I decided to view the video to see what the whole debate on Whatsapp was about.
As someone who grew up in northern Nigeria and experienced all the violent conflicts up until 2002, I was a little reluctant to believe the message as I thought that after the bloodbath of 2000 and 2002 conflict, no one in the north would agitate for another violent conflict.
As I opened the video, I was greeted by a familiar and prominent face in northern Nigeria making incitement and hateful speech. It was shocking because Professor Ango Abdullahi was the former Vice Chancellor of one of the greatest Universities in Sub Saharan Africa, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and a 'supposedly' educated man. His speech was full of hate and in effect, calling for a genocide.
Amongst the filibuster and harangue from the former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, was the quit notice given to all the Igbos to leave all northern Nigerian territories within 3 months time. He was the spokesperson for the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, ACYF.
According to him, the north is fed up of being in the same country with "this pack of acrimonious Igbo partners". He then called on the international and national authorities to take steps in facilitating the final dissolution of "this hopeless union" that has never been convenient to anyone.
In pursuant, he warned that the first major step will be to "reclaim, assume and assert sole ownership and control of landed property owned by the ingrate Igbos" in any part of Northern Nigeria (whether rented or owned). He also stated that officials of the signatory group were mandated to commence immediate inventory of all properties, spaces or activities in northern Nigeria currently occupied by the Igbos.
Further, he stated that the groups were directed to compile and forward an up-to-date data of all locations occupied by any Igbo in any part of northern Nigeria including schools, markets, residences and any other spaces.
The date of the declaration was given as June the 6th 2017 and Igbos served notice to relocate in 3 months.
So, come October 1st what will happen? Cleansing of Igbos? Forcefully taking their properties and land? Go to each of their homes and force them out? What happens if their data is wrong and they evict non Igbos?
This is so disappointing and parochial. Nigeria should be working together to build a country that all can inhabit peacefully, leaving legacies for the young and building a strong science and technology industry.
I am happy that many are condemning this move by some scrupulous and parochial thinking individuals. There is no need for another bloodbath! There is so much poverty in the country that focus should be on how to build an equitable society and not on how to divide it.
It is not just black and white chasing a particular group of people out of a region. Some Igbos have only known the north as their home. Some were born and bred there, some are of mixed parentage, some have never been anywhere near the east and some want a stable and one Nigeria. The speech was not only polemic but it was not one I would expect of an 'educated man' let alone a former Vice Chancellor of a reputable University.
It is great to read that the Federal government condemned this call and also, not all northerners support this declaration. However, there is need to keep an eye on the situation so another genocide as that which happened in Rwanda does not happen in Nigeria!
The video
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