El’Rufai orders arrest of persons that threatened Igbos

The Kaduna State Government under the leadership of Governor Nasir El-Rufai has ordered the arrest and prosecution of some youths of northern extraction who gave Ndigbo in the region three months to vacate.

Some groups in a statement read after a press conference at the Arewa House, Kaduna, on Tuesday, had issued the ultimatum, expressing disgust for the agitation of Ndigbo seeking for a separate state of Biafra.

The statement was signed by Nastura Ashir Sharif (Arewa Citizens Action for Change); Alhaji Shettima Yerima (Arewa Youth
Consultative Forum); Aminu Adam (Arewa Youth Development Foundation ); Alfred Solomon, (Arewa Students Forum); Abdul – Azeez Suleiman (Northern Emancipation Network) as well as Joshua Viashman, who signed on behalf of the Northern Youth Vanguard.

The text which was tagged the ‘Kaduna declaration’ was read out by National President of the Northern Emancipation Network, Abdul – Azeez Suleiman.

But the Kaduna State government assured every resident of the state that nobody can tamper with their freedom to reside where they choose.

In a statement issued in Kaduna on Wednesday, the state government said that the constitutional right of every Nigerian to own property, move freely and to live in peace and harmony is sacrosanct.

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Signed by Samuel Aruwan, spokesman to Governor El-Rufai, the statement said that the Kaduna State Government strongly condemns the inciting, hate speech delivered by some self-appointed “northern youths” seeking to target and violate the rights of citizens of Igbo extraction.

According to him, “The Kaduna State Government takes exception to the fact that the “northern youths” did their irresponsible press conference in Kaduna. This government has been consistent in taking action to punish hate speech and incitement.

“People who may feel unhappy about irresponsible comments or actions that have taken place in other states must know that two wrongs cannot make a right, and they cannot use our state to do or say things that threaten the peace.

“KDSG has therefore ordered the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the signatories to the statement.

“The Kaduna State Government believes in and will uphold the right of every Nigerian to live safely and develop his/her full potentials within its territory.

“Reckless disregard for the rights of other citizens drips through the press statement by these “northern youths” who have chosen to use the discourse around restructuring to promote their own agenda of hate, division and incitement. This sort of opportunists cannot be allowed to distort debate, or turn it into a pretext for a barely-disguised agenda of displacement and dispossession of some citizens.

“We will not tolerate such irresponsible statements and conduct in our state. The statement issued by the “northern youths” violates the laws of Kaduna State. Therefore, the Kaduna State Government has directed that its Ministry of Justice should prepare charges and prosecute the signatories and anyone complicit in arranging this egregious assault on the rights of fellow citizens.

“Preparatory to prosecution, the police have been directed to immediately arrest, interrogate the signatories to the statement and investigate all the circumstances and persons that may be implicated in the matter.

“The Kaduna State Government urges all residents to ignore the threats from the “northern youths”. We are in contact with the leadership of the Igbo community in Kaduna, and we are delighted to say that this community, like all our other communities, believes in the strength of the constitutional order to protect all citizens.

“KDSG wishes to encourage all our people to celebrate the diversity with which the Almighty has blessed us, to continue to shun agents of division, and to stand firm in upholding a common humanity. Everyone has a right to live in peace and harmony”, the statement read.

 

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