Take action against intimidation of northerners, group urges northern leaders

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

A group, called Arewa Youth Development Foundation, has urged the northern leaders and elders to take a bold step to stop the intimidation of northerners as well as the issue of introduction of resident permit to northerners in the southern region of Nigeria.

The group, which staged a protest yesterday at the emir’s palace in Kano State, while carrying placards and banners with different slogans, lamented that a deliberate agenda has been put in place to cut the northern region of economic and political development.

However, some of the slogans on the placards and banners include ” no to religious and tribal bigotry”, ” why confab while we are not secured?” among others.

In a letter, signed by the group’s national chairman Barrister Aliyu Usman and issued to the president of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and copied to other prominent leaders of the north, the group also called on the northern leaders and elders to ensure the release of all the northerners currently being detained unlawfully in the southern region.

Continuing, the group also resolved that “while we would never condone or support anything that would breach the security of any part of the country, we would as well resist any action capable of alienating our region in whatever form and by whichever group of people anywhere in the world.”

While describing the situation as unconstitutional and undemocratic, the group also maintained that “we have concluded that even the mysteries of Boko Haram are part of a plot to destabilize the north using non-northerners as indicated by the number of southerners caught in the actual Boko Haram acts.”

In his address, the emir of Kano, Muhammad Sunusi II, stated that it is natural for people of different mind and culture to live in one entity as a nation, adding that peace is the most important aspect of development of the nation.

“Historically, it natural for people of different minds and culture to live in one entity as a nation, but the most important thing is how to live peacefully with one another as peace is the most important aspect of development.” he said.

The emir also called on the youth to engage themselves in peace missions and education, while praying for peace and development of the country.