A coalition of Northern groups has denied authorizing an audio calling for violence against Igbos living in the Northern part of Nigeria.
The coalition said the audio in circulation is inciting and did not emanate from the group.
In a statement signed by Abdulazeez Suleiman, the coalition said: “We find the audio quite unfortunate and an attempt to divert attention from the current commendable efforts made by the Acting President and other well-meaning regional leaders.”
Suleiman said the coalition distances itself from the pronouncement, its maker and the content of the audio.
He said it is unfortunate that such pronouncements are coming at a time when meaningful strides are being made towards dousing ethnic tension in Nigeria.
Just last week, a leader of our Coalition Amb Yerima Shettima told the world that we would review the earlier position of the Coalition in appreciation of the recent position of the Southwest governors that denounced Biafra.
That of course, is the main borne of contention as we found it ridiculous for a people to be in one country and claim another independent nation at the same time without recourse to due process that regulate the right to self determination.
In fact we were in the process of making a positive pronouncement when the death of our respected father and northern elder occurred.
Whome restating our commitment to peace and obedience to the Nigerian state and its institutions, we call on the public to disregard any pronouncement purportedly made in our name unless it came from our spokesperson Abdul-Azeez Suleiman or Amb Yerima Shettima or N. A. Sheriff.
Meanwhile, we extend hands of friendship to all ethnicities of Nigeria as we expect to make a definite positive pronouncement soon.
We once again commend the effort of the Federal Government, regional leaders, other youth organizations across the country and the understanding of the public.
Igbere TV earlier reported that the coalition issued an ultimatum to all Igbos living in the North.
The Northern coalition advised all the Igbos to vacate the North on or before October 1.
Also a few weeks after the ultimatum, the former minister of aviation Femi Fani-Kayode in a tweet said he had obtained an audio calling for violence against all the Igbos living in the region.
Fani-Kayode said the audio advised all Northerners to killing every Igbo person in the region at the expiration of the October 1 deadline.
He also urged the federal government to act against the content of the tape saying that the failures of the government to stop the planned killings will r esult to a civil war.
