Arewa Consultative Forum condemns Ipob's recent actions as a declaration of war on the north

NORTHERN pan-cultural group the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has condemned the recent actions of the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) in banning the singing of the Nigerian national anthem across the southeast and restricting livestock imports as acts of war.

Last week, Ipob announced that it was calling for a ban on the singing of the Nigerian national anthem across the southeast geo-political zone as part of its protests against the government. In addition, Ipob also called on all Igbos to boycott the purchase of meat from northern Nigeria by refusing to purchase any livestock that was not produced locally.

In June this year, Ipob leader Nnamdi Kanu was apprehended in Kenya where he was detained, tortured and then flown to Nigeria and handed over to the security authorities. Claiming that the arrest was illegal at it did not follow laid down procedures including the obtaining of court orders or extradition warrants, Mr Kanu's family have since taken the Kenyan government to court in Nairobi.

Mr Kanu's trial has polarised the nation and in November, a group called the Highly Respected Igbo Greats, led by First Republic parliamentarian Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, met with President Buhari and urged him to release Mr Kanu in the interest of peace. Acknowledging that the military option can only solve so much, President Buhari promised to consider their request but this week, appeared to renege on that promise.

With tension between Ipob and the government high, the ACF publicity secretary Emmanuel Yawe, condemned the recent calls for boycotts. In response to the Ipob threat, the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria decided to ban movement of foodstuffs from the north to the southeast geo-political zone.

Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has appealed to the northern traders to shelve the plan. However, over, recent days, tension has been rising with Ipob banning the slaughtering of Fulani cows and the recitation of the Nigerian national anthem across the southeast.

Ipob director of state, Chika Edoziem, said only the Biafran anthem should be taught in schools and only native cattle should be slaughtered from henceforth. In response, Muhammad Tahir, the chairman of the  Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria said his members would stop sales of cattle, grains, onions and other foodstuffs in the southeast as a result.

Mr Tahir said “For us, we would always support the indivisibility of Nigeria but if Ipob wants to secede, then so be it. Bilateral trade between us and them is all about wealth creation for the two regions and the cattle we take to them is food and not poison.”

However, the ACF said the order by the Ipob was unnecessary as Nigeria was not at war and urged well-meaning Nigerians to call the Biafra agitators to order. Mr Yawe also said that the fear and concerns of the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff & Cattle Dealers of Nigeria were justified following the threat by Ipob.

Mr Yawe added: “We have appealed to this union in the past when their members were attacked and some killed and their property destroyed due to no fault of theirs. At that time, they mounted a blockade and stopped the supply of foodstuffs to the east. Prices skyrocketed and there was an outcry but due to appeals by the ACF, they lifted the blockade.

“The recent actions by Ipob amount to a declaration of war, so it is difficult for the ACF to appeal to the union to resume supplies to the east with the pronouncements of the Ipob. The concerns of the union and their fears are justified, so somebody should call Ipob to order. We are still one country and not at war but their pronouncements amount to an open declaration of war.”

Pan-Igbo cultural group Ohanaeze Ndigbo regretted that the Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria would issue a threat to stop transportation of livestock and foodstuffs to the southeast. Ohanaeze spokesman Chief Alex Ogbonnia, said efforts should be made to listen to Ohanaeze Ndigbo before final decisions will be taken on issues affecting entire Igbo.