The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (ACF) has declared that the quit notice it issued to Igbo people resident in the northern part of the country is still in force.
The ACF, at a meeting in Kaduna on June 6, gave Igbos in the North up till October 1 to leave the region citing the clamour for secession by Pro Biafra groups especially the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
While speaking with newsmen in Kano on Thursday, Shettima Yarima, Chairman of the forum, said while the order stands, the Igbo people willing to remain in the north were however, free to do so.
“We stand by our notice to Igbo but those who are interested in Nigeria can stay. But for those who are not interested, you can go,” he said.
“Our mission is for peace; the unity of Nigeria is being threatened by the current agitation from the Igbo and we want to make sure that those who are interested in Nigeria stay but those who are not interested should go.
“The purpose of town hall meeting in Kano is to review the early stand took and we are collecting views of people here from the north-west. We will also move to north-central and north-east on whether to maintain our position or reconsider it.
“We don’t have the right to force the people to go. So, we are using peaceful means because don’t have police and army.”
In his address, Nastura Ashir, Chairman of the Coalition of Northern Groups, said the northern youths had notified the United Nations of their mission for a united Nigeria adding that evidence of the alleged atrocities of Kanu had also been sent to the UN.
“The attitude of the IPOB leader is worrisome because of the future of this nation. It creates a serious disaffection to northerners.”
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