The Boko Haram Ultimatum To Nigeria Press statement    Posted Thur Jan 5,2011

Champions For Nigeria Organisation (CFN) is very much apprehensive, as well as view with a degree of disdain, the recent three-day ultimatum allegedly issued by the religious terrorist group called Boko Haram to Nigeria and Nigerians to the effect that Christians in Northern Nigeria leave the region or risk being killed and likewise for Muslims living in other parts of the country to immediately relocate to Northern Nigeria. 

We condemn this ultimatum unequivocally. 

We view this threat as another example of the fanaticism and madness of this intolerant, extremist group which appear bent on splitting Nigeria along religious lines and instigating a religious war in the country. 

While we normally do not engage in tribal and religious discussions, this ultimatum needed to be addressed because of our concern for the sovereignty, unity and security of this country, which belongs to us all, Christian, Moslem or African Traditional Religion and any attempt to effect its break-up by such extremist groups must be seen as a treasonable act and tackled vigorously, ruthlessly, robustly and with sincerity and commitment by the Federal Government. 

We feel that while the threat should not be taken lightly, it is yet another assault on patriotic, well-meaning and peaceful Nigerians, and should not be disregarded or discountenanced by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria. 

The irrationality and risibility of the ultimatum is obvious. If Boko Haram is advocating for the movement /migration of Christians in the northern part of the country (and how do we define Northern Nigeria in this context?), what this means is that native Christians in Benue, Plateau, Southern Zaria, Bauch, Adamawa, Taraba and other states in the north with considerable native Christian population will have to migrate en-masse to whatever part of Nigeria to be secured and this translates to uprooting centuries of culture, tradition and settlement in their current locations. What part of the South is Boko Haram allocating to them to move to? 

This is ethnic cleansing at its worst. This of course we know is impossible.

Again, the ultimatum, illogically, will mean Yoruba Moslems in the South West part of the country, for example, who have been living in that part of the country for centuries will move to the northern part of Nigeria. What part of the North are they going to move to after centuries in their own areas? Is this a practical and realistic ultimatum?  

Again we know this is illogical and impossible.

Champions For Nigeria Organisation therefore calls on the Federal Government of Nigeria to cease taking Boko Haram lightly and trying to parley or negotiate with them. Apparently this modus operandi has not been working since 2009.  

Practical solutions must be sought and one of them is to call a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) to determine Nigeria’s future as a nation or a confederation of nations, and that will enable us to crash a faulty democracy and install a system that will cause us to determine the genuine path the nation must tread.

Boko Haram is also a cancer against the economic development of Northern Nigeria and the nation as a whole, and we need to hear the voices of northern religious leaders staunchly supporting the Federal Government of Nigeria in a coordinated attempt to stamp out that fanatical group from generating lava of hate between Nigerians. The security services should identify the source of their financing foreign or domestic and make them known, and take commensurate steps to cut their funding, moral support from implicated political leaders.

We also urge all Nigerians, especially southerners living in the northern parts of Nigeria wherever they are, to stay calm and be vigilant. Nigeria belongs to ALL of us.

Signed:

Akintokunbo A Adejumo                     Dr. Olayiwola Ajileye              Bernard Imarhiagbe

Global Coordinator                              Media & Publicity Coordinator            UK Coordinator

Moses Owolabi (General Secretary)  Dr Ehi Agboaye (USA)           Odimegwu Onwumere (Nigeria)

Kola Afolabi (France)              Joseph Ochia (Mexico)          Dr Ken Prince Asagwara (Canada)