FG reacts to quit notice issued by Arewa youths to Igbos
– The federal government has reacted to the threat issued to the Igbos in the north
– The minister of interior in a statement said all Nigerians are free to live anywhere they want
– He assured Igbos that no one will harass them
The federal government has formally reacted to the quit notice issued by northern youths to Igbos living in the north saying this Igbos are free to live anywhere in the country.
The youths had stirred nationwide uproar when they issued a statement giving a 90-day ultimatum to Igbos in the north to leave.
Vanguard reports that the minister of interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, in a statement issued on Wednesday, June 7 urged Igbos and other Nigerians to go about their business without fear.
He advised “the various ethnic groups to desist from flaming the embers of hate, animosity, discord and disharmony and adhere strictly to the teachings of our good values of religions and cultures that encourage good neighbourliness, national unity and Integration, and love for one another.
“He also advised youth to avoid being instrument of violence, animosity and disharmony among our citizens. And that they should rather focus their attention and energies on actions, that would engender national unity, integration and cohesion”.
Meanwhile, The Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) warned that it is prepared for to fight against any provocation coming from the north. Reacting to the three-month notice handed Igbos in the north by some groups to leave the region, the IYM said the people of the south-east were not scared of war.
Evang Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko, the founder of the IYM, described the notice from the northern groups as childish in a statement sent to newsmen. According to Ugochukwu, instead of issuing such a threat, the northern coalition should have written to the National Assembly and other world bodies for a referendum to be held.
