is a violent breach of the country’s constitution, which guarantees citizens’ rights to live and eke a living in any part of the country. The action of the Northern youths which has the subtle support of some of their elders is a potential time-bomb for the disintegration of the country if this dangerous trend is not nipped in the bud.
‘Misdirected missile’
Adeleye said: “If it is true that they are supporting the Igbo quit notice, then it is the greatest miscalculation and catastrophe that has happened in recent time.
“I do not know how many of them witnessed the civil war because no one would really want that incident to be repeated, no one would want to ever witness that any longer. As elders their job is to direct, advice and guide these youths, their support of that move is a very bad misdirection.”
Adeleye, who is the South-South President of Christian Council of Nigeria, CCN, added: “Nigeria is already suffering from Boko Haram, kidnapping, insecurity, darkness, and poverty, now we want to add disintegration. My position is that until and unless Nigeria adopts true federalism, the problem of our country may never be solved, we need to be loosely together, the centre is just too powerful, the flanks are too weak, they are suffering. NEF should take note that once Igbos leave the north as they are advocating, then the northerners in other parts of Nigeria will also go back to the north and this is disintegration,” he stated.
Secretary, Bayelsa Elders Forum and member, PANDEF, Chief Thompson Okorotie, said: “First of all it is inconceivable that Arewa Consultative Forum and the Northern Elders Council are not on the same page. It is a mutual deceit of each other by two groups with the same goal. All ethnic nationalities have a sacred duty to ensure unity of this country. Activities to the contrary will attract consequences. God help Nigeria.”
‘Nigeria won’t split’
Kokori, on the other hand, told Sunday Vanguard: “To me, just like MASSOB and IPOB, I regard all of them as the same type of unserious people who just want attention. Nobody can break Nigeria, everybody in Nigeria is being marginalised as there is no tribe in Nigeria that is not marginalised, I blame MASSOB for saying they want to break away from Nigeria when they own almost half of the properties in Nigeria?
“I do not think they are serious characters, the likes of IPOB and MASSOB are just seeking attention, they are not serious people, but Nigeria should not take them lightly especially with what we know historically about the North.”
Renounce stand, Aginighan tells northern coalition
A former acting Managing Director, NDDC, Pastor Power Aginighan, called on the northern youths behind the threat to the Igbos to beat a retreat.
“I call on the northern youths who are the signatories to the said ultimatum to renounce their stand as it is clearly misguided and ill-conceived. The inalienable right to self-determination of peoples all over the world is well guaranteed under international law. The Biafra agitation should be seen purely as an exercise of this right. It does not warrant criminalization by any other Nigerian,”he said.
Quit notice unconstitutional – Tanko Yakassai
Also speaking on the quit notice, a northern leader, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, said it was against the nation’s Constitution which guarantees the freedom of movement to all Nigerians. “Even state laws enacted to deny Fulani herders from grazing their cows constitutes an infringement on the provisions of Nigerian Constitution. The quit notice given to the Igbo and the purported denial of Fulani herdsmen to drive their livestock for grazing in free areas are mere exercises in futility”.
Statement provocative – Yoruba Forum
The Yoruba Unity Forum called the quit notice outrageous, provocative and treasonable.
“All those behind this show of shame should be brought to book. If not quickly checked, it could plunge the country into ethic tension”, a statement by the group’s Secretary General, Senator Anthony Adefuye, said.
“The Yoruba Unity Forum condemns this call in its entirety. It is provocative and insulting and should not be treated with kid’s glove. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees free movement of all Nigerians to any part of the country.
“Every Nigerian is free to pursue his or her legitimate business devoid of any hindrance or molestation by anybody in any part of the country.”
Strengthen cord of unity – Osinbajo
In a related development, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo played the statesman when he called on ethnic groups in the country to strengthen the cord of unity that binds them together.
He made the call at the wedding ceremony of Wuraola, the daughter of a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, in Ibadan.
While calling on the ethnic groups to give peace a chance irrespective of their differences, he said quarrels and agitations could come up at any time but the most important thing is to forge ahead as one indivisible entity
