Quit notice: Northern groups suspend Kaduna’s declaration, call for Kanu’s arrest

 
COALITION of Northern Groups (CNG), on Thursday, suspended its quit notice issued to all Igbos leaving in Northern Nigeria by October 1, with advice on Federal Government to allow Igbos hold a referendum to decide their future either as Nigerians or as Biafrans.

 

This, the groups said became paramount in view of the population of the Igbos that support Biafra was far larger than the few who appeared to be against it, saying failure to do that would only douse this tension temporarily while they regroup to prepare for the war, they have always craved and openly called for.

 

The group therefore called for the immediate arrest of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu and for his appropriate prosecution.

 

Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, who addressed newsmen alongside the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, on behalf of other 13 Northern groups, said the groups shall firmly pursue their petitions to the United Nations and the Nigerian Federal authorities for the appropriate sanction of Kanu and other IPOB leaders and sponsors in addition to labeling them a terror outfit.

 

Suleiman, who is the Chairman, Northern Emancipation Network, further called on the Nigerian Senate to demand that all Senators who stood surety for Kanu in Court rescind their bond or be suspended accordingly.

 

According to the group, “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 South-East 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, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, northern traditional rulers and the Directorate of State Security.

 

“We also had several fruitful interactions with various concerned individuals and groups. 
Most significant was our correspondence with the then Acting President, Professor 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. 

 

“We are also pleased to announce here that the Kaduna declaration has achieved most of its major objectives, chief among which include forcing the hitherto deliberately neglected dangerous Biafran issue to the front burner of the nation’s discussion agenda. 

 

“As we honour and respect the above genuine search for a solution, it is important to also point out that a simple conversation or some form of window dressing without getting to the crux of the matter will only end up as a temporary solution that leaves the nation and the younger generation with a burden of dealing with the problem in the future”, the group added.