Africa’s richest man and Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko
Dangote, has condemned the recent quit notice given to Nigerians of
Igbo extraction by some northern youths to leave the region on
October 1, 2017 or face physical attacks.
Dangote reportedly said this when some business executives from
Lagos Business School (LBS) visited his multi-billion dollar
refinery and petro-chemical projects in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, at the
weekend.
The billionaire businessman noted that the youths only spoke
because they sought relevance. Condemning the hate speech against
Igbo, Dangote queried why the media gave such jobless youths
relevance.
“Some fellows who have no relevance and values came out to issue
a warning that Igbo should leave the North. I am surprised
everybody started talking about this nonsense. Why are we talking
about it? Obviously, in a place where there is a lot of
joblessness, it is expected that this kind of jobless people would
come out with all sorts of anger.
“We understand the reasons why they are angry, but, they cannot
justify their action when they have decided not to work. They only
issued the senseless warning to keep themselves relevant.”
Three weeks ago, a coalition of Arewa youths issued eviction notice
to Igbo living in the North to leave on October 1, 2017.
Represented by their leaders at the meeting were Arewa Citizens
Action for Change, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Arewa Youth
Development Foundation, Arewa Students Forum and Northern
Emancipation Network on Igbo Persistence for Recession, among
others.
In a statement read by Mallam Abdulazeez Suleiman, on behalf of
others, the northern youths said, “the region is tired of the
marriage hence the need for restructuring.”
The go home order has drawn criticisms from other parts of the
country.
Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, kick-started a peace
and conflict resolution dialogue with leaders of thought in the
North and South East.
Regardless, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), apex umbrella
body of the North, has faulted growing clamour to restructure
Nigeria.
The ACF said advocates of restructuring have failed to follow due
process.
The body, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Muhammad
Ibrahim Biu, reiterated that, although there was nothing wrong with
the campaign, those seeking restructuring must follow due
process.
Prominent Nigerians, including former military President,
Ibrahim Babangida, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, have
canvassed immediate restructuring of the country.
The ACF said demands could have been better handled.
“ACF calls for due process, through our present democratic
structures rather than just crass agitation, if we are to achieve
true federalism. However, ACF has observed, with regret, that, in
most cases, the discussions are taking place without regard to our
present democratic structure, as the issues are in some cases
presented as “demands” by one group or the other.
“Unfortunately, in most cases, they are followed up by some
ultimatum to the government to accept or face deadly
consequences.
It should be clear to all the agitators that restructuring a
complex, big and diverse country as Nigeria is a serious business
that must take account of the views of all its citizens, and not
just of those that shout the loudest.
“More so, such discussions must be free of threats, intimidation
or blackmail from any group or individual. Genuine restructuring
must therefore be just, fair and equitable to all…”
Africa’s richest man and Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko
Dangote, has condemned the recent quit notice given to Nigerians of
Igbo extraction by some northern youths to leave the region on
October 1, 2017 or face physical attacks.
Dangote reportedly said this when some business executives from
Lagos Business School (LBS) visited his multi-billion dollar
refinery and petro-chemical projects in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, at the
weekend.
The billionaire businessman noted that the youths only spoke
because they sought relevance. Condemning the hate speech against
Igbo, Dangote queried why the media gave such jobless youths
relevance.
“Some fellows who have no relevance and values came out to issue
a warning that Igbo should leave the North. I am surprised
everybody started talking about this nonsense. Why are we talking
about it? Obviously, in a place where there is a lot of
joblessness, it is expected that this kind of jobless people would
come out with all sorts of anger.
“We understand the reasons why they are angry, but, they cannot
justify their action when they have decided not to work. They only
issued the senseless warning to keep themselves relevant.”
Three weeks ago, a coalition of Arewa youths issued eviction notice
to Igbo living in the North to leave on October 1, 2017.
Represented by their leaders at the meeting were Arewa Citizens
Action for Change, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Arewa Youth
Development Foundation, Arewa Students Forum and Northern
Emancipation Network on Igbo Persistence for Recession, among
others.
In a statement read by Mallam Abdulazeez Suleiman, on behalf of
others, the northern youths said, “the region is tired of the
marriage hence the need for restructuring.”
The go home order has drawn criticisms from other parts of the
country.
Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, kick-started a peace
and conflict resolution dialogue with leaders of thought in the
North and South East.
Regardless, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), apex umbrella
body of the North, has faulted growing clamour to restructure
Nigeria.
The ACF said advocates of restructuring have failed to follow due
process.
The body, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Muhammad
Ibrahim Biu, reiterated that, although there was nothing wrong with
the campaign, those seeking restructuring must follow due
process.
Prominent Nigerians, including former military President,
Ibrahim Babangida, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, have
canvassed immediate restructuring of the country.
The ACF said demands could have been better handled.
“ACF calls for due process, through our present democratic
structures rather than just crass agitation, if we are to achieve
true federalism. However, ACF has observed, with regret, that, in
most cases, the discussions are taking place without regard to our
present democratic structure, as the issues are in some cases
presented as “demands” by one group or the other.
“Unfortunately, in most cases, they are followed up by some
ultimatum to the government to accept or face deadly
consequences.
It should be clear to all the agitators that restructuring a
complex, big and diverse country as Nigeria is a serious business
that must take account of the views of all its citizens, and not
just of those that shout the loudest.
“More so, such discussions must be free of threats, intimidation
or blackmail from any group or individual. Genuine restructuring
must therefore be just, fair and equitable to all…”
Read more https://nairalaw.com/quit-notice-arewa-youths-seeking-relevance-dangote/