Ex-VP condemns call for Igbos to leave the North

chika ebuzor

June 7, 2017 10:02 PM

A group, under the aegis of the Coalition of Northern Youths (CNY) asked all Igbos in the North to leave the region in 90 days.

Atiku Abubakar

A former Vice-President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar has condemned calls for Igbos to leave the North.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed also condemned the call, saying that security operatives have been placed on alert.

Speaking further, the former Vice-President, on his Facebook page described the ultimatum as provocative, reckless, thoughtless, and also a grave threat to national security and peaceful coexistence.

Atiku also warned “politicians of all hues to distance themselves from such divisive rhetoric because, according to him, the consequences of such association could ultimately consume them.”

“All grievances must be peacefully discussed and resolved through negotiations, and not through threats to fellow citizens,” he added.

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He also called for “restraint on all sides by the Youth groups to pave the way for meaningful dialogue on how to restructure our country for the good of all.”

Adding that “Our country is too precious; our problems are too pressing to pander to divisive rhetoric”.

The former VP also called on the authorities to address the challenges of youth restiveness, as well as social and economic exclusion, which are the drivers of tensions.

The Governor of Kaduna state, Nasir El-Rufai has called on security operatives to arrest members of the group that issued the ultimatum.

chika ebuzor