Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ahmed Makarfi, has said the actions of leader of the
Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, is worse than that of the Coalition of Arewa Youth Groups.
Makarfi said this on Friday during a live television programme on Channels Television titled, ‘Sunrise Daily’. A coalition of northern youth in a press conference in Kaduna had issued an ultimatum to all the Igbos living in the North to vacate the region before October 1.
Makarfi said although he was not in support of the ultimatum, Kanu’s approach was more infuriating than that of the northern youth. Makarfi said, “What he (Kanu) is doing is different from what the youth in the North have done. The youth in the North, may be 10 or 15, did a press conference.
“Nnamdi Kanu is holding people to ransom, bringing economic activities to a standstill, holding what will look like a mini rally. None of that is happening in any part of this country. All the leaders in the South-East have said yes we have concerns but the way you are going about it is wrong.
“The northern boys are just press (sic) and they dispersed, period. I am not in support of what they did but I am talking of the manner of their action. Whereas Nnamdi Kanu and his people are consistently holding people to economic hostage and at a particular time, they held the South-East down for a day.
“You don’t find such not just in the North but any other part of the country. You cannot behave that way.”
He praised the South-East leaders for denying Nnamdi Kanu and stating that he lacks the authority to speak for Igbos.
The PDP chieftain added, “We cannot wish away any agitation, but as part of the South- East, let them come together and approach the government for the implementation of the recommendations of the 2014 National Conference report and demand an amendment of the part that is of concern to the South-East but that amendment must also be generally accepted by Nigerians.”
