A group, the Yoruba Appraisal Forum, YAF has cautioned Nigerians to be careful of public utterances on political and public issues that could cause tension in the polity.
The YAF National Coordinator, Adeshina Animashaun, stated this at a press conference in Lagos. He said this in reaction to the national debate that resulted from the resolutions of the Southern Governors’ Forum meeting held in Lagos.
Mr Animashaun said that the tension being generated by the resolutions of the meeting with the rest of the country has become a cause for concern amongst all Nigerians.
“Already, Northern governors and elders, youths as well as various groups have rejected the position of the Southern governors, particularly on power shift and other demands made by the last Monday in Lagos.
“YAF has observed a flurry of activities and desperate attempts by some powerful politicians and individuals to further aggravate the ongoing debate and eventually create tension in the polity ahead of the 2023 general elections. We have it on good authority that these powerful politicians and individuals have been on the throat, so to say, of some traditional rulers in the South-West states, in particular, to compel the royal fathers to convene a meeting and issue resolutions backing the decisions they took last Monday in Lagos.”
Similarly, various civil society groups in the South, YAF learnt, are being pressurised to meet and issue a communique supporting the Southern governors’ position on the various issues raised last Monday. The utterances of some of these groups have left so much to be desired as their statements on the issue border on threats to the rest of the country.
YAF’s concern is mainly about the implications of the threats swathed in reactions and opinions coming on a daily basis from the groups and individuals from various sections of the country.
“We want to warn that this latest development is beginning to further heat up the polity and, knowingly or unknowingly, preparing the fertile ground for another round of protests and violence in the country.
“YAF believes that the recent peaceful atmosphere prevailing in different parts of the country and being enjoyed by the majority of Nigerians should not be threatened or disturbed by issues we can all resolve amicably as a united entity. Posterity won’t forgive us if we allow the ongoing brouhaha to degenerate to any untoward or unthinkable situation.”
The group further appealed to Nigerians to eschew provocative statements and actions concerning the ongoing debate about Nigeria’s political future and to allow peace reign.
Suzan O
