The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has warned that if the South East goes ahead to issue identity cards to northerners living in the region, the Igbos in the north would be given equal treatment.
Deputy Secretary-General of the forum, Alhaji Abubakar Umar, in a statement issued in Kaduna on Friday, July 18, stressed that if the north should embark on similar exercise by identifying the Igbos in the northern region, it could cause crisis that may lead to undeserved division among Nigerians on ethnic or religious consideration.
“If the Eastern part of the country insists on issuing identity cards to persons of northern extraction in their region, such move could endanger the multi-billion naira investments of the Igbo businessmen living in the north”, he said.
While noting that there was nothing wrong with issuing identity cards to people, the ACF Deputy Secretary General however, maintained that it was wrong to single out a section of a community as a target.
He said available statistics indicate that Igbo investments in Kaduna, Kano, and Jos alone amounted to over N45 trillion, pointing out that “with such huge investments in just three states of the north, the Easterners have no reason to maltreat northerners doing businesses in their areas”.
APC Frowns At Alleged Registration
The South East chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) had called on the governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, to rescind “the unconstitutional and undemocratic plan to issue identity cards to northerners in Imo State”.
The directive, contained in a statement by the party’s zonal spokesman, Osita Okechukwu, noted that “ whereas we condemn the devilish and heinous atrocities of the deranged Boko Haram elements; we are of the candid view that the Boko Haram elements are not playing a northern script, as their agenda is more or less opaque and futile.
“We cannot easily forget that Boko Haram killed General Mohammed Shuwa, uncountable Northerners and nearly assassinated the Shehu of Borno” alleging that “reports indicate that the Emir of Kano did not recover fully from the trauma he suffered in their hands before his death”.
The party warned that “any attempt to segregate Nigerians like in Nazi Germany will be the greatest disservice to our dear country and to do so will either by omission or commission be playing into the hands of Boko Haram insurgents.
“To us the unity, stability and harmonious relationship of Nigerian citizens is paramount and fundamental, accordingly, we do not subscribe to the day Ndigbo residing in other parts of the country will be subjected to screening and carrying identity cards in our beloved country”, he said.
APC South East maintains that the only way to crush Boko Haram insurgents is a well-equipped Army, security agencies, vigilantes and improved welfare of the citizenry that engender hope, trust and confidence.
Registration Rumour A Manifestation Of Dirty Politics
However, the Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, has denied any form of registration, especially for the Hausa Community in the state, describing the rumour as a manifestation of “Dirty Politics Chapter 1 Verse 1”.
The Governor, who berated the Senate for discussing the issue, explained that the said registration came to him as a surprise. He argued that “you just don’t talk on something that doesn’t exist” insisting that “there is nothing of that sort”.
He, however, noted, “my pains lies in the fact that my Senate could not place a call to a sitting governor, to find out whether this allegation is right or wrong; and the allegation came from nowhere.
While speaking on Wednesday’s, July 9, edition of Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, the Governor said “The Hausa Community have come out to say it is not true; in fact they are living peacefully with us”, adding that “the same people that accuse me of bringing Boko Haram, are the same people accusing me of registering northerners.”
He, however, noted that the problem began when he launched a ‘Know Your Neighbour Programme’ after a bomb was defused within the premises of a church. He explained that the launch was graced by security agents in the state, where decision were reached to safeguard the state from the recent security challenges facing the country.
The Governor also said that the problem with Nigeria was that it had focused on “fighting crime” rather than “crime prevention”, explaining that “fighting crime is very expensive” and that one of such crime prevention programmes, Community Government Council (CGC), has helped to stop the 12 year old kidnapping menace in the state.
He called on Nigerians to ask questions when a stranger appears in their communities or when the status of residents change without a source of income to show.
Mr Okorocha maintained, “Security is not a Government responsibility alone, as you cannot achieve a perfect security if you do not get the people involved”. He insisted that “security is about the people by the people and for the people; Government should only guide.”