Help tame insecurity in north, desist from CBN, FAAN matters, Onoh tells Arewa youths

President Bola Tinuubu’s former campaign spokesman in the southeast, Dr Josef Onoh has asked the President of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Alhaji Yerima Shettima to concentrate on how the northern parts of Nigeria could be rid of the pervasive insecurity ravaging the region than poke nosing on government policies and adjustments.

Onoh made the reprove on Yerima following the AYCF President’s reported objection to the relocation of some departments of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) back to Lagos State, the former Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria and the commercial and finance hub of the country.

Shettima argued that the relocations were capable of generating the risk of weakening national unity, upsetting operations, causing economic setbacks, and escalating regional imbalances. But Onoh in his response to Shettima asked the Arewa youth leader to focus on the insecurity in the northern region which he said has caused instability in the region, decimated the northern economy and made most parts of the region uninhabitable for businesses to thrive.

According to Onoh, In an era where digital platforms connect people globally, influencers like Shettima bear a responsibility to foster positive discourse and contribute to the unity of Nigeria rather than perpetuate stereotypes, divisions and empty threats to resist positive government policies.

He stated that contrary to Shettima’s claim that the relocations were threats to national unity, “The only thing posing a threat to national unity and economic viability is your uninformed and unguarded utterances, turbocharged entitled mentality that gave rise to your delusional statement alleging that the political and economic viability of Northern Nigeria is at stake.

“This statement alone has defeated the so-acclaimed posture that Abuja was selected as the state capital in order to foster national unity and to decentralize power. Your utterance to resist constituted authority can only be seen from a perspective of revolution which definitely will spell doom to any character who by Utterances or action threatens the unity of our nation.”

Tutoring Shettima on the germane reasons, FAAN needed to be returned to Lagos, Onoh said that the authority had hinted that it wants to avoid wastes being incurred both in the personnel and infrastructural deficiencies in the Abuja office of the authority, whereas its corporate headquarters remain desolate without occupation.

He also noted that the volume of FAAN businesses thrive in Lagos and would make no sense to squeeze up in Abuja, leaving the hub of the aviation industry.

“The Tinuubu administration cannot succumb to ethnic chauvinism such as Shettima and his co-travellers are ignorantly advocating. The decisions are in the best interest of the country, especially as it concerns public funds and the nation will not yield to ethnic or sectional sentiments that will derail its set out policies,” Onoh said.

On the case of the CBN, Onoh said it was also the same reason of economic waste that the apex bank gave for the decision to relocate back to Lagos when office accommodation is an issue in Abuja and the department of the banking supervision has the banks it supervises in Lagos.

“It’s therefore a round-tripping game just to answer presence in Abuja and go back to Lagos on the same day to execute the main job which is in Lagos. It doesn’t make sense at all and my word for people like Yerima Shettima is that the relocations are for the greater good of the economy and the nation.

“So, I will ask Shettima to mobilise and resist the ongoing insecurity going on in the north which is not just a northern problem but a threat to national security. The issue of insecurity, banditry, and kidnapping, rather than focusing on mere departments being moved is for the greater good of the economy and the nation.

“Inflammatory statements capable of causing public disorder towards the current administration will not be tolerated. I wish to remind Yerima Shettima that freedom of expression comes with a responsibility to exercise it conscientiously, especially when dealing with topics that can perpetuate harmful stereotypes or cause public disobedience in rebellion against constituted authority.

“As this incident unfolds, going by Shettima’s current utterances and threat to resist positive government policies, it prompts reflection on the need for influencers, public office holders and representatives to use their platforms judiciously, recognizing the power they hold in shaping public opinion.

“In a diverse, multi-ethnic nation like ours, fostering understanding and respect for different cultures and ethnicities is crucial for promoting harmony and cooperation.

“Let me finally emphasize the repercussions that can result from divisive rhetoric as promoted by Shettima in the age of social media. Be assured that the Tinubu-led government has the utmost respect for law and others while promoting unity and should not be taken as a pushover that will succumb to threats or blackmail,” Onoh said.