Coalition of Northern Youth Groups withdraws its Oct 1 quit notice given to Igbos living in the region

AREWA pressure association the Coalition of Northern Youth Groups (CNYG) has finally withdrawn the quit notice given to Igbos living in northern Nigeria in which it asked them to leave the region by October 1.

On June 6, the CNYG had issued an ultimatum to all Igbos living in northern Nigeria asking them to leave the area in response to the ongoing Biafra agitation. It also asked all northerners living in southeast Nigeria to leave the region as northerners were no longer interested in living with Ndigbo.

Widely condemned as illegal and unconstitutional, the ultimatum has attracted the ire of socio-political groups across the country, who have asked the security forces to clamp down on the CNYG. Behind the scenes, however, talks have been going on to resolve the matter amicably, with the CNYG being urged to withdraw its ultimatum.

Finally accepting that its ultimatum is untenable, the CNYG has buckled and rescinded its call after holding a meeting to respond to the demands that it withdraw the ultimatum. Over the last few weeks, Arewa youths have been engaged in series of meetings with eminent stakeholders in the country, including prominent Igbo leaders.