BY ANAYO OKOLI.
UMUAHIA- OHANEZE Youth Council [OYC] has given the Northern Governors’ Forum a 21-day ultimatum to take drastic action against the its youth wing, Arewa Consultative Forum over its statement concerning investments of Ndigbo in the North.
The group was reported to have cautioned that Ndigbo have billions of investment in the North which be at danger if Northerners in the Igboland were asked to leave on the allegation of being Boko Haram members.
It said the statement tantamount to placing the lives and properties of Ndigbo in the North at danger. OYC called Northern governors to reassure Ndigbo in their states of their safety.
According to OYC President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the silence of the Northern Governors’ Forum in the midst of such threat was dangerous and warned that at the expiration of the ultimatum, it would be forced to take other appropriate actions.
“The Ohanaeze Youth Wing rejoices with our Muslim brothers on the occasion of this year’s Eid El Fitr celebration. In the spirit of Sallah, we enjoin them to promote peaceful co-existence by imbibing the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.
“In the same vein, we ask the Northern Governors’ Forum under the leadership of Dr. Babangida Muazu Aliyu of Niger State to reassure Ndi-Igbo domiciled in the North of their safety and their continued preparedness to ensure the safety of lives and properties of all Nigerians in their respective states.
“This has become necessary owing to recent statements emanating from the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) listing Igbo investments in the North as targets of possible attacks based on unfounded claims of victimization of Hausa/ Fulani Muslims in Imo State”, Isiguzoro said.
Isiguzoro further said that it was challenging that “such Hausa/Fulani Muslims who were allegedly victimized by Governor Rochas Okorocha’s Government to make their identities known and in the spirit of oneness, the Ohanaeze Youth Wing shall use all legal means to champion their cause”.
According to the group, “based on intelligence reports that Boko Haram is working assiduously to setup bases in Eastern Nigeria, we ask security agencies in Ala-Igbo to be alert and not to be distracted by ongoing attempts to politicize issues of national security”.
“We urge Dr. Aliyu Mu’azu to emulate Governor T.A. Orji of Abia State, who as Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum has always assured Hausa/ Fulani Muslims and all other non-Igbos resident in Ala-Igbo of their safety.
“From our intelligence reports, Ndi-Igbo in North are apprehensive since no Northern leader, especially the Governors, has come out to condemn the anti-Igbo statement from the ACF.
“We commend Ndi-Igbo in the North for being peaceful and we enjoin them to remain vigilant while living harmoniously with their hosts. Obviously, the present threat to Ndigbo is in response to their perceived support for President Jonathan’s 2015 re-election bid.
“If within 21 days the Northern Governors’ Forum does not deem it necessary to reassure Ndi-Igbo in their domain of their safety, the Ohanaeze Youth Wing shall take necessary action”, OYC warned.
