The Northern Elders Forum on Friday backed the decision of Nothern youths to expel the Igbos from Nothern Nigeria within the next three months.
The spokesman for the group, Prof Ango Abdulahi said in Zaria that it was hypocritical for the Igbos to continue to agitate for the dismemberment of the country while at the same time living in other parts of the country.
The group also berated the Nothern Governors forum for disowning the Coalition of the Nothern youth groups who had earlier called on the Igbos to vacate Nothern Nigeria by October 1.
He said, “I am disappointed in the decision taken by Northern Governors’ Forum disowning and condemning the agitation by this young, agile and progressive youth groups.
“Let me ask these Northern governors, who are they representing, are they representing spirits, ghosts or people of the North?
“Recently, people from eastern part of this country, specifically Igbo, were busy calling for the Sovereign State of Biafra and from all indications, their leaders — including governors — are behind them.”
“Whoever feels Nigeria is not conducive for him, let him quit;” noting that what the northern youth groups did was not a sin.
The former ABU vice chancellor noted that over 100 hundred vehicles comprising prominent individuals from the South East and South West escorted Kanu home when he was released from prison recently.
According to him, “This is somebody who has been agitating for the break-up of Nigeria, but his people were behind him. Therefore, I am behind the (Northern) youths.
“This is because the Northern youths are pushed to the wall. We have been calming them down in any event similar to this,” he noted.
“These people always pretend that the North is cheating them, not minding the fact that Southern Nigeria was developed by resources from the North.
“Please, look for a book written by Adamu Fika, the Waziri of Fika, on Nigeria’s budget before and after Independence.
“Each year, up to the time Nigeria gained its Independence, none of the two regions was able to provide for itself.
“I mean, none of the Western and Eastern regions had the money to effectively run the affairs of its region until they got financial support from the Northern region,” he said.
Abdullahi claimed that Nigerian railways, refineries and other facilities were constructed with monies from the North.
“First oil exploration was conducted using money from groundnut pyramid, cotton, hide and skin, among other cash crops from Northern Nigeria.
“However, these people tend to forget all these goodies provided by the North toward ensuring the unity and corporate existence of Nigeria.
“They always look down on us, feeling that Northerners are parasites in this country,” he concluded.