The Nigerian Bar Association on Wednesday expressed concerns about the rising agitation for the break-up of Nigeria, spread of hate speeches, including recent quit notice issued by northern youths asking Igbo to leave the region.
In a statement by its President, Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud, the association said the problems were contributory to the nation’s economic development.
It condemned all threats to the sovereign existence of Nigeria and the peaceful co-existence of the Nigerian communities.
It, however, added that the ugly developments had been allowed to persist and were now creating fears among citizens, sending panic signals to the nation’s neighbours and shaking the confidence of investors in the country.
It stated that the threat to the confidence of investors in the country was contributing to the nation’s slow economic development.
The statement read in part, “The Nigerian Bar Association is deeply concerned at the recent heightened agitation by individuals, groups and organizations calling for the violent breakup of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Some have advocated secession of certain parts from the country; others have called for some ethnicities to be excised and some others have even gone to the extent of issuing what they call ‘quit notice’ against some ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.
“These advocacies have been characterized by deeply hateful and hurtful speech on all sides, incitement, tendentious and unguarded comments and war mongering all designed to attack the resolve of the Nigerian people to live in peace, mutual respect and harmony….”