Agitations for independence by some ethnic groups in Nigeria have heightened in the last few days now, resulting in an ultimatum for others to leave their region.
The agitations was kicked off by Asari Dokubo, who declared himself the leader of the new Biafra de facto Customary Government (BCG), on Sunday, March 14.
Uche Mefor, Head of Information and Communication of the customary government, announced that George Onyibe will be the Secretary, while Emeka Esiri will be in charge of the legal matters.
Mefor, in a statement, blamed injustice and marginalisation on the Igbos found in various zones of the country as the reason for the new government.
Dokubo assured that the de facto administration will tackle insecurity challenges faced by the Igbos and improve the lives of the people of the region.
The former warlord said the BCG decided to take its destiny in its hands and bring freedom to children and generations of Biafrans yet unborn.
Dokubo said he hesitated a little, “but I thank God that it’s time for us to do our duty and our service to the motherland, I have accepted this role. I have dedicated my life a hundred percent to play this role”.
Popular Yoruba activist, Sunday Igboho declared the Independence of the ‘Yoruba nation’ on Thursday, March 18.
According to him, the South-Western states are no longer a part of Nigeria.
He made the declaration during a conference in Ibadan, Oyo state, insisting that it was high time the Yoruba became a sovereign nation.
With the declaration, the activist called on Yorubas who are resident in Hausa/Fulani or Igbo territory, to return home before war breaks out.
He said that all traditional rulers in Yoruba land must support the movement to free the South-west from slavery or they will not ‘see the light of the next day.’
“Why are we being slaves in our fatherland? Why are we being enslaved in our own land?” He asked.
“As it stands now, we are no longer under Nigeria. If they don’t intervene, it will go beyond control. We have gone beyond the point where we keep quiet; we are no longer scared to voice out.
“We are not safe anywhere, we can’t sleep in peace, we can’t travel in peace, what have we done? Are we slaves? We don’t do wrong by existing, we only chose the wrong leaders and we are saying enough is enough!
“Tin Can in Lagos, Apapa, the directors are Fulani men. The two ports we have, the controllers are Fulanis. We don’t want them anymore!
“The borders that NIGERIAN Government closed, we are opening it all. We are no longer interested in being part of Nigeria!
“All our Kings are solidly behind us, any of them that want to deny it should make a press conference, let’s see.
“Start coming home, it is time! We have suffered enough, let’s not fight among each other, let’s unite for a common cause, it is time to come home. That’s all I have to say.”
In reaction, the Arewa Youth Assembly, AYA, has given Yoruba people 72 hours to move from the North or be forced to take necessary actions by personally taking the responsibility of getting them back home.
The group explained, “We are hereby giving him the ultimatum of 72 hours to move his people out or we will be forced to take necessary actions by personally taking the responsibility of getting his people back home.”
Mohammed Salihu Danlami, Speaker, Arewa Youth Assembly, in a statement on Friday, March 19, noted that the entity of Nigeria is nonnegotiable and called on all stakeholders in the country to reject anything that would cause confusion in the land.
He lamented, “One Mr. Sunday Igboho issued a press statement in which he was quoted as saying enough is enough that the time for Yoruba nation is now, they will no longer accommodate and accept the presence of Northerners.”
The group noted, “This is despite the fact that the constitution of the country has made it crystal clear that any Nigerian can live in any part of the country irrespective of his or her religious and tribal placements.”
The Arewa Youth said that it still affirms its position as a law-abiding civil youth organization, that notwithstanding, it would not fold its arm and watch innocent Nigerians being threatened by individuals who clearly have no regard and respect for the law like Mr. Sunday Igboho.
According to the group, “Since it is Igboho who wants his people out of the North to form a Yoruba nation, we will make it easy for him by asking Mr. Igboho to provide a means of transportation to convey his people to the southwest.”
It noted that Mr. Igboho has continuously threatened the lives and property of northerners residing in the southwest for no reason, adding, “we have kept quiet for the sake of peace and for respect of the laws of our country, but as Mr. Igboho rightly said, enough is enough.”
The group called on the northern elders, traditional rulers and all security agencies to support them in accomplishing the task of evacuating the Yorubas out of the 19 northern states and the FCT Abuja by making it a very peaceful exercise devoid of lost of lives and destruction of properties or hijack by hoodlums to prevent the re-occurrence of the #End-SARS protest.
