Some Northern Nigeria youth groups on Tuesday in Kaduna issued what they called a 'Kaduna Declaration' in which they declared “war” against all Igbos residing in the North, demanding they leave the area within three months. They also asked Northerners in the South-East to leave the area, warning that as from October 1, which happens to be Nigeria’s National Day, they will commence implementation of ‘visible actions’ to prove they are no longer part of a federal union that includes the Igbo.
Some Northern Nigeria youth
groups on Tuesday in Kaduna issued what they called a 'Kaduna
Declaration' in which they declared “war” against all Igbos residing in the
North, demanding they leave the area within three months.
They also asked Northerners in the
South-East to leave the area, warning that as from October 1, which
happens to be Nigeria’s National Day, they will commence implementation of
‘visible actions’ to prove they are no longer part of a federal union that
includes the Igbo.
The groups that signed the
declaration include Arewa Citizens Action for Change, Arewa Youth Consultative
Forum, Arewa Youth Development Foundation, Arewa Students Forum and Northern
Emancipation Network, but it is unclear if known officials of any of the groups
actually signed the document.
They cite as reason for their decision
the pro-Biafran activities of some Igbo, centred around the
Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), saying their latest action and similar
confrontational conducts “amount to a brutal encroachment on the rights of
those termed as non-indigenous people residing and doing lawful businesses
in those areas illegally demarcated and defined as Biafra by the Igbo.”
The groups held that their
conclusion is “necessitated by the realization that it since ceased to be
comfortable or safe to continue sharing the same country with the
ungrateful, uncultured Igbos who have exhibited reckless disrespect for the
other federating units and stained the integrity of the entire nation with
their insatiable criminal obsessions.”
They said that rather than certain
sections holding the whole country to ransom at every stage, each
should be allowed to go its own way.
They warned the government that as
from October 1, they will embark on what they called “peaceful and
safe mop-up of all the remnants of the stubborn Igbos that neglect to
heed this quit notice,” towards “finally eject them from every part of the
North.”
The federal government had issued no
response as of the time of this report.
Below is the text of the
declaration:
THE KADUNA DECLARATION BEING A
JOINT POSITION PAPER ISSUED BY THE AREWA CITIZENS ACTION FOR CHANGE, AREWA
YOUTH CONSULTATIVE FORUM, AREWA YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, AREWA
STUDENTS FORUM AND NORTHERN EMANCIPATION NETWORK ON THE IGBO PERSISTENCE FOR
SECESSION
PREAMBLE
The persistence for the
actualization of Biafra by the unruly Igbo of South-Eastern Nigeria has lately
assumed another alarming twist which involved the forceful lockdown of
activities and denial of other people's right to free movement in
the South-East by the rebel Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)
and its overt and covert sponsors.
This latest action and similar
confrontational conducts which amount to a brutal encroachment on the rights of
those termed as non-indigenous people residing and doing lawful businesses
in those areas illegally demarcated and defined as Biafra by the Igbo, are
downright unacceptable and shall no longer be tolerated.
OBSERVATIONS
Concerned by this persistent Igbo
threat to national integration, the above-namedPan-northern groups met
with several others and reviewed the current position of the North and jointly
came up with the following observations:
1. IGBO PROVOCATION
a. The Igbo people of the
South-East, without remorse for the carnage they wrought on the nation in
the 1960s, are today boldly reliving those sinister intentions connoted
by the Biafran agitation that led to the very first bloody
insurrection in Nigeria's history.
b. Emboldened by the apparent
indifference of the Nigerian authorities, the Igbo secessionist tendency
is widening in scope and action at every stage, with adverse effects on the
law-abiding people of other regions residing in or passing through the East,
while the Igbo leaders and elders by their utterances and direct action or
inaction appear to support and encourage it.
c. This is happening
irrespective of the undisputable fact that:
i. The cruel Igbos have done
and are doing more damage to our collective nationhood than any other ethnic
group; being responsible for the first violent interference with
democracy in Nigeria resulting in a prolonged counter-productive chain of
military dictatorship.
ii. The Igbos similarly orchestrated
the first, and so far, the only civil war in Nigeria that consumed
millions of lives and sowed the seed of the current mutual suspicion and
distrust.
iii. The Igbos are also responsible
for Nigeria's cultural and moral degeneracy with their notorious involvement in
all kinds of crimes, including international networking for drug and
human trafficking, violent robberies and kidnappings, high-profile prostitution
and advanced financial fraud.
