There are strong indications that the coalition of northern youths will soon start lobbying members of the National Assembly to include referendum in the ongoing constitution amendments.

The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum’s President, Yerima Shettima, who gave this indication in an interview, said the coalition would not use force to effect the quit notice it gave to the Igbo.

But he expressed confidence that the referendum would not favour the Indigenous People of Biafra’s leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, and other secessionists, saying the people of the zone would reject secession.

The group had a few months ago told the Igbo living in the North to leave the region on or before October 1. It hinged its ultimatum on the secessionist agitation of IPOB.

Following a lot of public outcry and condemnation from eminent Nigerians and organisations, there were reports that the forum would withdraw the quit notice.

But at a press conference in Kano on Thursday, the forum said there was no going back on the quit notice.

Shettima, at the event, had said, “We have not renounced our earlier position on the quit notice to the Igbo.”

He had said that the Northern youths would not use force, but constitutional means to achieve their goal.

He said the forum had written the United Nations to prevail on the Federal Government to opt for referendum.

The referendum, he explained, would enable those who were desirous of leaving the federation to do so without force.

Shettima stated, “We are looking at having a referendum. It is part of our prayers to the United Nations. Our second prayer is for the UN and the international community to prevail on the Nigerian government through the National Assembly to create an exit for those who want to leave.

“We are also planning to lobby members of the National Assembly to formally agree to a referendum on Biafra. We want the Igbo to have the opportunity of voting on this issue.

“We are saying Nigeria cannot sign international treaties and not implement them. We want a constitutional amendment for referendum because it is not currently part of our constitution.”

The youth leader said he was expecting a response to the group’s letter to the United Nations.

According to him, the group will hold consultations across the North on the need for a referendum.

He said, “We are expecting the UN to respond and we would also talk to our lawmakers, but we are in consultation. Nigerians should not panic; we are not a violent organisation.”

He further stated that his group had been holding meetings with stakeholders in the North, adding that the youth coalition had just concluded a parley in Kano after which it would also meet with people in the North-Central and North-East.

He said, “We have made it abundantly clear that we would not enforce anything. We are not the government and we do not have the power to enforce anything, but we are using legal means because the issue is about Nnamdi Kanu who is heaping abuses on our people and undermining the government.

“We are saying the government must rise to the occasion and checkmate the guy. We may review our position after our consultations, but we mean no harm, we won’t harass innocent Nigerians, no. It is not in our power to do so.”

Referendum will not favour Biafra Republic, Kanu

The Arewa youth leader also expressed confidence that a referendum would not favour the Biafra Republic or its promoter, Kanu.

Shettima said Kanu could not speak for Igbo leaders such as Chief Emeka Anyaoku and other intellectuals, noting that the IPOB leader was merely engaging in survival antics.

He said, “The truth is that Biafra cannot succeed even through a referendum. The truth of the matter is that an average Igbo man does not believe in Biafra but rather some few individuals are clamouring for it just to survive.

“When the referendum holds, it would not favour Biafra. It will not favour Kanu. He cannot speak for strong intellectuals like Chief Emeka Anyaoku and other Igbo intellectuals.”

He alleged that Kanu was being sponsored by disgruntled Nigerians in foreign countries seeking political relevance, adding that such people were being deceived by Kanu.

The Arewa youth leader explained that the steps so far taken by his coalition were done to expose the agitation for Biafra as a scam that should not be taken seriously by the international community.

He said, “Most of those funding the Biafra agitations are Nigerians in foreign lands who have lost relevance. They want to come back home. They want to be more relevant because they are not relevant at all.

“Kanu is using their psyche assuring them that there would be a new Republic of Biafra. We are doing what we are doing to expose them to the international community that these guys are just jokers and that they are not speaking for the Igbo.

“The real Igbo who want to stay in Nigeria are more than 80 per cent and he cannot in any way speak for them. Through a referendum, you would get to know that truly, more Igbo believe in Nigeria.”

We are certain of victory –IPOB

Reacting to the development, IPOB said it was certain of victory if there was any referendum on Biafra.

IPOB spokesperson, Mr. Emma Powerful, told one of our correspondents, “My leadership told me not to respond to any statement credited to the Arewa youths but their fathers, that is, the Arewa Elders Forum.

