Arewa ultimatum: Why UK government must intervene-Afenifere UK Warns against coup
The United Kingdom chapter of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political Organisation, Afenifere has asked the government of United Kingdom to immediately intervene in the growing ethnic tension in Nigeria.
The group, in a communique released after a meeting held in Central London on June 9, said that if the rising ethnic tension in Nigeria is not checked, Britain could be see a huge influx of illegal immigrants from Nigeria who would be running from the conflagration that might ensue.
The Communique, signed by the Chapter Chairman Engnr Babatunde Shinaba and General Secretary, Engnr Kayode Ajayi, called on British authorities to prevail on the Nigerian authorities to restructure the country as a matter of urgency.
The Communique read in part: “The meeting expressed worry at the drumbeats of disintegration, confusion, apprehension and uncertainty that have enveloped the Nigerian polity in recent times.
“We are alarmed and worried at the anarchical proclamation of Arewa Youths as contained in the Kaduna Declaration, which issued quit notice from the North to fellow Nigerians of Igbo extraction. This is directly a contravention of the constitutional rights of every Nigerian to freely exist in any part of the country.
“The meeting expressed fears about the total success of sit-at-home order of the IPOB and the serious danger signals emanating from the lackadaisical attitude of the Federal Government to issues of restructuring even in the face of all these threats,
“We affirm that the best way to nip these looming dangers in the bud is the immediate implementation of the 2014 National Conference.
“The meeting resolved to appeal to the government of United Kingdom to use its traditional and cultural relationship with Nigeria to appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria not to expose the country to an unimaginable disaster of immense proportion by not listening to the frustrations of the various ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.
The Afenifere also reiterated that the UK authorities cannot afford not to intervene in the Nigerian situation because according to it, “if, Nigerian government continues its opposition to restructuring and allows irrationality and madness to envelope the citizens, the destination of most displaced Nigerians would be the UK.
The communique also advised the military to face the task of defending the territorial integrity of the nation adding that the military should not be distracted by the voices of discontent.
