Northern Youth suspend October 1 Quit Notice to Igbos

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, has suspended the October 1 ultimatum it gave Igbos to leave the North.

The youths had issued the order after a meeting where they issued the Kaduna declaration.

The decision to rescind the quit notice was announced at a press briefing held at Transcorp Hilton hotel, Abuja on Thursday.

The press conference was attended by many Northern Youth Groups, including the Arewa Youths Council (AYC) that initially issued the quit notice on lgbo resident in tne 19 Northern states.

It was also attended by the Governor of Borno state and Chairman of Northern Governors’ Forum, Kashim Shetima, ex- Governor of Kano State, Kabiru Gaya, ex-Minister, Sani Daura and Shetima Yerima of Arewa Youths Council.

The coalition of Arewa youths claimed their demand was in response to secessionist stance of some pro-Biafran groups as well as the insults spewed on the north by the pro-secession groups.

The spokesman of the group, Abdulaziz Suleiman, said they took the decision in the interst of peace in Nigeria.

But they appealed to the Federal Government to allow Igbo to hold a referendum to determine their future.

They also called for the immediate closure of open drug markets across the North, which they claimed the Igbo were using to sell fake and adulterated drugs.

The coalition called for the immediate revocation of landed property, where such fake drugs are sold.

“Mindful of the concerns generated by the clause in the Kaduna Declaration that advised the Biafran Igbo to relocate from northern Nigeria and for northerners in the Southeast to do likewise, and our commitment to the unity of our dear country, we immediately opened channels for dialogue and interaction with government agencies, national and international groups, institutions and figures.

“Admittedly, we came under intense persuasive pressure from genuinely concerned national, political, traditional, religious and cultural leaders prominent among which were: a section of the Northern Governors’ Forum under its Chairman and Borno Governor Shettima, northern traditional rulers and the Department of State Security (DSS).

“We also had several fruitful interactions with various concerned individuals and groups. Most significant was our correspondence with the then Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and most recently our interface with the Presidency through the Special Assistant to the President on Political Matters.

“As a consequence of these vigorous engagements and as cultured people with a tradition of respect for our national values, leaders and elders, we are today pleased to announce the immediate suspension of the relocation clause, otherwise referred to as the quit notice from the Kaduna Declaration.

“This suspension we are proud to say, is also out of respect for and in reaffirmation of our allegiance to one, united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria and in our unshaken confidence in the political will and sincere commitment of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari to take a holistic look at all the concerns we raised.’’