The Kaduna State Government has warned those it referred to as ‘some self-appointed northern youths’ that it would allow such group to use the discourse around restructuring of Nigeria to promote their own agenda of hate, division and incitement.
The government, in a statement by Special Adviser to governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai, Sauel Aruwa, reacting to press statement by the Northern youth organizations, threatening the safety and property of Igbo people living and doing businesses in the Northern region, stressed that 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.
“Government assures every resident of our state that their constitutional and human rights to live peacefully and own property wherever they choose is sacrosanct. Even 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.
“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
“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 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.”
This was even as the minister of Interior, retired Lt Gen Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau asked all well meaning Nigerians to go about their normal activities as Government would bring to bear the full weight of the Law on any individual or group violating the rights of citizens of the Country.
In a statement by his Press Secretary, Ehisienmen Osaigbovo, the Minister lamented the spate of such spurious and unwarranted calls for separation, saying that citizens are free to go about their normal businesses and would not be harassed or deterred by any group or persons.
The minister advised the various ethnic groups to desist from flaming the embers of hate, animosity, discord and disharmony and adhere strictly to the teachings of our good values of religions and cultures that encourages good neighborliness, national unity and Integration, and love for one another.
He also advised youth to avoid being instrument of violence, animosity and disharmony among our citizens. And that they should rather focus their attention and energies on actions, that would engender national unity, integration and cohesion. [myad]
