Kaduna Declaration: Disheartening issue of our time

Comments have been made on the topic above by scores of Nigerians and I feel strongly obliged to put my personal viewpoint in writing too.

The simile uncompromising demand or set of terms issued by our young ones, the Arewa Youths, in Kaduna, to eject the Igbos from the Northern part of the one country is disheartening.

In the first place, I have no doubt that quit ultimatum given to the Igbos was just an empty threat; the youth do not mean it in reality.

However, I have no apology in saying the Arewa Youths did what they did because they were provoked by the Biafrans, as usual. Nigeria is a united country; she cannot be disintegrated or be broken up because of activity of any person or group of persons. We spent more than one hundred years in our journey together as a nation, therefore the march should continue until the end of the world.

Now, to the pertinent issue which many people are shying away from! Though I don’t uphold or support the proclamation or rather the Kaduna Declaration, but I strongly feel that it is also appropriate to do justice to the stand and emotion of these youths. Their statements were not out of vacuum; they were instigated by the pompous and ostentatious Biafrans, who considered themselves untouchable celebrated Nigerians.

For the last two years, they have been making provocative statements against the Nigerian State and I wonder, no person was arrested for the very recent strike of stay at home called by Biafrans. No shop or store was opened on that day in many states in the South East; streets were deserted and schools were closed. When Nnamdi Kanu was released on bail, hundreds of his supporters including one errant governor stormed the court to receive him in appreciation for his agitation for the state of Biafra. Nnamdi Kanu violated the condition laid down for him by the court, by speaking to his Biafran youths to urge them to call for the stay at home strike. They also said, now it is not shameful or an ignominy to mention the word Biafra.

If someone says the Northern youths were incited and stirred by some people in the North, then who incited Nnamdi and his followers? Who were those that bailed him despite the stringent condition given by the court?

Why is it that whenever the Northerners speak of their grievances, others will like to crucify them? Does it make sense for them to always keep mute for every wrong done to them?

This is not fair at all; I have no objection on the need to call the Arewa youth to order but they should not be condemned harshly as I read the social media and some newspapers. What is good for the goose is also good for the gander.

Obviously, there are good people in the South East just like in the remaining five geopolitical zones; the same way we have the bad eggs in all the regions.

For me therefore, whenever I mentioned the word Biafra, I am simply referring to the handful chaotic and bellicose rebels.

In all intent, the vast majority of Igbo leaders are nationalist, patriotic and progressive. One can see this clearly in personages like H.E. Rochas Okorocha, Chris Ngige, the Petroleum Minister, the Minister of External Affairs, H.E. Willi Obiano, Ken Nnamani, Ogbannayi Onu and so on. Therefore it is not right to put all the Igbos in one basket. We should not be oblivious of the courageous stand of the Governor of Ebonyi State and his people. We hail them. The Malignant strike did not take place in that state.

By and large, I wonder the behavior of some of Arewa leaders. You see them condemning the Northerners whenever they expressed their feelings, but if it is vice versa, they keep mute. It is not fair.

To me, the Kaduna State governor’s stand was very harsh. If the northern Governors disowned the youth, we, the masses, will never disown them. They are from us and belong to us, but we would not encourage them to utter such words in future.

One of our leaders in the North said he is ready to give last drop of his blood for the Igbos. Well this might be a diplomatic statement, but for us, we are not ready to lose one drop of our blood because of Biafrans.

However in light of the above, I hereby concur in toto with the stand of His Royal Highness, the patriotic, bookish, learned and charismatic Emir, his eminent Mohammad Sunusi II of Kano. I also go with the opinion of our brainy and intellectual Professor Ango Abdullahi. These two gentle and wise men gave the genesis of all what we found ourselves in now. The causes and who started them.

The Biafrans were not the only ones who threatened the sanctity of Nigeria but they all went free. During the last administration, Mr. Mujahid Asari Dokubo had said that if Jonathan did not win the 2015 presidential election, Nigeria will fall apart. He was not arrested. Where were the wardrum beaters of Niger Delta?

None of them was arrested then. El-Rufai himself was once invited by the DSS for one of his statements. If he could remember then, he said others talked what they wanted and go scot free while some were interrogated for the same offence. I am sure he was at that time referring to Asari Dokubo for his misguided utterances. I heard this on BBC Hausa during the programme called, Raayi Riga before the last elections.

Some members of the Ohanaeze group should be commended and be praised for their pretty matured and patriotic stand. We hail them. What they said is very correct. The northern youths do not speak for the country. Northerners are for one Nigeria and therefore no one should be panicky please.

Niger Delta militant issued series of threats on Friday, June 9. Nigerians should ignore them but they should be arrested too. Northerners are peace loving people.

I am not with those castigating Professor Ango Abdullahi on his stand; he stood for our youths and I stand by him. Were the words of Chief John Nwodo, the former Minister of Information on Channels TV on June 12 not irritating? Among other issues, he said they (Igbo) have the right for self -determination.

I also see outright sabotage in some of the things happening these days. Why were the Biafrans not active during the last administration?

The South East is endlessly crying for marginalization despite the unsolicited love extended by President Muhammadu Buhari, the man they never wished to see in the Presidency in the first place.

The angry South East leaders should take a clue from Charles Oputa who said during a rally in Lagos on Monday, June 12 that people should stop calling for secession and instead, they should call for industrialization of the country where youths will be employed.

Prof. M. Muazu Nguru is the chief executive of Nigeria Arabic Village, Ngala, Borno State.