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Chairman of Northern Senators Forum, Abdullahi Adamu, has faulted the late response of Igbo leaders to statements and threats to the country’s unity amidst unhealthy ethnic and separatist agitations.
It would also be recalled that Southeast Governors’ Forum and Ohanaeze Ndigbo recently dissociated themselves from the activities of Nnamdi Kanu and his Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), calling for secession and referendum and had changed the context of secession to restructuring.
But Adamu said no responsible Nigerian would want the split of the country, but has the right to pursue his/her interest in a case of a perceived raw deal, either as individual or group, within the context of the constitution, noting: “Nobody says anybody should stop agitating for anything. It is happening in Ireland, nobody stopped it. In the United Kingdom, it is happening. Nobody stopped them.
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“Even, there was a plebiscite in Scotland. Nobody is saying all this are impossible.”
But the former governor of Nasarawa State said in Abuja yesterday: “I feel sad, very sad at this development, when the Southeast leaders kept silent to enjoy the IPOB activities, fight and exploits.
He noted: “They saw and enjoyed the order to close shops and the prevention of many Nigerians from pursuing their legitimate and constitutional rights of movement, association and to pursue their economic interests within the legitimacy of law of this country.
“Who said to them, ‘you are wrong, don’t do it?’ If anything, they were praised. How many people said anything against it?”
As for the arrest of the Arewa youths responsible for the quit notice to the Igbo resident in the north, Adamu said the law is a leveller and should not be different strokes for different people.
“I support what the Federal Government is doing. I support that everybody who tries to destabilise this country should face the wrath of law. But it must be even, because the law is a leveller,” Adamu remarked.
He stressed that the Igbo voted themselves out of the mainstream Nigerian politics in the 2015 general elections, adding: “I do know and it is a fact, nobody has said it. I will say it that Igbo voted themselves out of the mainstream Nigerian politics in the 2015 general elections. They have to find their way back.
“And if this is the vehicle to ride back to the mainstream, we will work together to achieve the desired unity. This separatist movement will take us nowhere.”
Adamu, nonetheless, advised that every Nigerian must maintain good behaviour and mannerisms to get to the roundtable and discuss national challenges.
