Arewa, Igbo meet ends in deadlock
As the October deadline by a group of Northern youths to people of Igbo extraction living in Northern Nigeria to quit the region looms, a peace meeting between the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) and Igbo leaders in the North, convened to find a solution to the problem has ended in a deadlock.
The ten-man committee has as a result extended its sitting by another ten days, as the October 1 deadline looms.
“We sat more than thrice and we realised there are more issues on ground that should be extensively deliberated if we really want to find a lasting solution that will settle the dust,” a source said.
A statement signed by Chief Chi Nwogu (Igbo leader), Alhaji Dauda S. Shamakiri (CNG), and Comrade Isa Tijani (convener of the peace meeting) said there was a need for more time to enable it do a thorough job.
“Reference to the August 4 peace meeting, which led to the formation of a 10-man committee to find a solution to the quit notice issued. The committee sat and deliberated extensively, and agreed that there is need for further consultations from both sides.
“Accordingly, the meeting adjourned to reconvene in the next 10 days, where a final resolution on issues will be achieved.”
On June 6 a coalition of youth groups from Northern Nigeria gave Igbo people living in the region three months to leave the region or face unspecified consequences. The quit notice generated a furore, and meetings with the Acting President. After appearing to step back from the notice, the groups, led by the National President of Arewa Consultative Youth Forum, Shettima Yerima, insisted that the ultimatum still stood, last week.
