Following the three months ultimatum by a coalition of Arewa Youths to
Ndigbo to quit the Northern region before October 1st or be forced out, a
pro Igbo grassroots organization, the Association of South East Town
Unions (ASETU), has called on the United Nations, the African Union and
the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and other
international organizations to intervene on the matter.
The group said it is not taking the threat by Arewa youths to annihilate
Ndigbo lightly as this was the same in which Igbo people were massacred in
the Northern region in the past.
In a statement signed by Registered Trustees of the Union, Dr. Innocent
Onwubuya and Chief Emeka Diwe and made available to pointblanknews.com,
the group said that such declaration coming Northern youths portends great
danger to national security and is capable of worsening the badly shaken
security situation in the country if not handled with maturity.
“The African Union, the United Nations, the Economic Community of West
African States and other international bodies that have at all times been
on the side of justice and have shown determination to protect the
defenseless are put on notice that the threats of annihilation of Ndigbo
are neither provoked nor a retaliation of any offence committed by
Ndigbo.
“The flimsy pretext is that the Igbo nation observed a day of mourning in
remembrance of over 3 million Igbo people massacred during the civil war.
This is the only reason for which the lives and properties of Ndigbo
living in Northern Nigeria are today being threatened again. Can a people
be threatened with destruction because of their way of life which is not
harmful to any of the ethnic formations in Nigeria? South East Town Unions
urge the international bodies to intervene before it is too late.”
Describing the ultimatum to Ndigbo as unwarranted, the Union commended
leaders of other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria who have condemned the
ultimatum and waded into the matter to ensure a peaceful and harmonious
coexistence among component units in the federation.
It further urged leaders of various organizations in the North such as the
Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), President
Muhammadu Buhari, members of the National Assembly from the North,
Governors of the 19 Northern states, members of the Houses of Assembly
from the 19 Northern states and civil society organizations to call the
coalition of youth groups to order, as no one would gain from the
unimaginable consequences of the ultimatum if eventually executed.