COALITION of Northern Groups (CNG), on Thursday, suspended its quit notice issued to all Igbos living in northern Nigeria by October 1.
The development came as the groups advised the Federal Government to allow Igbo hold a referendum to decide their future, either as Nigerians or as Biafrans.
This, the groups said, became paramount, since the population of the Igbo that supported Biafra was more than those who appeared to be against it, adding that failure to do that would only douse the tension temporarily.
Read also: Quit Notice: Withdrawal inconsequential, southerners should return home ―IPOB
The coalition, therefore, called for the immediate arrest of leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, for prosecution.
Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, who addressed newsmen alongside the Borno State governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, on behalf of other 13 northern groups, said the groups would pursue their petitions to the United Nations and Federal Government authorities for the appropriate sanction on Kanu and other IPOB leaders and sponsors, in addition to labelling them a terror outfit.
Suleiman, who is the chairman, Northern Emancipation Network, further called on the Senate to demand that all senators who stood surety for Kanu in court rescind their bond or be suspended accordingly.
According to the group, “we came under intense persuasive pressure from genuinely concerned national, political, traditional, religious and cultural leaders prominent among who were a section of the Northern Governors Forum under its chairman, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State, northern traditional rulers and the Directorate of State Services (DSS).
“We also had several fruitful interactions with various concerned individuals and groups.
Most significant was our correspondence with the then Acting President, Professor 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.
“This suspension, we are proud to say, is also out of respect for and in reaffirmation of our allegiance to one united, peaceful and prosperous Nigeria and in our unshaken confidence in the political will and sincere commitment of our dear President Muhammadu Buhari to take a holistic look at all the concerns we raised.
“We are also pleased to announce here that the Kaduna Declaration has achieved most of its major objectives, chief among which include forcing the hitherto deliberately neglected dangerous Biafran issue to the front burner of the nation’s discussion agenda.
“As we honour and respect the above genuine search for a solution, it is important to also point out that a simple conversation or some form of window-dressing without getting to the crux of the matter will only end up as a temporary solution that leaves the nation and the younger generation with a burden of dealing with the problem in the future,” the group added.
Governor Shettima appreciated the groups for following the path of peace, saying the age of militancy in the country was over.
“We want to prevent a situation where people will take advantage of the quit notice to kill, maim and loot properties of innocent Nigerians living in the North.
“In this country, issues of religion and ethnicity are catalyst for violence. We need to always explore political and peaceable solution to our problems,” he said.
Reacting to the development, leader of IPOB, militant wing, Innocent Oji, in a telephone interview, said the withdrawal of quit notice had no effect on their struggle for Biafra Republic, adding that the Biafra agitation continued.
“They are cowards for withdrawing the quit notice. Any attempt to re-arrest our leader, Nnamdi Kanu, by security agents will be met with its consequences.
“The struggle continues and the agitation for restoration of Biafra will continue as the agitation for an independent state of Biafra started long before the Arewa youth quit notice to Igbo living in the North. Nothing has changed except when there is a referendum. Self determination is no crime,” he said.
However, the deputy national publicity secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chuks Ibegbu, also in a telephone interview, said withdrawal of the quit notice was a welcome development.
“I am happy that the Arewa youth have realised that it was wrong in the first instance to issue quit notice. I am also happy that the present administration has said it without any equivocation that every Nigerian is free to live in any part of the country. The administration should, therefore, address perceived political imbalance to stem further agitation in the country,” he said.
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