Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), a Northern Nigeria-based non-governmental organisation, has condemned in strong terms the recent eviction order given by a coalition of northern youth associations to the Igbos residing in the northern part of the country.
CITAD described the call for the relocation of the Igbos as falling into the category of Hate and Dangerous Speech, repugnant to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Constitution of Nigeria as a nation.
Isah Garba, senior programme officer of the NGO in charge of Peace Project, who denounced the eviction order in statement made available to BDSUNDAY, said the move by the northern youths does not have the support of most of the citizens of the states in the northern part of the country.
Garba want the Federal Government to act proactively to get on top of the unfolding situation in the country as it has the potential of triggering violence on the targeted group, while calling on the people of the northern state to remain calm.
“We want to categorically condemn this statement in strong terms and make it clear that this view did not represent the dominant view of the millions of people in the Northern part of Nigeria. Specifically we want the originators of the statement to know that their action can only escalate the disharmony in the country.
“Coming out with a statement of this nature especially now when it could be understood that most Igbos do not subscribe to the idea of separating the country nor the so-called Biafra agitation, make their action more condemnable.
“It is a known fact that nowhere in the world does two wrongs make a right, therefore, if a group is calling for the separation of the country, it is wrong for other to call for the eviction of a section of the citizens of the country,” the statement noted.
The statement called on the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to take urgent steps in bringing what is described as potentially dangerous situation under firm control by addressing issues that are promoting agitation and counter agitations among Nigerians. The general public should remain calm and should not allow themselves to be used by some few individuals in their attempt to achieve political interest or any other interest best known to them.
