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Ruga ultimatum: Ohanaeze, Yoruba, Niger Delta youths dare Northern coalition

By Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt), Nnamdi Akpa (Abakaliki) and Rotimi Agboluaje, (Ibadan) 
06 July 2019   |   3:30 am
The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), yesterday, said that northern governors should be held responsible for any harm against the Igbo in the region following the recent threat by the Coalition of Northern Groups over the suspension of the Ruga settlement....

The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), yesterday, said that northern governors should be held responsible for any harm against the Igbo in the region following the recent threat by the Coalition of Northern Groups over the suspension of the Ruga settlement policy by the Federal Government.

This is as the Yoruba Youth Socio-cultural Association (YYSA) has described the ultimatum by the Coalition as mere threat, while urging Yorubas residing in the northern parts of the country not to panic.

Meanwhile, Niger Delta militants under the aegis of Joint Revolutionary Council (JRC) have warned that any attempt to grab land for herdsmen to graze their cattle in the zone would be met with just recompense.

A statement in Abakaliki by the National President of OYC, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, noted that the threat by the Coalition was uncalled for since there was the option of ranching for Fulani herdsmen through the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP).He said the threat should be withdrawn immediately, while reminding the Coalition of the grave implications of their position.

Isiguzoro said: “We are fully aware that these recent threat are targeted only at the lives and property of peaceful Nigerians of Igbo extraction doing businesses in the 19 northern states, and this is a declaration of war against the Igbo.

“OYC wishes to remind the leadership of the Coalition of the hate speech ban. If the northern governors, Northern Elders Forum, Arewa Consultative Forum, northern traditional rulers led by the Sultan of Sokoto and religious leaders are not behind the recent threat, they should condemn it vehemently and call the warring youths to order,” Isiguzoro said.

Deputy National Secretary of the YYSA, Adeboye Oluwabusoye in a statement, yesterday, advised Yorubas residing in the northern parts of the country not to panic, saying the 30 days ultimatum was an empty threat.

“Since we understand their game of whimsy, no amount of intimidation can send Yoruba people away from northern Nigeria.  We guarantee our people safety of lives and property. They should face their businesses and continue to live without fear.  The Coalition’s threat is unworthy to worry about,” Oluwabusayo said.

JRC spokesperson, Cynthia Whyte, in a statement, said the Niger Delta had already borne too much headache for the country and her people and could not afford the luxury of a new Ruga migraine.

Whyte said the 30 days ultimatum by the Coalition was diversionary. “We have felt the hands of Esau. We also know the voice of Jacob. In furtherance thereof, we declare that any attempt to infringe upon the peaceful and secure life of any Niger Deltan anywhere across the country will be met with just recompense,” Whyte said.

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