The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has lent its voice to the use of referendum to test the popularity of agitations for seperation.
President of AYCF, Ambassador Yerima Shettima expressed this view during an interaction with journalists in Kaduna on Saturday, November 6.
He advised that any part of the country that wants to go on its own should be allowed through referendum to weigh the possibility of their agitation rather than deploying bloodshed to stop them.
“We are of the view that a room for referendum should be created. Those agitating for secession should be allowed to have a referendum, let’s see how popular the agitations are.
“If any part of the country wants to go, organise referendum, let’s see how popular they are, so that seperation can take place without bloodshed,” Shettima declared
He however, said he believed strongly in the oneness of NIgeria with mutually beneficial relationship for all the federating units.
“I am one of those who strongly believe in oneness of NIgeria. I have never said that Nigeria should disintegrate.
“Most of my close associates are Yorubas and Igbos. I schooled in Lagos State University,” he stressed.
He disclosed that the group has gone to court to make case for constitutional amendment to give room for conducting of referendum for people willing to leave the federation, but have not been successful.
According to him, “The struggle continued even after Obasanjo came on board because he had some dictatorial tendencies.
“We came up with PRONACO because we faulted the 1999 constitution and insisted that the PRONACO Constitution should be adopted. That was when Obasanjo came up with the National Conference.”