“But you know very well that if they call for a referendum today, we will win.

“We are praying, let them venture to call for a referendum in Biafraland, then you will know that God Almighty has done it for us.

“They don’t know what we are doing and what we are planning to do.”

Ango Abdullahi, Junaid urge FG to invite parties

Speaking on the quit notice, a Northern elder statesman, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, said if the Federal Government invited both Northern and Southern agitating youths and elders to a roundtable, some common grounds in the interest of the country could be gained.

Abdullahi, who is the spokesperson for the Northern Elders Forum, said, “When you want the latest on the quit notice, go to the youth. I am not a youth. My understanding is that I participated in one of the elders’ consultations with the acting president (Prof. Yemi Osinbajo). We were the first group to meet him and he listened to our views. I learnt he met with the other group too.

“The initial idea was that all the groups would be put together for a joint discussion; I think this is what perhaps has not taken place. Perhaps, at that time, when the groups meet, we might be able to extract some common positions which will be communicated to the general public.”

Also, a Second Republic lawmaker and a Northern elder statesman, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, said, “I cannot speak for the youth. But the issue about the Northern and Southern agitators which has refused to go away is an indication that we as Nigerians are not sincere democrats. You cannot build a democracy without having a sincere mind of a democrat. This mind is neither in the North nor in the South.

“We have to be sincere with ourselves and see whether the Nigerian project is an implementable project. We have to see whether we have been fair to our existence as a country and whether any country can survive with this level of continuous agitations.”

http://investorsking.com/biafra-arewa-youths-lobby-nassembly-referendum/

Let the referendum hold ones and for all.

North is so funny.You want unity but you kill other faith.You want unity but your region is full with nepotism and tribalism.If you don't speak Fulani language an Hausa Muslim will not assist or help you.So tell me what is your definition of unity?

but i think referendum is a needed tool now.

This arewa youth cant stop amusing me,you want igbo to go but you have already crying that referendum will not favour them,that 80% of igbo believe in one nigeria,the worst part of it is they are still angry with kanu,he even say that the steps so
far taken by his coalition
were done to expose the
agitation for Biafra as a
scam that should not be taken seriously by the
international community.as for me let arewa step up their game because is win win for ipob.i can remember on radio biafra when nnamdi kanu said that a time will come when the northern will tell you to leave their land.but one thing i like about the leadership of ipob is the way they ignore this arewa youth,and i like how ipob spoke man respond to the question that“My
leadership told me not to
respond to any statement
credited to the Arewa youths but their fathers,
that is, the Arewa Elders
Forum.ipob have not grind beans moi moi dont already begin dey smell.God bless all ipob,God bless biafra,God bless all lovers of freedom.

Please let dem do.

I hope the national assembly listen becos Biafra is here to stay.

Also, Arewa Youth should now stop disturbing our peace abut Kanu.

These northerners sometimes speak sense in a more ironical way.

They are in for a shocker.

Arewa youths and their fellow Biafra charlatans should let us hear word in this country.

All these noise is because of Niger delta oil which of course would have been a different story if it was located in the East or North.

Divide this country and get a big shocker because we in the Niger delta will surely find our own levels because e don tey wey una begin use us.

#AtlanticRepublic

This is all grandstanding. Conduct a referendum let the people speak!

Arewa youths una don dey use Biafra matter to gain prominence and attention. Who sabi una before? Na so una go dey drag the matter so that the attention go dey increase. You ve not had it so good before.
Governors and prominent men are now holding meetings with u and maybe giving you brown envelope after each meeting. Thanks to IPOB.

Why dont you people hold series of meetings as you are doing now for the fulani herdsmen issues? Wayo arewa youths.

God bless Arewa youths for this great commitment, if only they won't back out. Let them try harder please

Arewa fools promised to mop up stubborn Igbo. Shettima the pig, in case you have forgotten we have not. You must carry out that threat. October first please come quickly.

A good step in the right direction there is no substitute for peaceful resolution of conflicts.

hatchy:
Arewa youths and their fellow Biafra charlatans should let us hear word in this country.

All these noise is because of Niger delta oil which of course would have been a different story if it was located in the East or North.

Divide this country and get a big shocker because we in the Niger delta will surely find our own levels because e don tey wey una begin use us.

