Arewa group says Confab report must not be implemented

The Arewa Liberation Movement (ALM) says the 2014 Confab recommendations must not he implemented because the report was drafted to “favour a particular group”.

Usman Usman and Kabir Haruna Alfa, national president and secretary of the organisation, said this in a statement issued on Friday.

ALM said it is not against the secession of the Igbo from Nigeria but recommended a democratic approach towards the actualisation of the goal.

“ALM is against the implementation of the 2014 confab recommendations as agitated by the south-south leaders before October 1st, 2017 during their parley with the acting president,” the statement read.

“Our members are of the opinion that the last national conference was convened in the interest of a few rather than all. We, therefore, recommend a more sincere and all-inclusive national conference.”

The group also called for the immediate restructuring of the nation’s economy.

It said the quit notice given to the Igbo was capable of distracting President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.

“Following the notice issued by the Coalition of the Northern youths in reaction to the Biafran agitation which has generated needless heating of the Nigerian polity capable of diverting the attention of the Buhari government, ALM, as a stakeholder in nation building, finds it imperative to make the following declarations,” it said.

“All religious organizations such as CAN and JNI should stay off politics of this country as their meddlesomeness in national issues is capable of and almost always, undermining the good intentions of government.

“The federal government should intensify efforts towards identifying and deliberating sincerely with leaders of the north with proven integrity.

“The last engagement of the presumed northern leaders by the federal government was a sham. Those engaged were individuals with divergent personal interests not that of the north.”

While supporting “in totality” the “sincere” intention of the coalition of northern youth, it implored the coalition to make wider consultations in their future engagements.

It also condemned the directive given by the Kaduna state governor, Nasir el-Rufai that the youth who gave the quit notice be arrested.

The group said such directive would not achieve any meaningful result as regards conflict resolutions.