The Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) has condemned the silence of Igbo leaders over threats by leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu to the peace, unity and development of the country.
In a statement yesterday, National president of the AYF, Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu said Igbo leaders were not denouncing separatist calls as expected.
He said the forum called for caution, when some northern youths gave Igbo an ultimatum to vacate the North saying, “Truth be told, the northern youths were provoked by the unnecessary and persistent calls for disintegration of Nigeria by IPOB and MASSOB.
“In the same vein Kanu has started calling on his people to boycott the November governorship election in Anambra State and the 2019 elections in the whole of the South East.
“To our consternation, this is happening when Acting President Yemi Osinbajo is meeting with stakeholders across the country to strengthen the bond that binds us together. It is unfortunate that the Federal Government and even leaders of thought and politicians especially those of Igbo extraction have not deemed it necessary to condemn him or call him to order.”
Gujungu said while the call for the arrest of northern youths is on, nobody is saying anything about the provocation by Kanu, despite serially violating his bail conditions.
“AYF is calling on leaders from the south east to immediately call Nnamdi Kanu to order just as patriotic northern elders did when Igbos were given ultimatum in the North. A situation where the leaders from the zone are seen to be indirectly giving Kanu support will further divide the country and alienate the South East from other in Nigerians,” Gujungu said.
