There are strong indications that the coalition of northern youths will soon start lobbying members of the National Assembly to include referendum in the ongoing constitution amendments.

The Arewa Youths Consultative Forum’s President, Yerima Shettima, who gave this indication in an interview with PUNCH, said the coalition would not use force to effect the quit notice it gave to the Igbo.

But he expressed confidence that the referendum would not favour the Indigenous People of Biafra’s leader, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, and other secessionists, saying the people of the zone would reject secession.

The group had a few months ago told the Igbo living in the North to leave the region on or before October 1. It hinged its ultimatum on the secessionist agitation of IPOB.

Following a lot of public outcry and condemnation from eminent Nigerians and organisations, there were reports that the forum would withdraw the quit notice.

But at a press conference in Kano on Thursday, the forum said there was no going back on the quit notice.

Shettima, at the event, had said, “We have not renounced our earlier position on the quit notice to the Igbo.”

He had said that the Northern youths would not use force, but constitutional means to achieve their goal.

He said the forum had written the United Nations to prevail on the Federal Government to opt for referendum.

The referendum, he explained, would enable those who were desirous of leaving the federation to do so without force.

Shettima stated, “We are looking at having a referendum. It is part of our prayers to the United Nations. Our second prayer is for the UN and the international community to prevail on the Nigerian government through the National Assembly to create an exit for those who want to leave.

“We are also planning to lobby members of the National Assembly to formally agree to a referendum on Biafra. We want the Igbo to have the opportunity of voting on this issue.

“We are saying Nigeria cannot sign international treaties and not implement them. We want a constitutional amendment for referendum because it is not currently part of our constitution.”

The youth leader said he was expecting a response to the group’s letter to the United Nations.

According to him, the group will hold consultations across the North on the need for a referendum.

He said, “We are expecting the UN to respond and we would also talk to our lawmakers, but we are in consultation. Nigerians should not panic; we are not a violent organisation.”

He further stated that his group had been holding meetings with stakeholders in the North, adding that the youth coalition had just concluded a parley in Kano after which it would also meet with people in the North-Central and North-East.

He said, “We have made it abundantly clear that we would not enforce anything. We are not the government and we do not have the power to enforce anything, but we are using legal means because the issue is about Nnamdi Kanu who is heaping abuses on our people and undermining the government.

“We are saying the government must rise to the occasion and checkmate the guy. We may review our position after our consultations, but we mean no harm, we won’t harass innocent Nigerians, no. It is not in our power to do so.”

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