NORTHERN elders under the umbrella of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), at the weekend, urged Nigerians to jettison threat by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, which demanded that southerners and Christians leave the north.

The elders said the threat reflects a minority view that should be ignored and not taken seriously by patriotic Nigerians.

In a statement by the ACF, yesterday, National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, said: “Following bomb blasts and security challenges across the country, there has been a ultimatum and counter ultimatum that some people should leave their regions, zones or states.

“It has become necessary for the Arewa Consultative Forum to ask Nigerians and northerners in particular to disregard such ultimatum for what they are.”

Explaining why Nigerians should not be moved by the threat, Sani said: “This is because those issuing the ultimatum are a minority who do not speak for the majority.

“Members of Boko Haram cannot speak for the majority of Muslims across the country, let alone for the entire people of the North. Boko Haram cannot also speak for majority of Muslims in the North.

“In the same way, some few militants in the Niger Delta cannot represent the majority of people in that region.

“This is because majority of Nigerians who belong to different faiths do not support such moves, precisely because they are capable of inspiring crisis of confidence, leading to collapse of social contract among groups and among individuals with dire consequence on peaceful coexistence and national unity.

“Of course, there is allowance for minority rights in our democracy. But, like in all democracies, it is the majority, which has both its say and way, while the minority only has its say.

“In the circumstance, therefore, any ultimatum from a minority cannot prevail, and so should be discountenanced in the interest of peaceful coexistence, national security and unity of the country.”

-Guardian

Posted by admin on Jan 8 2012. Filed under Arewa House, Boko Haram, Latest Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry