From Muhammad Ibrahim, Kaduna
Governor of Defunct north-western states, Alhaji Usman Farouk has called on Nigerians to stop labeling northerners residing in the East as Boko Haram, saying doing so portends danger to the unity of the country.
According to him, if the government of Eastern states failed to address the issue northerners would be forced to retaliate in a way they deemed it fit.
Alhaji Usman Faruk who was also a delegate at the just concluded National Conference representing Gombe State disclosed this to newsmen at his Kaduna residence.
The retired Senior Police officer under General Gowon administration also frowned at the recent issuance of Identity cards to northerners living in the East, describing it as illegal.
“We can reciprocate the ugly gesture. It’s illegal because northerners are not Chadians or Nigeriens that should be registered and called names. What do you think will happen if they allow this issue to continue.
“The sooner the Federal government called the Eastern state governments to order the better. Let the FG not underrate this issue as they underrated the beginning of Boko Haram,” he said.
He explained that if the issue was not address immediately it can turn to something else.
“We are appealing to Federal government to intervene and put a stop to this registration thing or else nothing can stop northern states government too from doing same to easterners residing in the north,” he said.
The former governor said, as an elder statesman it is his duty to draw the attention of the federal government to see the danger that lies ahead if they do not put a stop to the issue so as to avoid another security problem in the country.
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