BY IBRAHIM BAKARE
Northerners living in Rivers State, and in the Southern parts of Nigeria have been enjoined not to be intimidated to run away because wherever they live in Nigeria is their home.
Cross section of delegates at Town hall meeting of Northerners in the South-South held in Port Harcourt
Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Northern Elders Forum who gave this advise during a one day town hall meeting by Northern Elders with a Coalition of Leaders of Northern Groups in the South-South held at Civic Centre in Port Harcourt.
Baba-Ahmed said”Our People have right to live in the South-South without molestation and intimidation. They have right to live in peace and do business wherever they find themselves because it has been guaranteed in the Constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria”
He said the Northern Elders have come to the South-South to commiserate with families of Northerners who lost their dear ones and properties during the violent #ENDSARS Protest in various States in States.
He asked host state Governors of people of Northerners extraction and the federal government to ensure that they are protected in South-South just as Southerners are protected in the Northern part of the Country as that is only way there can be peaceful coexistence in Country.
Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Northern Elders also warned northerners living in the Southern parts of the country to be law abiding and live in peace with their hosts so that they will not give room attack.
“Don’t provoke anybody, don’t get yourselves involved in illegalities. Don’t play into the hands of those who are looking for excuses for those want you to go home. This is your home. You are not going anywhere. This is what we’re telling our people anywhere we going in Nigeria. We came here to assure you are not alone. We are with you”.
On the material loses, he said it his hoped that “Someone, somewhere will find the need to compensate for your loses.”
On his part, Prof. Doknan Descent Sheni former Vice Chancellor of Plateau State University said Northern Elders reject the intimidation of their people. But advised Northerners to also treated Southerners who live and do business in the their States to treat them fairly without discrimination based on place of birth and religion.
Northern Elders led by Prof.Ango Abdullahi had visited Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State at Government House, Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Our Correspondent reports that prominent groups of Northerners from the states of South-South region made up Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross-River Delta,Edo and Rivers States were in attendance. The town meeting was conducted in Hausa language.