iv. At the peak of the
devastating Boko Haram violence in some parts of the North, available records
show that the Igbo people have variously been apprehended while attempting to
convey catches of dangerous arms and ammunition to the troubled regions.
v. There are today sufficient
reasons to suspect that some Igbos masquerade as Fulani herdsmen to commit
violent atrocities across the country in order to cause and spread ethnic
disaffection.
vi. It is also on record that
since the inception of the current democratic dispensation, the Igbos have
shown and maintained open contempt and resentment for the collective decision
expressed by majority of Nigerians at various stages via generally acceptable
democratic processes.
2. DOCILE NORTHERN RESPONSE
a. While these provocative acts of
aggression persist and grow in dimension with each new move, leaders
of the North whose people are at the receiving end of the threats, appear
helplessly unperturbed.
b. Rather than endorsing a concise
framework for pre-emptive action to protect and safeguard the interest of the
North and its people, leaders of the region at every stage tend to seek the
cover of a flimsy and long-discarded excuse of having fought in the 60s to keep
Nigeria united.
c. Without pursuing a resolute
action-plan, these northern leaders have adopted and have been dragging
its people into a pitifully pacifist position in order tosustain
an elusive national cohesion that has long been ridiculed by the
Igbos.
OUR STAND
1. From today, June 6,
2017, when this proclamation is signed, the North, a
critical player in the Nigerian project, hereby declares that it will
no longer be disposed to coexisting with the Igbos and shall take definite steps
to end the partnership by pulling out of the current federal arrangement.
2. This conclusion is necessitated
by the realization that it since ceased to be comfortable or safe to
continue sharing the same country with the ungrateful, uncultured Igbos
who have exhibited reckless disrespect for the other federating units and
stained the integrity of the entire nation with their insatiable criminal
obsessions.
3. Rather than certain
sections holding the whole country to ransom at every stage, each
should be allowed to go its own way as we categorically proclaim today that the
North is fed up with being the same country with this pack of
acrimonious Igbo partners.
4. The North hereby openly
calls on the authorities and other national and international stakeholders to
acknowledge this declaration by taking steps to facilitate the final
dissolution of this hopeless union that has never been convenient to any of the
parties.
PRELUDE TO FINAL SEPARATION
1. RECOVERY AND CONTROL OF
LANDED PROPERTY
As a first step, since the Igbo have
clearly abused the unreciprocated hospitality that gave them unrestricted
access to, and ownership of landed properties all over the
North, our first major move shall be to reclaim, assume and assert
sole ownership and control of these landed resources currently owned, rented or
in any way enjoyed by the ingrate Igbos in any part of Northern Nigeria.
Consequently, officials of the
signatory groups to this declaration, are already mandated to
commence immediate inventory of all properties, spaces or activity in the
north currently occupied by the Igbos for forfeiture at the
expiration of the ultimatum contained in this declaration.
In specific terms, the groups
are directed to compile and forward an up-to-date data of all locations occupied
by any Igbo in any part of Northern Nigeria including schools, markets,
shops, workshops, residences and every other activity spaces.
2. RELOCATION NOTICE
Secondly, with the effective
date of this declaration, which is today, Tuesday, June 06, 2017, all
Igbos currently residing in any part of Northern Nigeria are hereby served
notice to relocate within three months and all northerners residing
in the East are advised likewise.
3. ENFORCEMENT
All northern civil society and
pressure groups are by this declaration mandated to mobilize for
sustained, coordinated campaigns at their respective State Government
Houses, State Houses of Assembly, Local Government Council Secretariats,
and Traditional Palaces to mount pressure for steps to be taken to ensure
enforcement of the directives contained herein.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, we are hereby
placing the Nigerian authorities and the entire nation on notice that as from
the 1st October 2017, we shall commence the implementation of
visible actions to prove to the whole world that we are no longer part of any
federal union that should do with the Igbos.
From that date, effective, peaceful
and safe mop-up of all the remnants of the stubborn Igbos that
neglect to heed this quit notice shall commence to finally eject them from
every part of the North.
And finally, all
authorities, individuals or groups are hereby advised against attempting
to undermine this declaration by insisting on this union with the Igbos
who has thus far proved to be an unnecessary baggage carried too far and for
too long.
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