Our Reporter
A coalition under the aegis of the Yoruba Appraisal Forum (YAF) on Friday called for caution over the ongoing national debate arising from the resolutions of last Monday’s Southern Governors’ Forum meeting.
YAF said the tension being generated by the resolutions of the Southern governors’ meeting has become a cause for concern amongst all Nigerians.
Already, Northern governors and elders, youths as well as various groups have rejected position of Southern Governors, particularly on power shift and other demands made last Monday in Lagos.
The Yoruba coalition, however, alleged certain utterances and actions by some powerful politicians and individuals in the various Southern states since Monday when the Lagos meeting ended could spark off “serious tension” amongst the different ethnic groups making up the Nigerian Federation.
According to YAF, these powerful politicians have been putting pressure on the traditional rulers and civil society groups in their individual states to organise similar meetings to that of the Southern governors and issue communiques supporting last Monday’s resolutions in Lagos.
YAF National Coordinator, Adeshina Animashaun, stated this at a briefing attended by scores of members of the Yoruba group in Lagos at the International Press Centre (IPC), Ogba, Lagos.
The coalition noted the utterances of some of the civil society groups already recruited by these powerful politicians “have left so much to be desired as their statements on the issue border on threats to the rest of the country.”
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YAF stated it was concerned about the implications of the threats already being issued by some of these civil society groups and individuals to the rest of the country over the Southern governors’ demands.
It warned such utterances from such groups and individuals and the reactions being generated were beginning to heat up the polity and “knowingly or unknowingly, preparing the fertile ground for another round of protests and violence in the country.”
The coalition warned that the existing peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the country in recent past should not be disturbed or threatened by issues that could be amicably resolved.
YAF appealed to Nigerians from all sections of the country to be calm and allow peace to continue to reign even in the face of the various vexing national issues some individuals and groups had been exploring to further their own selfish interests.
It added: “YAF believes that the recent peaceful atmosphere prevailing in different parts of the country and being enjoyed by the majority of Nigerians should not be threatened or disturbed by issues we can all resolve amicably as a united entity. Posterity won’t forgive us if we allow the ongoing brouhaha to degenerate to any untoward or unthinkable situation.
“YAF, therefore, appeals to Nigerians from all sections of the country to remain calm and allow peace to reign supreme throughout the nation. We should all eschew provocative statements and actions concerning the ongoing debate about Nigeria’s political future.
“It is YAF’s considered opinion that rather than to continue to bicker unnecessarily, Nigerians should see the bigger picture and espouse worthy causes that will ensure the continued survival of the Nigerian nation.”
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