The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended “the proactive and decisive action” taken by northern governors on the recent ultimatum given by Arewa Youths to Igbos living in the north.
The APC, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated that it was happy to see that the pressures mounted by the various leaders had forced the group to reverse its misguided ultimatum and threats.
The party also condemned any utterance, ultimatum or actions that threatened the corporate existence of the country.
APC also urged various security agencies to investigate and prosecute the promoters and sponsors of the “provocative, divisive, inciting and undemocratic declarations and actions”.
The APC called on political leaders in the South East to emulate their northern counterparts by reining in separatist agitators in the region and arresting the spate of provocative and inciting declarations and actions.
“ We are disappointed to see that non-state actors could effectively subvert civil order in the face of duly constituted political authorities. Certainly, this unfortunate situation cannot be allowed to repeat itself,” the statement also read in part.
The party said it remained disturbed by “the increasing spate of separatist agitations by individuals and groups” in the country.
The APC, which affirmed the rights of citizens and groups to agitate for legitimate causes as a key ingredient of participatory democracy, believed that such agitations should be guided by the extant laws of the country and established democratic norms.
The APC reminded the agitators that the National Assembly, the courts and several lawful avenues were available to citizens, groups and sundry interests to make changes, seek redress and advance legitimate causes.
It, therefore, called on the agitators to either join a political party which shared their ideology or formed a new party to push their cause.
