Northern Arewa backs Buhari, insists Nigeria’s unity is non-negotiable

The northern socio-political forum, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has backed President Muhammadu Buhari’s comment on the unity of Nigeria not being negotiable disagreeing with the stance of the Afenifere and Ohaneze.

President Buhari had declared in a plea to Niger Delta militants on Wednesday that the unity of Nigeria as a country was non-negotiable sparking off several reactions from different quarters.
Supporting the president’s comments, the ACF said Nigeria would remain indivisible as one country despite the many challenges it is facing.
Speaking to the Punch newspaper in Kaduna, the National Publicity Secretary, Muhammad Ibrahim warned the parties calling for a division of the country to have a rethink.
Ibrahim declared support for the president’s stand on the unity of Nigeria noting that it was based on this belief that the ACF was requesting the Niger Militants to lay down their arms for dialogue with the Federal Government.
Ibrahim said, “Yes. The unity of Nigeria is non-negotiable as stated in the President’s Eid-el-Fitri message to Nigerians during Sallah.
“And that is why we asked our Niger Delta brothers to stop blowing up oil installations in the region. Destruction can never be a solution to their grievances.”
The ACF had, in its Sallah message, asked the Niger Delta militants to embrace dialogue and lay down its weapons.
It said, “Destroying oil pipelines and polluting the environment is not a solution to whatever perceived grievances the groups may have against the government/oil companies.
“Development and prosperity can only take place in an atmosphere of peace and understanding and not of violence and destruction.”