Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has appealed to
Yoruba elders to show restraint in their comments over the recent crisis in
Ile-Ife, Osun.
The
northern socio-cultural group in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary,
Muhammadu Ibrahimin, in Kaduna on Tuesday, urged Yoruba elders not to give
ethnic coloration to the crisis.
Ibrahimin
described the clash between some Yoruba and Hausa traders as criminality, which
did not know ethnicity or religion.
`He said:
‘’ACF noted with dismay, accusations by some Yoruba leaders that the
police report on the clash was biased, as the suspects paraded by the police
were alleged to be mainly Yoruba.“
He
cautioned that disagreement between individuals or groups of persons regarded
as ethnic or religious was dangerous and would deepen hatred and division
among Nigerians.
Ibrahimin
said ACF shortly after the incident condemned the killings and called on
the parties involved to eschew bitterness and imbibe the spirit of
accommodation and tolerance.
He added:
“ACF commended the prompt action taken by the security agencies, the Osun State
Government and community leaders to restore peace and normalcy in Ile-Ife.
“ACF also
called on the various communities that have lived together in peace and harmony
over the years to always exercise restraint in their utterances on such
sensitive issues that might snowball into crises with reprisal consequences.’’
He
described some events after the release of the preliminary investigation
report by the police into the Ile-Ife crisis as unfortunate, especially with
Yoruba alleging bias with regard to those arrested.
Ibrahimin
said: “Elders are known for their wisdom in settling disputes and not to fan
embers of divisions among their followers.
“ACF
therefore, calls for restraint among the various community leaders and urges
them to document their grievances and channel same through known legal
process.`
He said
such steps would help address all grievances.
(NAN)
No comments:
Post a Comment