FROM: PAUL ORUDE, BAUCHI

Personal Assistance, Students Affairs to Governor Umar  Tanko Al-makura, of Nasarawa State, Ibrahim Abdullahi Atama, has

condemned the call by Arewa Youth Coalition for a referendum to

provide an exit door for those who do not want to be part of Nigeria.

Atama advised the youths group to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s

statement that the unity of Nigeria was non-negotiable, rather than

call for a referendum for a break-up of the country.

He spoke to journalists in Bauchi, shortly after the inauguration of

newly-elected national executives of the Northern Youth Assembly of

Nigeria (NYAN), where he was the Guest Speaker.

Atama said the call was a disservice to northern leaders who laid their

lives for the peace and unity of the country.

According to him, “The peace and unity they sustained was a heritage

that was passed to us and we need to sustain it and we cannot sustain

it without  first coming together  with unity of purpose, unity of

sincerity and unity of diversity”

Atama also dismissed the agitation by the leader of the Indigenous

Peoples of Biafra (IPOB),  Nnamdi Kanu, for  the Igbo to exit  Nigeria

saying  Kanu lacks the profile to  be an Igbo leader.

He continued:  “Kanu’s move is laughable and people should not give it any

serious attention to say it is something good. It is a fruitless

effort. Nigeria will remain indivisible no matter the threats from any

quarters.”

The Governor’s aide stressed that, “It would be indecorous and

incongruous of any individual or group of individuals to agitate for

the break-up of Nigeria.

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 “I need to stress again without fear of intimidation or favour that

the ultimatum given by the Northern Youth of Nigeria as regards the

October 1 pronouncement should please be shelved for the peace and

unity of Nigeria”

He maintained that prosperity would never go down well with the youths

of this generation if Nigeria eventually break-up as being championed

them.

Atama queried: “Why should we be agitating for the leadership of this

country and at the same time calling for break-up? It is uncalled for”

He appealed to well meaning Nigerians to condemn the call for a

referendum for any group that wants to opt out of Nigeria.

 He said: “It is callous, satanic and sardonic for anybody to call for

the breakup of this country. We should not see the place we come from

as a means to disrespect each other. If we do that, then it means we

are not doing justice to those that fought for the unity of this

country.

“The likes of Sir Ahmadu Bello,  Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa,  Sa’adu

Zungur, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Nnamdi Azikiwe and a host of

others,  were able to sustain Nigeria.

s“Our call should be call for unity, a call for understanding, a call

for re- integration, and not a call for break up.

“We advised those fanning the embers of disunity among Nigerians to

desist or else whatever they come up with that is negative will be

resisted and met with waterloo. It is for their interest that they

shealth their sword for a united youth and united Nigeria.”