Arewa Youths Finally Withdraw Igbo Quit Notice

The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum which is a coalition of Northern youth groups, has withdrawn the quit notice issued to the Igbo residing in the northern part of the country.

The group had in June, given the Igbos residing in the Northern region up until October 1st to leave the region or be forced out.

However, in a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, the group in a statement withdrew the order.

“Mindful of the concerns generated by the clause in the Kaduna declaration that advised the Biafran Igbo to relocate from northern Nigeria and for northerners in the South East to do likewise, and our commitment to the unity of our dear country, we immediately opened channels for dialogue and interaction with government agencies, national and international groups, institutions and figures,” Abdulaziz Suleiman, who spoke on behalf of the Forum, said.

“Admittedly, we came under intense persuasive pressure from genuinely concerned national, political, traditional, religious and cultural leaders prominent among which were; a section of the Northern Governors Forum under its Chairman, Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno state, northern traditional rulers and the Department of State Services DSS.

“Most significant was our correspondence with the then Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and most recently our interface with the Presidency through the Special Assistant to the President on Political Matters.

“As a consequence of these vigorous engagements and as cultured people with a tradition of respect for our national values, leaders and elders, we are today pleased to announce the immediate suspension of the relocation clause otherwise referred to as the quit notice from the Kaduna Declaration.”

Suleiman had in June issued a three months ultimatum to Igbo in the North to return to East.

The group held the media briefing at the headquarters of Arewa Consultative Forum, a political and cultural association of Northern Nigeria leaders.

Despite wide spread criticism, the group had in August said there was no going back on its quit notice.

Abdulrahman Dambazau, minister of interior, recently disclosed the Arewa youth were not arrested because they claimed to have been misquoted by the media concerning the notice.