Quit notice: Southern leaders give Osinbajo ultimatum

• Demand implementation of 2014 confab report, states
autonomy by December 2017

Southern Leaders Forum has handed Acting president, Yemi
Osinbajo, an ultimatum, to inform the zone of the Federal
Government’s plans to protect Southerners residing in the North,
against the backdrop of an October 1, 2017 deadline from Arewa
youths to Igbo, to leave the region.

Besides, southern leaders have also given Osinbajo another
ultimatum, which much be achieved by December 2017: implement the
2014 National Conference report and also, allow the 36 states
assume their status as federating units, as guaranteed by the
country’s Constitution.

Rising from a meeting in Lagos, yesterday evening, the forum
insisted it will not tolerate any threat or attack against any part
of the South. They reiterated that any attack against any part of
the zone is an attack against the entire region.

Forum President and former director general of the Department of
State Security (DSS), Albert Horsfall, said southern leaders will
not tolerate any threat and would ensure that any attack against
the South will get the response it deserves.

addedHorsfall said Southern leaders are unhappy that up till
date, no action has been taken by the Federal Government.

He said Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, must inform Nigerians
of federal government actions and plans, to protect southerners
living in the North.

“We are disconcerted that, up till now, no action appears to
have been taken regarding the October 1 threat issued by Arewa
youths. We, therefore, demand that Osinbajo inform Nigerians of
what actions and steps has been taken to protect the Igbo and all
Southerners who live in the North against the the threats of the
Arewa youths. We reiterate that any threat or action against anyone
from the South will be treated as a threat or action against all
Southerners.”

The forum also stated that the federal government, should, as a
matter of urgency, implement recommendations of the 2014 National
Conference.

“We note with gratitude, a statement by the acting president,
that the issue of restructuring will be addressed soon and we urge
him to follow his statement with immediate action by acting on the
recommendations of the 2014 National Conference. The issue of
restructuring and change was an integral part of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) manifesto.

“We want the 16-point agenda that was submitted by the
South-South delegation, submitted in their meeting with the acting
president to be acted upon immediately, to avoid youth restiveness
and sustain the current peace.

“There is an urgent need to restructure Nigeria to achieve true
federalism. We will not be distracted by individuals who claim
ignorance of what restructuring means or those who try to imply a
non-existent sinister plan to break up Nigeria because of the
demand for restructuring. We affirm our commitment to the unity of
Nigeria and also, insist on the urgent need to restructure Nigeria,
to achieve true federalism.

“For the avoidance of doubt, restructuring is a return to the
constitution of independence which our founding fathers bequeathed
to us. That constitution allowed the states autonomy in the
management of their affairs.

“The states will be federating units, with its own with rights
to have their own constitution. The states will have control of its
resources and make agreed contributions to the federal government
for general services.

“We will identify those areas of our Constitution which should
allow for effective administration in the states. It is important
that action be commenced immediately, to ensure that the entire
changes are implemented by December 2017.”

The forum also noted what it describes as the menace of armed
Fulani herdsmen and proliferation of Fulani armed settlements in
the South.

“We want to alert the international community and we also want
the FG to take appropriate actions against them. We want the FG to
make an official statement on this and take appropriate action to
put them in check.”

Those in attendance were former governor of Akwa Ibom state,
Obong Victor Attah, Afenifere chieftains, Ayo Adebanjo, Femi
Okurounmu, former managing director of Niger Delta Development
Commission, Timi Alaibe, Tony Uranta, President of Ijaw Monitoring
Group, Joseph Eva, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw and Afenifere
spokesman, Yinka Odumakin.

Sun

• Demand implementation of 2014 confab report, states
autonomy by December 2017

Southern Leaders Forum has handed Acting president, Yemi
Osinbajo, an ultimatum, to inform the zone of the Federal
Government’s plans to protect Southerners residing in the North,
against the backdrop of an October 1, 2017 deadline from Arewa
youths to Igbo, to leave the region.

Besides, southern leaders have also given Osinbajo another
ultimatum, which much be achieved by December 2017: implement the
2014 National Conference report and also, allow the 36 states
assume their status as federating units, as guaranteed by the
country’s Constitution.

Rising from a meeting in Lagos, yesterday evening, the forum
insisted it will not tolerate any threat or attack against any part
of the South. They reiterated that any attack against any part of
the zone is an attack against the entire region.

Forum President and former director general of the Department of
State Security (DSS), Albert Horsfall, said southern leaders will
not tolerate any threat and would ensure that any attack against
the South will get the response it deserves.

addedHorsfall said Southern leaders are unhappy that up till
date, no action has been taken by the Federal Government.

He said Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, must inform Nigerians
of federal government actions and plans, to protect southerners
living in the North.

“We are disconcerted that, up till now, no action appears to
have been taken regarding the October 1 threat issued by Arewa
youths. We, therefore, demand that Osinbajo inform Nigerians of
what actions and steps has been taken to protect the Igbo and all
Southerners who live in the North against the the threats of the
Arewa youths. We reiterate that any threat or action against anyone
from the South will be treated as a threat or action against all
Southerners.”

The forum also stated that the federal government, should, as a
matter of urgency, implement recommendations of the 2014 National
Conference.

“We note with gratitude, a statement by the acting president,
that the issue of restructuring will be addressed soon and we urge
him to follow his statement with immediate action by acting on the
recommendations of the 2014 National Conference. The issue of
restructuring and change was an integral part of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) manifesto.

“We want the 16-point agenda that was submitted by the
South-South delegation, submitted in their meeting with the acting
president to be acted upon immediately, to avoid youth restiveness
and sustain the current peace.

“There is an urgent need to restructure Nigeria to achieve true
federalism. We will not be distracted by individuals who claim
ignorance of what restructuring means or those who try to imply a
non-existent sinister plan to break up Nigeria because of the
demand for restructuring. We affirm our commitment to the unity of
Nigeria and also, insist on the urgent need to restructure Nigeria,
to achieve true federalism.

“For the avoidance of doubt, restructuring is a return to the
constitution of independence which our founding fathers bequeathed
to us. That constitution allowed the states autonomy in the
management of their affairs.

“The states will be federating units, with its own with rights
to have their own constitution. The states will have control of its
resources and make agreed contributions to the federal government
for general services.

“We will identify those areas of our Constitution which should
allow for effective administration in the states. It is important
that action be commenced immediately, to ensure that the entire
changes are implemented by December 2017.”

The forum also noted what it describes as the menace of armed
Fulani herdsmen and proliferation of Fulani armed settlements in
the South.

“We want to alert the international community and we also want
the FG to take appropriate actions against them. We want the FG to
make an official statement on this and take appropriate action to
put them in check.”

Those in attendance were former governor of Akwa Ibom state,
Obong Victor Attah, Afenifere chieftains, Ayo Adebanjo, Femi
Okurounmu, former managing director of Niger Delta Development
Commission, Timi Alaibe, Tony Uranta, President of Ijaw Monitoring
Group, Joseph Eva, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw and Afenifere
spokesman, Yinka Odumakin.

Sun