The House of Representatives on Thursday condemned in strong terms the stand of the 16 northern youth groups and Indigenous People of Biafra and called on both parties to rescind their decision.
The House also called on the Federal Government to wade into the issue on time to avoid the loss of lives and properties that the actualisation of the parties’ threat may occasion.
The House then called on all security agencies to be at alert in order to prevent unscrupulous elements from taking advantage of the situation.
The House resolution followed a matter of urgent public importance moved by Honourable Oghene Emma Egoh entitled need for government intervention to avert the destruction of lives and property, a looming disaster as a result of the action of Biafran agitators call for Igbos to return home and Arewa youths’ call for Igbos to leave the North on or before October 1st, 2017.
While moving the motion, the lawmaker recalled that as part of the campaign by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) major towns in the South East was shut down on May 30, 2017.
He however noted that, 16 northern youth groups rose from a joint meeting in Kaduna State on the June 6 and gave Igbo residing in their states up to October 1 to vacate the region days after the shutting down of major towns in the South East.
According to him, “the two calls create alarming twist which is ominous and dangerous for the good health of Nigerians.
“We are all Nigerians and brothers and the constitution guarantee freedom of movement and ownership of business and properties in any part of Nigeria.
“While people have the right to their views and decisions about their lives, as an institution of government, National Assembly must rise to the occasion and put an end to the confusion that is brewing by appealing to both parties to withdraw their demands to avoid loss of lives especially that of innocent children, women and the feeble who are not of the problem,” he stated.
To this end, he called on leaders of thought to intervene, saying, “His only concern is for the nation’s leaders to immediately intervene to stop these agitations from resulting in violence that may consume the entire nation and for the National Assembly and the presidency to wade into the issue by dialogue…”
In addition, he said, “All Nigerians especially the Igbos have enormous amount of investment all over the country. The two calls will lead to loss of trillions of dollars, dislocation of the lives of people who have lived in different parts of Nigeria for several decades because people cannot carry their houses, properties, business and families from their abode in a short frame of time.”
The motion scaled through when it was put to voice vote by the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara who presided over the session.
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