Nigerian Youth Parliament Condemns Eviction Notice Issued by Arewa Youths
The Nigerian Youth Parliament through her leadership, has condemned in totality. The recent ‘quit notice’ issued by a section of the Northern Youth, Under the auspices of The Northern Nigerian Youth Coalition.
The above named northern youth body had earlier made a publication, giving the indigenes of the South Eastern States of Nigeria – The ‘Igbos’, who are resident in the North, a notice to leave the Northern Nigeria. Consequently, the N.Y.P has joined her voice to that of other Nationalist Organisations in the country, to condemn the notice. In a Press Statement titled;
‘THE NIGERIAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT CONDEMNS THE QUIT NOTICE ON THE IGBOS AND ITS ACCEPTANCE…DESCRIBES IT AS SECTIONAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND PAROCHIAL’, made available to NIGERIAN CABLE NEWS from the Office of the Speaker. Here is the Press Statement unedited;
THE NIGERIAN YOUTH PARLIAMENT CONDEMNS THE QUIT NOTICE ON THE IGBOS AND ITS ACCEPTANCE.
… DESCRIBES IT AS SECTIONAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND PAROCHIAL.
The attention of the Nigerian Youth Parliament has been drawn to the recent publication of a few youths of Northern extraction under the aegis of the Northern Nigerian Youth Coalition on its purported issuance of a quit notice on indigenes of the South Eastern States of our dear Nation. More worrisome is the rash acceptance of this balkanizing position by the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) on behalf of the Igbo Nation.
As the Apex Youth legislative body in Nigeria saddled with the statutory responsibility of representing the Nigerian Youth and to unrepentantly committed to the unity of the nation and sacrosanctity of the Constitution, We The Presiding Officers, Principal Officers and the Caucus’ Leaders particularly the Northern caucus convoked an emergency meeting and after a dispassionate and objective deliberation on this matter have unanimously resolved as follows:
1. The Parliament condemns in its totality and entirety this unpatriotic, sectional, unconstitutional and parochial statement and position as it does not represent the general interest of the Youth but that of a misinformed and selfish few making the so called Kaduna convention a nullity.
2. The said pronouncement was made without due consultation with genuine Northern Youth Stakeholders and Leaders.
3. The disheartening stance came to us as a rude shock. We are particularly disappointed that a tiny section of recalcitrant youths who had erstwhile been solely relied upon as champions of a detribalised, free, just and developed Nigeria that we all dream of and are working assiduously towards its attainment could descend so low into the murky waters of religious polarisation and ethnic bigotry.
To this end, We urge all well meaning Nigerians to discard and disregard this ill informed position and unguarded statement capable of inciting ethnic and civil war thereby truncating the relative peace enjoyed in the Country required to actualize the change agenda of the current Government.
From today, 7th of June, 2017, we hereby issue a 14 days ultimatum to these group to rescind and retract this malicious, myopic and treasonable threat or appropriate legal action will be instituted against them. We are aware that Sections 41(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) guarantees the right to freedom of movement and also allows any citizen of Nigeria irrespective of his or her tribe, and religion to reside and conduct lawful business anywhere within the country.
After the retraction of this divisive statement, we strongly advice that the negative energy, intellect and every other resources intended to actualize this disillusionary and imaginary objective should be dedicated to the establishment of Good Governance, Anti Corruption, Economic Prosperity, Security, Sustainable Youth Empowerment and Unity in the Country.
We also urge all concerned Elders, Statesmen and Youths in the frontline of the agitation for the restructuring of the country into a proper and true federating States and units should properly educate, sensitize and enlighten their followers on this sensitive issue and clearly distill the difference between the restructuring and secession. MASSOB, on its own part is advised to seek peaceful and legal means of championing their agitations and desist from making statements capable of further dividing the frail and fragile Country along ethnic and/or religious lines.
Im conclusion, We call on the Federal Government to live up to its primary responsibility of securing the lives and properties of Nigerians by putting proactive security machinery in place to ensure the safety of Nigerians anywhere they reside and conduct their lawful businesses particularly the Igbos living in the Northern Part of the Countey as we must continue to co-exist peacefully with each other with love understanding and tolerance. In our diversity lies our strength.
Long Live The Peace Loving Youth of Nigeria!
Long Live the Nigerian Youth Parliament!!
Long Live The Federal Republic Of Nigeria!!!
SIGNED
Rt Hon Obe Ayodele (Ondo Central), Speaker, Nigerian Youth Parliament.
Rt Hon Maryam Abass (Kaduna North), Deputy Speaker, Nigerian Youth Parliament.
Hon Bello Karaye (Kano North), Chairman, NorthWest Caucus, Nigerian Youth Parliament.
Hon Nebo Collins(Enugu West), Chairman, SouthEast Caucus, Nigerian Youth Parliament
