Two Northern groups, Arewa Youths Coalition for Peace and Political Development and Northern Elders Progressive Group, have condemned Niger Republic’s allegations against Nigeria, demanding an immediate apology.
This is contained in a communique jointly signed by Alhaji Yasir Ramadan-Kano and Mustapha Dutsin-ma, representing the two groups. Highlighting the communique while addressing a press briefing yesterday in Kaduna, the convener of the groups, Yusuf Abubakar, said they collectively took the stand at the end of their 8th joint meeting on Wednesday.
Abubakar said Niger Republic’s President, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani’s claims against President Bola Tinubu were unsubstantiated and lacked any iota of truth, describing the allegations as irresponsible and unpresidential.
“We reject, in totality, recent allegations made by Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, Military Head of Niger Republic, against Nigerian President Bola Tinubu of conniving with France to destabilise his country.
“We see such unguarded utterances as irresponsible, lacking decorum and unpresidential. These are baseless allegations capable of overheating the polity in our country.
“Our stance on this saga is total support and endorsement of Tinubu, especially with his positive development strides, ensuring political unity, security and restoration of peace in our troubled North,” he said.
Abubakar, therefore, called on Tchiani to stop creating disunity between the two brotherly nations that have a common historical understanding, unity and regard for each other for decades.
He also cautioned some groups with ulterior motives to refrain from fanning embers of hatred, considering its consequences for Nigeria’s collective survival as a people and nation in general.
“We must be patriotic and responsible on issues affecting our national growth, unity and respect,” he said. Abubakar emphasised that it was high time political leaders, elites and those in authority who are of the Northern extraction came together and brought lasting solutions to the numerous challenges facing the region.He stressed that unity, peace and development of the North is sacrosanct to ensure cohesion and political understanding among Nigerians.
Abubakar said: “There must be a way to bring all our political leaders together, united and committed to development in the best possible way, going against hatred, mudslinging and mischief that’s destroying our collective interest as one nation.” He commended Tinubu’s efforts towards sustaining the fight against insecurity bedevilling parts of the Northern region, particularly the North-West.
