The Presidency has declared that the alleged cooperation of agitators of Yoruba nation with the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, is shocking.
It said Nigerians and the world would judge the Yoruba nation agitators by the kind of company they kept.
It described IPOB as a terrorists group which should not be associated with if the Yoruba nation agitators wanted to be taken seriously.
The statement by the Presidency is signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.
The statement reads in part: “It was, however shocking, to see “Yoruba Nation” advocates yesterday unequivocally throw their lot in with Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)…
“Without doubt, Nigerians and the entire world will judge Yoruba Nation by the company it keeps.
“No one can take seriously this organisation if it continues its IPOB association. When their allies systematically trample human rights, it raises sober questions about their claims to uphold the values of the UN.”
Worried that the Yoruba nation agitators and IPOB might use the opportunity of the United Nations General Assembly coming soon to draw the world’s attention to their causes, the Presidency said begged the media to focus attention on the core issues would address during the programme.
“As the largest country in Africa, the government takes seriously its leadership role and will continue to strive for continental unity, cooperation, and shared prosperity.
“Our expectation is therefore for the media to work with the government to focus attention on the core issues the President, the leader of the country has on his programme,” the Presidency said.
The statement reads in full:
For Nigerian diaspora groups to use the world’s largest platform – the United Nations General Assembly – to garner attention to their causes is not unexpected.
It was, however shocking, to see “Yoruba Nation” advocates yesterday unequivocally throw their lot in with Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
IPOB is a designated terrorist organisation. It has now publicly revealed a 50,000 strong paramilitary organisation.
It regularly murders security services and innocent civilians, with a significant uptick of violent attacks this year. And it is currently attempting to hold Nigerian states hostage with orders to stay at home under threat of terror.
Without doubt, Nigerians and the entire world will judge Yoruba Nation by the company it keeps.
No one can take seriously this organisation if it continues its IPOB association. When their allies systematically trample human rights, it raises sober questions about their claims to uphold the values of the UN.
The cooperation is a worrying development, once parsed with Yoruba Nation’s increasingly violent rallies in Nigeria.
Actions and associations speak louder than words. Yoruba Nation’s talk of human rights promotion must therefore be ignored.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government will continue its work at the UN- to fight against corruption and illicit financial flows, and international cooperation.
If we want to see stolen funds returned to their rightful home in Nigeria, the government must continue to campaign for and coordinate global action on asset recovery.
The government will remain the leading regional actor in the fight against global terror – particularly against threats emanating from the Sahel. Through the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps programme, the country also shares technical expertise with countries from the Caribbean, Africa and the Pacific.
At the same time, the administration is implementing a programme of environmental sustainability to combat developments which destroys Nigerian communities in vulnerable regions.
Only through the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development can we secure a prosperous future for Nigeria.
As the largest country in Africa, the government takes seriously its leadership role and will continue to strive for continental unity, cooperation, and shared prosperity.
Our expectation is therefore for the media to work with the government to focus attention on the core issues the President, the leader of the country has on his programme.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 15, 2021
