Coalition of Northern Groups urges its members not to be goaded into reacting by Ipob's provocation

YOUTH organisations the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has urged Nigerians from the north living in the southeast of the country and those in the north not to allow themselves to be provoked into carrying our reprisal attacks against those who intimidate them.

Over the last 48 hours, tension has been on the rise across the southeast following clashes between the Nigerian Army and the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob). In response, Ipob has begun searching for northerners living in the region and there are fears that this could lead to physical confrontation.

Responding to the crisis in Kano, the CNG's spokesman Abdulazeez Suleiman, said northerners should be wary of attempts to provoke them. Speaking in company of the co-chairmen of the group Ashir Shariff and Shetima Yerima, he said with the prevailing situation, northerners should remain calm and law-abiding.

Mr Suleiman added: “As cultured people with a long history of tolerance and respect for constituted authorities, we call on northerners to resist the temptation of carrying out reprisals and playing to the gallery. Northerners in line with their disciplined nature must refuse at this point to be dragged into taking the law in their hands through unnecessary and unproductive confrontation with members of any sectional, ethnic or religious group.

“We must remain peacefully focused, mutually respectful, trusting and tolerant as we repose confidence in the ability and committed willingness of the Nigerian security agencies to handle the situation as well as protect the lives and property of every Nigerian anywhere. In this situation, it is essential that the north and the northerners remain restrained and refuse to be provoked into reprisal which is the ultimate hope of the conflict instigators."

CNG said their struggle would continue to remain intellectually-based, precautionary and essentially non-violent, pointing out that the agitation for separation and cry for Biafra in the southeast by the agitators supported by politicians in order for them be heard louder shall be resisted. They further said they are prepared to set out a circular to all the 19 northern states to prepare and sensitise people on the need for calm.

“The agitations and disturbances that have been ongoing ceaselessly since the coming to power of the Buhari and Yemi Osinbajo administration in 2015, are aimed at rendering the country practically ungovernable and ushering in of anarchy and instability, thereby occasioning a change of government by whatever means and tactics. The targeting of President Buhari’s administration and singling him for attacks and irrelevant treatment is aimed at causing inter-regional crisis possibly leading to general unrest.

“The resurgence of separatist agitations especially the violent brand by the Ipob and its ilk in the southeast represents a much wider conspiracy to divide Nigeria along ethnic and religious frontlines as well as achieve the balkanisation of the north. Ipob's current brand of agitation is a strategy employed to achieve the results that the coupists of the First Republic failed to realise, namely, increase the weight and relevance of the regions to the detriment and expense of the central government,” Mr Suleiman added.