A collective known as the Northern Consensus Movement of Nigeria has raised concerns regarding the uninterrupted supply of food from Northern regions to the South of Nigeria.
These concerns have arisen in response to a recent ultimatum issued by the prominent Yoruba nation advocate, Sunday Adeyemo, better known as Sunday Igboho. Igboho had called for the Fulani community to vacate Yorubaland within a specified timeframe, provoking a strong reaction from the Northern group.
The Northern Consensus Movement has made it abundantly clear that they are resolute in taking any necessary measures to prevent this course of action. They have further conveyed that should this threat persist, they may, in turn, insist on Yoruba residents living in the northern part of Nigeria to relocate to their native region.
During a widely publicized press conference, Awwal Aliyu, the President of the group, conveyed this message. Aliyu emphasized, “Following the recent release of Sunday Igboho from prison and his issuance of a new ultimatum for the Fulani community residing in Yorubaland to depart within seven days, the Northern Consensus Movement of Nigeria is committed to thwarting this initiative. Should Igboho persist in his stance, we may have no recourse but to request Yoruba residents in the northern region to return to their homeland.”
In addition to their concerns about the food supply, the group has presented a series of demands, including compensation for victims of various incidents, such as the ENDSARS protests, the Shasha-Akinyele market crisis, and the violence associated with IPOB/ESN. They lamented the lack of attention to these issues by past and current leaders in the country.
The Northern Consensus Movement has set a four-week ultimatum for their demands to be addressed. In the event that their requests go unheeded, they have expressed their intent to organize a nationwide protest and potentially disrupt the supply of food to the southern part of the country.
They have called upon President Bola Tinubu to take action on their concerns and act on the requests that have been conveyed to various authorities and leaders across the nation.
Furthermore, the group has appealed to the Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, to mediate and encourage Sunday Igboho to exercise restraint. In October, Igboho had issued a seven-day ultimatum to Fulani herdsmen in the South-West, citing the need for their departure from the region in response to incidents of violence against farmers in Oyo and Ogun states. Igboho underscored the urgency of this warning to prevent vigilantism and maintain order.
