By George Ogbolu
The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) has accused governors in the Southern region OF Nigeria of surrendering to secessionists.
Naija News reports that various groups have recently popped up calling for the establishment of Biafra and Oduduwa Republic.
In a statement made available to newsmen by its spokesman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the forum said southern governors are building “ethnic monsters” while hiding behind them to whip up sentiments.
Reacting to the recent ban on open grazing, the group accused governors of making a desperate but futile attempt to split the north.
The forum stated that the North will not be cowed and stampeded into escorting political ambitions of politicians at the cost of its rights, security and dignity.
The Northern Elders called on President Muhammadu Buhari to assert the powers of the constitution to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity and secure citizens, or accept that he is incapable of leading the nation through these unprecedented challenges.
Baba-Ahmed said: “It is now clear that elected people who swore to protect the constitution and protect the unity and integrity of Nigeria have decided to surrender to deeply divisive or outrightly irredentist and secessionist tendencies and movements.
“Governors are building ethnic monsters and hiding behind them to whip up sentiments in a crude attempt to extract concessions no one is in a position to give or guarantee. A desperate but futile attempt is being made to split the North along lines that suit people who ignore its complexities and plurality when it is convenient to lump all Northerners and submit them to humiliation or attacks.
“In the South East, governors are yielding their political turf and mandates to secessionists, criminals and subversives…
