*wants Northerners protected in the South
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Timi Frank, has appealed to the leaders from Northern region, including the serving governors, the emirs and other political leaders to beg the youths of the region against statements and actions that could build up tensions aross the country.
The Bayelsa-born politician also called on federal government to urgently take necessary steps to douse down the tension that may arise as a result of threat coming from the Northern youth.
The APC deputy publicity secretary while begging the northern youths to give peace a chance also called on the security agencies to rise up to the task of protecting both the notherners in the South and the Southerners in the North.
Comrade Frank, who was reacting in a statement he personally signed in Abuja on Wednesday, to a reported statement credited to the Northern youth asking the Igbos to leave the region, cautioned Nigerian youth not to give in to the antics of the few who want the country divided at all cost.
A joint press conference addressed earlier on Tuesday in Kaduna by the Arewa Citizens for Change, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Arewa Youth Development Foundation, Arewa Students Forum and Northern Emancipation Network had given the Igbos in the region to leave within two weeks.
The Northern youth had said: “that in the event the Igbo is not allowed to pull out, the North shall divorce this marriage that has never been convenient to any of the parties.
“That as a prelude we call on all Igbos currently residing in any part of Northern Nigeria to relocate within two weeks and northerners in the East should do likewise.
“That northern leaders are hereby warned against further insisting on this union with the Igbo or any other part of Nigeria that is disposed to self determination.”
But while calling for caution, Frank said as youth, “our role is to preach peace and not to give in to all forms of sentiments we are made to believe. It is expected of our generation to right the wrong of the past, by competitively come up with innovations that will develop our country fast for the sake of our children and not to continue to fan the embers of disunity.”
Frank believes that every section of the country is important to the development of Nigeria, even as the youths across the regions are expected to play an important roles.
“I call on Nigerian youth, whether from the South or North to drop whatever differences planted or nurturing against each other and come together to build a more united and develop nation.”
