..Say’s Northerners aren’t safe in North and South as well
By Gabriel Udeh, Kaduna
Northern group under the aggies of Nigerian Youth Mobilizations and Enlighten Movement (NIYEM) have condemned the “recent attacks and carnage against some Hausa traders in Shasha Market in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, but stressed that they’ll not allowed any ethnic group in the country to be subjected to reprisal attacks in the northern region.
The group in a statement in Kaduna on Tuesday also commended Governor of Bauchi State Bala Mohammed, for standing firm on the issues affecting common interest of the Northerners through thick, and rain urging Northern
Governors to emulate him.
NIYEM, in the statement signed by it spokesman, Comrade Sammani Sherif Baashir Mal Yusuf Abubakar, however condemned what they described as the recent “utterances of Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom over his verbal attacks and gutter language on his Bauchi State counterpart, Sen Bala Mohammed
The youth movement stated that “You are all aware of the recent happening of attacks and carnage against some Hausa traders in Shasha Market, Ibadan, Oyo State whereby some alleged hired miscreants destroyed the livelihood of hundreds of Hausa traders leaving in Ibadan, Oyo state.
They also lamented that media reports revealed that many lives and properties were lost during the attacks, adding that the unfortunate incident would for long be remembered and condemned by any sensible and reasonable Nigerian due to how it was orchestrated and executed by unleashing hatred, terror and destruction on the innocent traders in the Shasha market.
“Norths have become target of injustice by many ethnic groups in the country. We are assuring all Nigerians that our stand is clear. We will never allow anybody in the region (north) to subject other ethnic groups to reprisals due to recent happenings in Ibadan and Akure, Ondo State.
“We will not subject our brothers from southwest that are leaving with us peacefully to any hardship because of the mistakes, mayhem and hooliganism of some miscreants in their ancestral region.”, they stated.
The statement titled “On the Issues affecting Our Peaceful Coexistence In Nigeria, However urged all Nigerians not to allowed provocation and incitement to divide their collective stand as a people.
“We will never allow our people to subject other economic tribes leaving in the North to any inhuman treatment. Be assured that we are one as the constitution of our land give everybody equal rights to stay and do his business in any part of Country. For example, Igbo are everywhere in the north going about their trades without fear unlike what happened few years ago where they were attacked and ordered to vacate commercial city of Lagos.
“The attacks on Hausa traders in Ibadan is too barbaric, unfair and disrespect to the unity and cohesion of the survival of the country. Yoruba should learn to be respectful and reciprocate the gesture of being tolerated by all other ethnics, as they scattered around the country.
“Our Northern governors should emulate governor His Excellency, Senator Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state by standing firm on the issues affecting common interest of the Northerners through thick and rain.
“His intervention and supports to the victims after the carnage in Ibadan and role he played to douse the tension of reprisal attacks in the north has contributed immensely in bringing our leaders together that has resulted in the visit of some governors to ascertain the level of damage and destruction made by miscreants on Hausa traders in Shasha Market and environs”, it stated.
The NIYEM added that “Northern governors need to urgently put their house in order over present unfortunate scenario played by some of their members brazenly attacking each other for a reason that has nothing to do with the issues on ground but escalating tension and hatred among Nigerians.
The predicament that had bedeviled the forum due to recent unwelcome division and acrimony being generated as a result of unguided utterances, intolerance and lack of cohesion will create a lot of problem for the survival of unity of this great region and its people.
“We condemn the recent utterances of Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom over his verbal attacks and gutter language on his Bauchi State counterpart, Sen Bala Mohammed. We consider that unnecessary, provocative, callous, disheartening and irresponsible statement capable of heightening another tension that can aggravate insecurity, political tension and misunderstanding within the region.
“Governor Ortom is becoming a more danger to the peace and political unity of the north. Its better as a leader to be managing his words whenever he speaks rather than putting millions of people into disrepute and danger because of that reckless statement”, it stated.
