From; Segun Babatunde in Bauchi
A Northern youth group known as Arewa Youths for Peace and Security (AYPS)has disowned a viral video that emanated from unknown group asking for the break up Nigeria as agitation by IPOB for a sovereign Biafra Republic continue to be violent
This is as the group advised security operatives to arrest anyone fanning the ember of discord in the country because according to the group, “they are not speaking the minds of northerners”.
National Chairman of the group, Alhaji Salihu Muhammad Magaji who stated this when he addressed a press conference in Bauchi yesterday said “those people speaking carelessly about disintegration of Nigeria are on their own and they should be arrested by security operatives for violation of the constitution of Nigeria”.
According to him “The 30 days notice given to Ndigbos to quit Northern part of the country by the faceless group is a joke, it will come and pass and nothing will happen to Ndigbos or any southerner residing in northern part of the country they should remain calm and continue with their normal life as no one will fight them”.
He urged southern governors and their leaders to “encourage their kinsmen residing in the north to remain calm and Ndigbos and all other ethnics will be protected, they should ignore the quit notice”.
Magaji assured that they will continue to sensitize northern youths on the need to live in peace and be their brothers keepers
He said their organisation will continue to caution youths against retaliation or doing anything that will destabilise the unity of the country, adding that “northern youths are always ready to protect all ethnics residing in the region. He said that
“Nigeria is a great nation because of its diversity irrespective of its present challenges.and we are better United in peace than disintegration , Nigerians should harness the inherent benefits in the nation’s diversity to promote sustainable socio-economic growth and development of the country”.
He added that: “to truly achieve this, Nigeria as a nation, must continue to promote justice, equity and fairness among the diverse groups in the country.
“On the social media messages of hatred speech and calling for the disintegration of the country”, Magaji said those agitators are not speaking the mind of intelligent people of northern Nigeria, they are on their own”.
“We must caution those who are agitating for the break up of the country against such agitation. It is important for our people to understand that the unity of this country (Nigeria) must not be compromised if they refused let the security operatives arrest them” .
The Chairman said “What is important is that we must continue to promote justice, equity and fairness among the diverse groups (ethnic nationalities) in the country in order to promote sustainable development across the country.
