immunity for looting the nation guaranteed northerners

Northern youths group warns against Oputa panel revelations

(Monday 20th  August, 2001)

By Rotimi Ajayi

ABUJA—A GROUP of Northern youths has warned that the revelations being made by some witnesses at the Oputa Panel may trigger violence in the country. The group, Young Northern Professionals, gave the warning weekend in a statement issued by its chairman Mallam Mohammed Rufai.

According to the group, some Nigerians have been planning with some foreign agents to cause a disaffection between one section of the country and the other.

"Specifically, we want to alert the security agencies that some Nigerians working in conjunction with some foreign agents and their Nigerian collaborators are desperate to set the country ablaze or create a state of anarchy by making unguided utterances capable of instigating a section of the country against the government and some respected northerners. "Already, about N20 billion has allegedly been budgeted for this dastardly action."

The group added that the allegation of misappropriation of money against former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar at the Oputa Panel was designed to expose some prominent northerners who had enjoyed government patronage.

"We are ashamed that some of the so-called senior military officers who are desperate to win public sympathy almost successfully diverted attention from the heinous crimes they committed against persons and the nation."

The group pointed out that Nigerians should be aware that the law under which the commission was set up gave the former military rulers rights of immunity.