#AtlanticRepublic

You reason like a fool. Igbos dont care about your oil. The issues we have with Nigeria are the injustice in our system, the imbalance in appointment and recruitment, the quota system which enables a northerner to gain admission with 60/400 in Jamb while the cut off mark for our candidates is above 200. At the end of the day the northerner graduates with just a pass and gets a Job while our own graduates with second class upper and are still looking for Job.

The imbalance in state and local government creation. The imbalance in the millitary and paramillitary employment and promotion etc. We are talking about important issues and you are here ranting about oil. Meanwhile 3 states in the South east have Oil. Stop talking like a fool.

honourhim:


You reason like a fool. Igbos dont care about your oil. The issues we have with Nigeria are the injustice in our system, the imbalance in appointment and recruitment, the quota system which enables a northerner to gain admission with 60/400 in Jamb while the cut off mark for our candidates is above 200. At the end of the day the northerner graduates with just a pass and gets a Job while our own graduates with second class upper and are still looking for Job.

The imbalance in state and local government creation. The imbalance in the millitary and paramillitary employment and promotion etc. We are talking about important issues and you are here ranting about oil. Meanwhile 3 states in the South east have Oil. Stop talking like a fool.

Why do you always like to lie to yourselves about this nonexistent cut-off mark of 60/400 for Northerners, I'm a Northerner and I scored way above 200 in my UME exam. So stop making useless and baseless statements just because you've read or heard it elsewhere.

Who else thinks this Arewa youths are just savoring the attention they are getting? Press release yesterday, another today, tomorrow.......

Well I know one thing, for those who claim to be northern igbos, their claim is about to be put to test. If we achieve Biafra through the referendum and the Arewa youths allow them to continue with their business in peace then we will know that they are truly northern igbos.

...I pray this is real...let referendum lobbying and talks start already not putting the cart before the horse via 'Kaduna declaration'.

..but since this info has the 'TO ' clause attached to it,i would not hold by breath.

Amoto94:

Zombie this thread is beyond your level of comprehension so stop mentioning Yorubas like a deranged fool.

I asked , why are you people diabolically afraid to govern yourselves Why are afraid of having a oduduwa as a country

Amoto94:
Why do you always like to lie to yourselves about this nonexistent cut-off mark of 60/400 for Northerners, I'm a Northerner and I scored way above 200 in my UME exam. So stop making useless and baseless statements just because you've read or heard it elsewhere.

Young man go and check the quota system for University admission, also for entrance exam for unity schools.
Yes you may score 200, how many of your brothers in the university scored 200? A good number of them scored way below 200 yet they are in the University studying a course that we were admitted on 200 bench mark.
If you had scored below 200 you would ve still been given admission so stop playing tricks on what we are very much aware of pls.

honourhim:


Young man go and check the quota system for University admission, also for entrance exam for unity schools.
Yes you may score 200, how many of your brothers in the university scored 200? A good number of them scored way below 200 yet they are in the University studying a course that we were admitted on 200 bench mark.
If you had scored below 200 you would ve still been given admission so stop playing tricks on what we are very much aware of pls.

The last time I checked JAMB set cut-off mark for admission at 180 in some courses and 250 or so for others.
All my siblings got far above 200 and my friends too, other graduates from the North that I met during my youth service scored above 200 so you're speaking without knowledge and blinded by hate and bigotry.

Reckless bloggers..

Best alternative than to slay lives and properties.

honourhim:


You reason like a fool. Igbos dont care about your oil. The issues we have with Nigeria are the injustice in our system, the imbalance in appointment and recruitment, the quota system which enables a northerner to gain admission with 60/400 in Jamb while the cut off mark for our candidates is above 200. At the end of the day the northerner graduates with just a pass and gets a Job while our own graduates with second class upper and are still looking for Job.

The imbalance in state and local government creation. The imbalance in the millitary and paramillitary employment and promotion etc. We are talking about important issues and you are here ranting about oil. Meanwhile 3 states in the South east have Oil. Stop talking like a fool.

I'm not surprised at your use of abusive words on me instead of arguing constructively, its a hallmark of your leader and Messiah Nnamdi Cownu calling those who don't subscribe to his rascality idiots and pigs.

I bet you that soon all you miscreants who support this stupid boy will regret.

Continue fooling yourself.