Biafra: Coalition demands retraction of quit order by Arewa Youths

From: Madu Ezenoha, Enugu

Igbo Civil Society Coalition (ICSCO), an association of rights groups based in the South East geo-political zone, has called on the coalition of northern groups under the aegis of Arewa Youths to  withdraw the quit notice issued to Ndigbo living in the north.

In a three point communique released after her meeting in Enugu, and made available to journalists at the weekend, the coalition stated that it appreciates ongoing nationwide reconciliatory efforts by many well meaning personalities in Nigeria to douse the tension occasioned  by the hate speeches and impudent Quit Notice issued by Arewa Youths to Ndigbo to vacate the North by October 1, 2017.

The group reminded the authorities that “the only assurance of Igbo safety is the withdrawal of the ultimatum by those that issued it and a practical fact that henceforth Ndigbo are no more harmed, but safe in the North.”

On Igbo unity, ICSCO urged Ndigbo in the South East, South South, other parts of Nigeria and in the Diaspora to come together in unity, in order to successfully articulate and pursue the interest of Ndigbo as well as those of other ethnic nationalities that share in the ideals of justice, fairness and peace.

The coalition noted that based on her attachment to the principle of unity of command, it supports Ohaneze Ndigbo and its leadership, knowing full well that their mandate covers the well being of all segments and shades of opinion in the Igbo nation.

The coalition however urged Ohaneze to take into consideration various positions on “Restructuring, Referendum, Self Determination (Biafra) and the miscellany of other issues concerning the place of Ndigbo in Nigeria, Africa and the world.”

ICSCO frowned at what it referred to as the Nigerian Armed Forces Taking Over Routine Police Jobs and commended the Speaker, House of Representatives-Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara for his recent assertion that the Nigerian Armed Forces, in contravention of its constitutional role as stipulated in Section 217 of the 1999 constitution, had taken over routine police work such as mounting of road blocks and management of civilian protests.

The group said that a situation whereby the Nigerian Armed Forces were being currently deployed to 28 of the nation’s 36 states in peace time, as observed by Dogara, has placed the country in a permanent state of emergency.

“ICSCO, while sharing in the Speaker’s concern over this development that has made the army ‘to become the civil authority itself’ rather than aiding the civil authorities, urged the National Assembly to prevail on the Army to revert to its constitutional role.”

The communique was signed by Prof Obasi Igwe, National Coordinator, Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji, MNSE
Convener, Arc Eric Eyutchae, Igbo Intelligentsia; Prof Smart Otu, Igbo Academia; Elder Oyibo Chukwu,Esq
Igbo Professionals, and Dr Mc Ginger Ibeneme, Social Justice Crusader.

Others are: Comrade Paulinus Okoro, Igbo Academia; Dr Jasper Uche, Igbo Academia;  Augustine Nwankwo, Prince Simon Chukwudi, Nsude Godswill, Engr Ikechukwu Umeh, Harford Ugwu and Dr Kenneth Nwankwo, MD.