Gov meets Northern elders, youths over quit notice to Igbos

The Governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima has met youths and elders in the Northern region to discuss the quit notice issued to Igbos living in the region.

According to Daily Post, the closed door meeting which was held at the Borno Governor’s lodge in Asokoro, Abuja lasted for about four hours.

A group of youths had earlier issued an ultimatum, calling on Igbos to leave the North by October 1, 2017.

The eviction notice caused a stir, with leaders from the South-East meeting with their Northern counterparts to douse tensions.

Some notable politicians across the country have also condemned the statement by the Northern youths, but there are indications that they are not changing their stand.

Addressing newsmen after the meeting, the Borno Governor’s spokesman, Isa Gusau said “The meeting, which is the third since July was at the instance of some Northern Governors who mandated Shettima to engage the coalition with a view to preventing possible outbreak of violence in the event hoodlums take advantage of quit notice to perpetuate violence by the time the ultimatum expires on October 1.

“The meeting was attended by members of the Northern elders forum: Professor Ango Abdullahi, Alhaji Sani Zango Daura, Air Marshall Al-Amin Daggash, AVM Mukhtar Mohammed, Professor Yima Sen and Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed who represented the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation.

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“Key leaders of the coalition of Arewa groups, Yerima Shettima, Ashir Sherrif, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, Aminu Adam, Balarabe Rufai and leaders of other groups in the coalition all attended.

“The meeting ended on positive note while the Arewa coalition is expected to meet members of the AbdulSalami Abubakar led National Peace Committee who invited them for a meeting.”

Yerima Shettima, the leader of the youth group that issued the quit notice, in an interview with The Sun, reversed the order, saying Igbos should not leave the region.