By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi and Iheanacho Nwosu , Abuja

Africa’s richest man and Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has condemned the recent quit notice given to Nigerians of Igbo extraction by some northern youths to leave the region on October 1, 2017 or face physical attacks.
Dangote reportedly said this when some business executives from Lagos Business School (LBS) visited his multi-billion dollar refinery and petro-chemical projects in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, at the weekend.
The billionaire businessman noted that the youths only spoke because they sought relevance. Condemning the hate speech against Igbo, Dangote queried why the media gave such jobless youths relevance.
“Some fellows who have no relevance and values came out to issue a warning that Igbo should leave the North. I am surprised everybody started talking about this nonsense. Why are we talking about it? Obviously, in a place where there is a lot of joblessness, it is expected that this kind of jobless people would come out with all sorts of anger.
“We understand the reasons why they are angry, but, they cannot justify their action when they have decided not to work. They only issued the senseless warning to keep themselves relevant.”
Three weeks ago, a coalition of Arewa youths issued eviction notice to Igbo living in the North to leave on October 1, 2017.
Represented by their lead­ers at the meeting were Arewa Citizens Action for Change, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, Arewa Youth Devel­opment Foundation, Arewa Students Forum and North­ern Emancipation Network on Igbo Persistence for Recession, among others.
In a statement read by Mallam Abdulazeez Sulei­man, on behalf of others, the northern youths said, “the region is tired of the marriage hence the need for restructuring.”
The go home order has drawn criticisms from other parts of the country.
Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, kick-started a peace and conflict resolution dialogue with leaders of thought in the North and South East.
Regardless, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), apex umbrella body of the North, has faulted growing clamour to restructure Nigeria.
The ACF said advocates of restructuring have failed to follow due process.
The body, in a statement signed by its spokesman, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, reiterated that, although there was nothing wrong with the campaign, those seeking restructuring must follow due process.
Prominent Nigerians, including former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, have canvassed immediate restructuring of the country.
The ACF said demands could have been better handled.
“ACF calls for due process, through our present democratic structures rather than just crass agitation, if we are to achieve true federalism. However, ACF has observed, with regret, that, in most cases, the discussions are taking place without regard to our present democratic structure, as the issues are in some cases presented as “demands” by one group or the other.
“Unfortunately, in most cases, they are followed up by some ultimatum to the government to accept or face deadly consequences. It should be clear to all the agitators that restructuring a complex, big and diverse country as Nigeria is a serious business that must take account of the views of all its citizens, and not just of those that shout the loudest.
“More so, such discussions must be free of threats, intimidation or blackmail from any group or individual. Genuine restructuring must therefore be just, fair and equitable to all…”


…Why Police may not arrest leaders

• ‘We’re still looking for them’

From Molly Kilete. Abuja

More than three weeks after the Arewa youths consultative group issued an October, 1, 2017, quit notice to Igbos living in the Northern, the Nigeria Police is yet to arrest them.
The Police has said they are still on the trail of leaders of the youth group, having been directed by Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to arrest them.
The police also disclosed they have placed the youth leaders on its list of wanted persons.
Regardless, police sources told Daily Sun, yesterday, that inability to arrest leaders of the Arewa group may not be unconnected with “political pressures” on the police leadership.
Besides, the source, who declined to be named, disclosed there are fears that “arresting these people may trigger religious and ethnic crises, which the police and the security agencies are trying to avoid. We don’t want to create any problem because, as soon as you being to arrest them, they will start fighting and doing all sorts and that will be the beginning of another big trouble, not only for the police but also, for the military and security agencies.”
He added that considering the security situation in the country, the order to arrest the leaders of te Arewa youth “may have to be on hold for now until the security situation improves.”
Nevertheless, Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, told Daily Sun, in an interview in Abuja, yesterday, that the police are still searching for the suspects and intend to arrest them as soon as possible.
“We are still looking for them, we will arrest them, that is just the situation. The IGP has directed all Commissioners of Police to look for them to arrest them.
“We still stand by our statement that nobody has the right to ask or call for people to relocate from anywhere. Every Nigerian has the right to own property anywhere in the country so we are still looking for them, police are out for them”. Moshood, said.
But, leader of Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Shettima Yerima, said, on Tuesday, nobody has declared him wanted.
Yerima, however, said he would submit himself to the relevant security agency for questioning, if declared wanted. Yerima, who read the youths’ resolution, after a June 6 meeting in Kaduna, handed down a three-month ultimatum to Igbos, from the south east living in the 19 states in the North to vacate the region by October 1, 2017, or have themselves to blame.
Those who signed the resolution include Nastura Sharif (Arewa Citizens Action for Change); Aminu Adam (Arewa Youth Development Foundation); Alfred Solomon (Arewa Students Forum); Abdul-Azeez Suleiman (Northern Emancipation Network) as well as Joshua Viashman (Northern Youth Vanguard).