The group said Igbo residents who are not Biafran agitators may stay on in the northern states.
Members of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum (ACF) today disclosed that they had yet to change their stand that Igbo residents in northern Nigeria who endorse the agitation for Biafra should leave by a deadline of October 1, 2017. However, the group said Igbo residents who are not Biafran agitators may stay on in the northern states.
The group revealed that its members will hold a series of town hall discussions on the matter.
One of ACF's youth leaders, Shettima Yarima, stated the group's position while speaking in Kano at a town hall meeting organized by a Coalition of Northern Groups. The event took place at Niimah Guest palace.
"The purpose of the town hall meeting in Kano is to review the early stand we took, and we are collecting views of people here from the North West [political zone]. We will also move to North Central and North East on whether to maintain our position or reconsider it," said Mr. Yarima.
“We stand by our notice to Igbo but those who are interested in Nigeria can stay but those who are not interested can go," he said.
Mr. Yarima added, "Our mission is for peace, because the unity of Nigeria is being threatened by the current agitation from the Igbos and we want to make sure that those who are interested in Nigeria shall stay but those who are not interested should go.”
He added: "We don't have the right to force the people to go. So we are using peaceful means because we don't have police and army."
