The spokesman of the Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF), Ango Abdullahi, yesterday expressed support for the call by the Coalition of Northern Youth Groups for Igbos to leave the region within three months.

He told journalists in Zaria yesterday that it was hypocritical for the Igbos to continue to live in other parts of the country while agitating for Nigeria’s break up. He spoke despite widespread condemnation that followed the ultimatum earlier handed by the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum.

The forum expressed “disappointment” with the Northern Governors’ Forum for disowning the youth groups.

Abdullahi said: “I am disappointed in the decision taken by Northern Governors’ Forum disowning and condemning the agitation by this young agile and progressive youth groups. Let me ask these northern governors, who are they representing, are they representing spirits, ghost or people of the north? Recently, people from eastern part of this country, specifically Igbo, were busy calling for the Sovereign State of Biafra and from all indication their leaders including governors are behind them.”

He lamented that none of the Northern governors reacted to the persistent call for the actualisation of Biafra and other agitations.

Abdullahi said it was money from the North that was used to construct Nigerian Railways, refineries and other facilities.

“First oil exploration was conducted using money from groundnut pyramid, cotton, hides and skin among other cash crops from Northern Nigeria. However, these people tend to forget all these goodies provided by the North. They always look down on us, feeling that Northerners are parasites in this country,” he said.