Dialogue best Solution to resolving IPOB vs Northern Youth 'Face-off', Security agencies advise FG
Indications are rife that the Presidency is weighing options on how to
tackle the Quit notice given to Igbos living in the North by the
Coalition of Northern Youths and also secessionist plans of the Nnamdi
Kanu led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for the actualization of the
Republic of Biafra.
The Federal Government has been advised by the Security agencies, to
embrace dialogue and give the two groups final warning instead of
arrest, outright crackdown and revocation of Kanu?s bail.
It was learnt that some of the options were presented at the sessions
which the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo had with Northern and
Igbo leaders a few days ago.
Osinbajo, it was learnt, had reviewed intelligence reports on the
Northern youths, IPOB and the renewed separatist agitations in the
country with service chiefs, security chiefs and the police hierarchy on
Sunday.
At the meeting, the Presidency was briefed that ?some war mongers and
divisive elements? were behind the Northern youths and IPOB, and that
the objective of ?these elements? is to destabilise the country.
The security reports indicated that some influential Northern leaders
and groups have provided back up support for the coalition of Northern
youths.
They also cited intelligence reports on how key Igbo leaders, including
Senators, had been paying homage to the IPOB leader before the group
organised a successful sit-at-home protest.
Although those behind the quit notice to Igbo have been identified, the
security chiefs ?strongly advised the government to exercise caution
but to read the Riot Act to all the groups and their sponsors with a
final warning.?
?The government has discovered that some forces were behind the
coalition of Northern youths and IPOB. Those behind the ill-fated quit
notice to Igbo have been identified, but the government is employing
tact in managing the situation, ? a source privy to the goings-on in the
Presidency in the last couple of weeks said.
Security report available to the government pointed to the fact that
these Northern youths were most likely running errands for some war
mongers, he further said.
He said there is a firm belief in government that the arrest of the
Northern youths could trigger spontaneous violence in the North.
He said the sponsors of the Northern youths were found to be reacting to the successful sit-at-home protest by the IPOB.
?Some Northern leaders were said to be angry that after the IPOB
protest, the leader of the organisation neither had his bail revoked nor
was he re-arrested for treason,? he said.
He said the security services strongly advised the government to exercise caution in arresting the Northern youths.
They further advised against the revocation of bail for the IPOB leader
despite the fact that the protest by the organisation which they
perceived as ?act of treason.?
They said arresting Kanu might lead to more security challenges in the South-East, which could heat up the polity.
The security chiefs, however, recommended dialogue with Northern and
Igbo leaders where a Riot Act will be read and final warning given to
all ?divisive groups.?
The advice prompted the Acting President to meet with leaders from the
North and the South-East, particularly leaders of umbrella
socio-cultural organisations like the Arewa Consultative Forum ( ACF)
and Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
Next week, the Acting President is expected to hold a joint meeting with Southeast leaders and their colleagues from the North.
After the meeting and once ?the dialogue template has been followed
satisfactorily,? the government may clamp down on any hate-inclined
group in the country.
Security agencies are expected to be proactive in busting plots by any group, be it the Northern youths or IPOB.
?The government will no longer spare the rod in arresting leaders of
groups undermining the peace and unity of the country. Also, all their
sponsors will face the wrath of the law.
?There will be constant surveillance on all pressure and sensitive
socio-cultural organisations nationwide,? the highly placed source
disclosed.
Sixteen Northern youth groups, under the aegis of Coalition of Northern
Youths on June 6 gave the Igbo up to October 1 to vacate the three
geo-political zones in the North.
Some of the youth organisations in attendance at the Kaduna meeting
included Arewa Citizens Action for Change, Arewa Youth Consultative
Forum, Arewa Youth Development Foundation, Arewa Students Forum and
Northern Emancipation Network on the Igbo Persistence for Secession.
The Northern youth organisations had enjoyed the backing of the
spokesman of Northern Elders Forum and former vice chancellor of Ahmadu
Bello University, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, who also lashed out at Northern
governors for disowning the youths.
Abdullahi, who addressed reporters in Zaria, said he saw nothing bad
with the quit notice issued by the Northern youths to Igbo people
residing in the North because the Igbo were busy calling for the
Sovereign State of Biafra and from all indications, their leaders,
including governors, were behind them.
In a retaliatory move against the Northern youths, a coalition of Niger
Delta militants demanded from the federal government the return of all
oil blocs controlled by Northerners to the people of the oil producing
region.
IPOB also issued a statement, calling on all Igbo sons and daughters residing in the North to return to their home- The Authority
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