Human rights lawyer Femi Falana reveals that Arewa youth leader who issued quit notice lives in Lagos

HUMAN rights activist and the former chairman of the West African Bar Association Femi Falana has revealed that the Arewa youth leader who gave Igbos living in northern Nigeria an ultimatum to leave the region actually lives in Lagos himself.

Earlier this month, a coalition of northern youth groups said the region was tired of the marriage with Ndigbo and called for the immediate dismemberment of Nigeria. They asked all Igbos leaving across northern Nigeria to leave by independence day October 1 and also asked all northerners living in Igboland to do likewise.

Their threat has attracted widespread condemnation and been dismissed as a dangerous to the unity and sanctity of Nigeria. Speaking on the development in Lagos, Mr Falana said restructuring and true federalism must be resolved now for Nigeria to make progress, adding that it is laughable that certain individuals will sit down in the comfort of their homes to issue ultimatum to others to vacate their land.

Mr Falana said: “The founding fathers of our country opted for federalism, ours is not the only federation in the world. The US that we copy almost recklessly is a federation of over 50 states and if you look at the motto of the United States, it is out of many, one nation has emerged.

“All of us were celebrating the emergence of Obama as president of America. Obama is not just an African/American, he is an African because his direct father was an immigrant from Kenya, so if we can celebrate the emergence of Obama in the US, is it possible here?"

He added that in the recently concluded elections in the United Kingdom, seven Nigerians emerged as legislators. Mr Falana asked Nigerians to stop fanning those things that can divide us.
 

“The man who is giving quit notice does not live in the north, he lives in Lagos. I am saying this, Shettima Yerima lives in Lagos, he is a Lagos man, so to live in Lagos and be giving quit notice is not the answer," Mr Falana added.

Condemning Northern Elders Forum spokesman Professor Ango Abdullahi for supporting the quit notice, Mr Falana said the former Ahmadu Bello University vice chancellor has no moral right to back the call. professor Ango Abdullahi had given his tacit backing to the quit notice.

Mr Falana added: “On May 23, 1986, four young people were killed at the Ahmadu Bello University. I am saying this because Professor Ango Abdullahi was the vice chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University at the time.

“When those students were killed by the police, he came out and said only four students were killed, which angered Nigerians, particularly students and there were protests. The state did not like that there was a national protest against the killing of students."